APS5 & APS6 Data Engineers (Data Linkage)

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We offer a range of benefits including:

• access to flexible working arrangements to support your work/life balance
• attractive remuneration packages including generous superannuation and leave provisions
• challenging and fulfilling work where you can use your skills and expertise
• opportunities for professional development.

We are committed to creating genuine opportunities for everyone and we welcome applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTIQA+, neurodiverse people and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The AIHW has offices in Canberra and Sydney and offers remote work opportunities for many roles. 

For more information, visit the Benefits of working for the AIHW page of our website.

The Data Governance and Integration Group (DGIG) is responsible for delivering high-quality data governance and integration services that support national health and welfare reporting, research, and policy development.

Within DGIG, the Data Linkage Unit (DLU) is responsible for data linkage activities and custom project merging processes undertaken within the AIHW. The Merging and Release Unit (MARU) is responsible for assembling and integrating data from multiple sources to produce cohesive, high-quality datasets that support data integration and infrastructure projects.

Together, DLU and MARU deliver and support the AIHW’s data linkage system, which underpins the National Health Data Hub and custom data linkage projects. The units produce trusted, high-quality linked and integrated data assets for both internal and external stakeholders.

The DLU and MARU have an immediate need to fill four Data Engineer roles across the two units. Two (2) APS5 positions and two (2) APS6 positions. Candidates may be considered for either the DLU or MARU role depending on their skills, experience and business needs.

About the roles

We are seeking motivated and detail-oriented Data Engineers to support the ingestion, processing, linkage, merging, release and quality assurance of large, complex datasets. The role contributes to end-to-end data workflows, including data onboarding, profiling, cleaning, standardisation, transformation, deterministic and probabilistic linkage, data merging, release preparation, clerical review support and quality assurance reporting.

As a Data Engineer working across the Data Linkage Unit (DLU) and Merging and Release Unit (MARU), you will contribute to the delivery of high-quality linked and integrated data assets supporting national health and welfare reporting, research, policy development and data infrastructure initiatives. The successful candidate will collaborate with colleagues across DGIG and the broader AIHW, applying strong analytical, organisational and communication skills to resolve data quality issues, maintain clear documentation, and support the continuous improvement and automation of data linkage, merging and release processes.

These roles support the delivery of trusted, timely and high-quality data products and research outputs that inform evidence-based decision-making across government, the health and welfare sectors, and the research community.

Key duties of the position include:

APS5 and APS6 Data Engineers will:

• Ingest, profile, clean, standardise and transform structured datasets from internal and external providers for linkage, merging, release and analysis.
• Conduct routine data quality assurance checks, including missingness, uniqueness, format validation, consistency checks and reconciliation of issues identified during processing.
• Manage allocated tasks, priorities and timeframes to support the timely delivery of agreed data linkage, merging, release and quality assurance outputs.
• Identify, investigate and escalate data quality, linkage, merging or processing issues, applying sound judgement and seeking guidance on more complex or sensitive matters.
• Maintain clear, accurate and auditable documentation, including processing notes, workflow records, quality assurance outputs, release documentation, data handling decisions and contributions to standard operating procedures.
• Handle sensitive and confidential data ethically and responsibly, in accordance with agreed data governance, privacy, security, confidentiality and release requirements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across DGIG and other AIHW areas, external data providers and project stakeholders, communicating progress, issues and risks clearly and responding constructively to information needs and feedback.
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities, including identifying opportunities to improve the efficiency, consistency, automation and repeatability of data linkage, merging and release processes.

Specific to DLU:

Support established deterministic and probabilistic data linkage processes, including preparing inputs, running agreed workflows, supporting clerical review and assisting with validation of linkage outputs.

Specific to MARU:

Assist with merging activities, including assembling datasets from multiple sources, applying agreed business rules, checking outputs and preparing integrated datasets for release or analysis.

APS5 Data Engineers will work under general direction contributing to the above outcomes. 

APS6 Data Engineers will work under limited direction contributing to the above outcomes. They will operate with a high degree of autonomy and are responsible for delivering complex technical work and achieving defined outcomes. They provide leadership within their area of expertise, contribute to strategic and operational objectives, and mentor and support the development of lower-level staff.

To be eligible to apply for this vacancy, you must: 

• be an Australian citizen
• undergo any required pre-employment checks, including a police records check
• obtain and maintain a valid Security Clearance if required by the institute

A probationary period of six (6) months will apply to any new engagement to the APS. 

Please submit your application online via the AIHW e-Recruit system. When applying online for the first time, you will need to register and provide a valid email address.

Please provide:

1. A summary of your relevant skills and experience and explain how your skills, experience and capabilities make you suitable for the role. Your response should clearly detail which classification you are applying for and align with the position summary and key duties of the position information above, and must be no more than 750 words.
2. Your current CV and the names of two referees and their contact details.

Please note, late applications will not be accepted.

Candidates applying for APS vacancies should follow the principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.