Data Engineer(P3)

This selection exercise may be used to generate a roster of pre-approved candidates to address future staffing needs for similar functions in any of the Departments and Offices of the Organization.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the closing date for submission of applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant's location.

Organizational Setting

The Department of Safeguards carries out the IAEA’s duties and responsibilities as the world’s nuclear inspectorate, supporting global efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The primary role of the Department is to develop and implement IAEA safeguards to ensure that there is no diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful activities and no indications of undeclared nuclear material or activities in a State as a whole.
The Department comprises nuclear safeguards inspectors, responsible for carrying out inspections and verifications of all-safeguards relevant information for nuclear facilities in over 180 States; and technical staff responsible for a wide range of activities including: developing concepts and approaches for implementing safeguards; developing and maintaining safeguards equipment; providing analytical and laboratory services for sample analysis; collecting, evaluating and analysing safeguards-relevant information; providing information and communication technology infrastructure and services; and providing programme coordination support.
The Office of Information and Communication Systems (SGIS) is responsible for the provision of secure Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services that enable the Department of Safeguards to deliver on its mandate. Major services provided by SGIS include provision of information technology project management services; development and maintenance of specialized ICT solutions; operation of resilient ICT infrastructure; provision of customer support services; and protection of safeguards information. In partnership with other organizational entities, SGIS is responsible for planning and implementing ICT strategies as well as promoting ICT standards.

Main Purpose

Reporting to the Team Leader, the Data Engineer is responsible for designing, delivering and supporting robust data solutions and services that enable the Department’s strategic and operational goals. The Data Engineer also contributes to the evolution of data architecture and management of on-premise data platforms and tools.

Role

The Data Engineer is: (1) a solution architect, designing data solutions and services that support efficient data processing, integration and analysis; (2) a data engineer, creating and maintaining ETL (Extract, Transport, Load) processes and data processing pipelines to support the data needs in the Department of Safeguards; (3) a contributor to data related activities and an adviser to stakeholders, domain teams and consumers of data services.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Collaborate with business users, data scientists, analysts, development teams and other stakeholders to design and implement data products and services, leveraging a modern data lakehouse architecture.
• Design, build and maintain data pipelines, integrating and managing large volumes of data from various data sources.
• Maintain and monitor the on-premise data architecture.
• Optimize data flows, database queries and conduct performance tuning.
• Keep abreast of changes in data management technologies, assessing emerging technologies for applicability within the work of the Division, prototyping potential approaches and presenting the results.
• Contribute to IT project and domain teams, Section activities, and process improvement initiatives.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

Name Definition Communication Communicates orally and in writing in a clear, concise and impartial manner. Takes time to listen to and understand the perspectives of others and proposes solutions. Achieving Results Takes initiative in defining realistic outputs and clarifying roles, responsibilities and expected results in the context of the Department/Division’s programme. Evaluates his/her results realistically, drawing conclusions from lessons learned. Teamwork Actively contributes to achieving team results. Supports team decisions. Planning and Organizing Plans and organizes his/her own work in support of achieving the team or Section’s priorities. Takes into account potential changes and proposes contingency plans.

Functional Competencies

Name Definition Client orientation Helps clients to analyse their needs. Seeks to understand service needs from the client’s perspective and ensure that the client’s standards are met. Commitment to continuous process improvement Plans and executes activities in the context of quality and risk management and identifies opportunities for process, system and structural improvement, as well as improving current practices. Analyses processes and procedures, and proposes improvements. Technical/scientific credibility Ensures that work is in compliance with internationally accepted professional standards and scientific methods. Provides scientifically/technically accepted information that is credible and reliable.

Required Expertise

Function Name Expertise Description Information Technology Business Intelligence Analysis Expertise analysing, designing and integrating solutions based on user and technical requirements. Information Technology Data Architecture Extensive expertise in architecting and engineering data solutions and implementing pipelines to meet analytical and operational needs. Information Technology Database Development Proficiency developing and maintaining relational databases, such as SQL server and/or NoSQL solutions, such as MongoDB, Elasticsearch/Opensearch.

Asset Expertise

Function Name Expertise Description Information Technology Data Modelling Understanding of dimensional modeling and how to structure data for performance.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

Bachelor's Degree - University degree in computer science, computer engineering, information technology or a related field.

• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience working with complex data integration platforms supporting data analysis and data services.
• In-depth experience in data engineering and related platforms and tools such as Spark, Trino, Airflow, Iceberg, Jupyter, dbt core, Kafka, S3, elastic.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Experience with managing on-premise data architectures is an asset.

Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $71335 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 38664*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; Other benefits include 6 weeks' annual leave, home leave travel, pension plan and health insurance. More information on the conditions of employment can be found at: https://www.iaea.org/about/employment/professional-staff/conditions

General Information

• The IAEA's paramount consideration in the recruitment of staff member is to secure employees of the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• Staff Members shall be selected without any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person's race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, language, social origin or other similar shared characteristic or trait.
• The IAEA is committed to gender equality and to promoting a diverse workforce. Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. The IAEA is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. As part of the United Nations common system, the IAEA subscribes to the following core ethical standards (or values): Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for diversity.
• The IAEA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and the IAEA, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Evaluation process

• The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the selection criteria stated in the vacancy announcement. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
• Candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Appointment information

• Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical report.
• Staff members may be assigned to any location.
• Candidates appointed to posts in the Professional and higher categories are subject to IAEA rotation policy and their maximum tour of service shall normally be seven years.
• The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above.