Data Engineer

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Position Title: Data Engineer
Location: Beirut
Country: Lebanon
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was established in 1973 with the mission to support the countries of the Arab region in achieving sustainable development. ESCWA aims to foster economic and social development through regional cooperation and integration. The organization operates in 17 member states across the Arab region, focusing on various sectors including economic development, social development, and environmental sustainability. ESCWA employs a diverse workforce of professionals dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by the region, and it collaborates with various stakeholders including governments, civil society, and the private sector to promote inclusive and sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The Data Engineer position at ESCWA is crucial for the development of a tool aimed at enhancing economic and social analysis of job markets in the Arab region. The role involves designing and developing scalable and reliable data pipelines that will collect, process, and store data from various sources, including databases, APIs, and files. The engineer will ensure that these pipelines can efficiently handle large volumes of data and can be scheduled to run periodically. Additionally, the role requires integrating data from different sources such as cloud storage and on-premise databases, implementing data cleaning and validation processes, and developing tools to standardize and transform data for downstream use. This position is expected to contribute significantly to addressing the challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly in relation to labor market dynamics and the skills mismatch in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The individual contractor will be responsible for preparing datasets for ESCWA's flagship products, assisting in data analysis, and structuring raw data for machine learning models. The duties include monitoring data flows, identifying issues such as pipeline failures, and resolving problems related to data availability and quality. The contractor will utilize monitoring and alerting tools to ensure the stability of data operations, manage changes in code and data pipelines using version control systems, and implement Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) processes to automate testing and deployment of data pipeline updates. The role also involves collaborating with various teams to ensure that the data infrastructure meets the needs of ESCWA's projects and initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics, or a related field. A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in building and maintaining enterprise data pipelines is required, along with experience in using programming languages such as R, Python, or SCALA to manipulate data and derive insights from large datasets. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, as well as knowledge of various machine learning techniques. Experience in developing Microsoft Azure-based solutions and working in fast-paced, agile environments is desirable. Additionally, experience in international non-governmental organizations, particularly UN bodies, is preferred.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, or bioinformatics is mandatory. Candidates must submit a copy of their educational degree as part of the application process, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of professional work experience in data engineering, specifically in building and maintaining enterprise data pipelines. Candidates should also have experience in using programming languages to manipulate data and draw insights from large datasets. Experience in developing solutions on Microsoft Azure and working in international organizations is highly desirable, with a focus on delivering functional perfection in a fast-paced environment.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in Arabic is desirable, given that it is a working language of ESCWA. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding both languages, with 'fluency' defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas.

Additional Notes:
This position is recruited on a local basis, meaning that candidates must have the legal right to live and work in Lebanon. The contract duration is expected to be 6 months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, and applicants should be cautious of any requests for personal banking information.