Lead Data Developer

Overview

At SCA Health, we believe health care is about people – the patients we serve, the physicians we support and the teammates who push us forward. Behind every successful facility, procedure or innovation is a team of 15,000+ professionals working together, learning from each other and living out the mission, vision and values that define our organization. 

As part of Optum, SCA Health is redefining specialty care by developing more accessible, patient-centered practice solutions for a network of more than 370 ambulatory surgical centers, over 400 specialty physician practice clinics and numerous labs and surgical hospitals. Our work spans a broad spectrum of services, all designed to support physicians, health systems and employers in delivering efficient, value-based care to patients without compromising quality or autonomy.  

What sets SCA Health apart isn’t just what we do, it’s how we do it. Each decision we make is rooted in seven core values: 

• Clinical quality 
• Integrity 
• Service excellence 
• Teamwork 
• Accountability 
• Continuous improvement 
• Inclusion 

Our values aren’t empty words – they inform our attitudes, actions and culture. At SCA Health, your work directly impacts patients, physicians and communities. Here, you’ll find opportunities to build your career alongside a team that values your expertise, invests in your success, and shares a common mission to care for patients, serve physicians and improve health care in America.    

At SCA Health, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your health, well-being, and financial future. Our offerings include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k plan with company match, paid time off, life and disability insurance, and more. Please visit, https://careers.sca.health/why-sca, to learn more about our benefits.

Your ideas should inspire change. If you join our team, they will. 

Responsibilities

Lead Data Developer

SCA Health – Information Technology (IT) – Enterprise Application Services – Data Services

Position Summary

The Lead Data Developer is a senior individual contributor (IC) and technical leader responsible for designing, delivering, and evolving enterprise data platforms and solutions that support clinical, operational, and financial outcomes across SCA Health.

This role is not a formal people management position. The individual will act as a technical owner and delivery lead, working in partnership with resource managers to align and coordinate assigned technical resources. The role requires the ability to direct technical work, influence priorities, and drive outcomes across distributed teams (including offshore resources) without formal authority.

The Lead Data Developer operates across a hybrid ecosystem of legacy and cloud-based technologies and plays a critical role in advancing SCA Health’s cloud-first and AI-enabled data strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Ownership & Delivery Execution

• Serve as technical owner for assigned initiatives, accountable for architecture, design quality, delivery outcomes, and long-term maintainability

• Lead and coordinate design, development, testing, deployment, and support of data solutions

• Partner with resource managers to align staffing, skillsets, and priorities to delivery needs

• Direct technical execution across assigned team members, ensuring alignment to standards and timelines

• Drive delivery with limited information, clarifying requirements and resolving ambiguity proactively

• Provide accurate estimates and deliver solutions with high reliability and accountability

Data Architecture & Cloud Transformation

• Design and implement scalable hybrid and cloud-first data architectures

• Lead or contribute to phased transformation of on-premises data platforms to cloud-based solutions

• Partner with Enterprise Architecture to define solution strategies aligned to business and technology roadmaps

• Promote reusable engineering patterns and framework-driven development practices

• Balance legacy system support with modernization initiatives

Data Engineering & Platform Development

• Architect and develop enterprise data pipelines and platforms

• Build and maintain solutions using: 

• Microsoft Azure data ecosystem (ADF, Synapse, Azure SQL, Databricks)

• Snowflake, Airflow, dbt

• SQL Server (T-SQL, SSIS)

• Ensure high standards for performance, scalability, reliability, and observability

• Implement monitoring, logging, and operational readiness capabilities

AI/ML Integration & Data Innovation

• Design and implement AI/ML-enabled data capabilities within pipelines and data products

• Identify and deploy use cases involving automation, predictive analytics, or intelligent workflows

• Collaborate with stakeholders to align AI/ML initiatives to measurable business value

• Ensure AI-enabled solutions are production-ready, scalable, and maintainable

Governance, Security & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with HIPAA and enterprise data security and governance standards

• Implement appropriate access controls, encryption, and auditability for PHI/PII data

• Participate in governance processes including code reviews, change management, and release management

• Utilize ServiceNow for incident, request, and operational management

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with business stakeholders to understand requirements and prioritize delivery

• Collaborate with Enterprise Architects, Product Owners, and cross-functional teams

• Facilitate technical design discussions and solution alignment sessions

• Communicate technical concepts clearly across both technical and non-technical audiences

Mentorship & Team Enablement

• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level data developers

• Promote best practices in coding, architecture, and documentation

• Support a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Full Product Lifecycle Participation

• Participate across the full lifecycle: 

• Ideation

• Design and development

• Deployment and release

• Production support and optimization

• Decommissioning

• Maintain clear, current technical and operational documentation

• Ensure solutions are supportable and aligned with long-term platform strategy

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

• 8+ years of experience in data engineering, data platform development, or related disciplines

• Proven experience serving as a technical lead or technical owner for complex initiatives

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams without formal authority

• Proven experience delivering large-scale data integration and transformation solutions

• Demonstrated application of an AI-first mindset, incorporating AI/ML capabilities into data platform design, engineering practices, and solution delivery.

Required Technical Experience

• Microsoft data and cloud technology stack (Azure, SQL Server ecosystem)

• Snowflake, Airflow, and dbt

• ETL/ELT design and development across complex data environments

• Data modeling (relational and dimensional)

• CI/CD and DevOps practices (Azure DevOps, GitHub Enterprise)

Required Specialized Experience

• Hands-on experience implementing AI/ML capabilities in data platforms or products

• Proven experience supporting or leading cloud transformation initiatives (on-prem to cloud)

• Experience implementing data security controls for PHI/PII in regulated environments (HIPAA or equivalent)

Preferred Qualifications

• Healthcare data domain experience (clinical, operational, or financial)

• Experience with Azure Synapse, Databricks, or similar advanced platforms

• Experience with Kubernetes or containerized environments

• Experience with ServiceNow integrations

• Relevant Microsoft or cloud/data certifications

Required Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to operate effectively in a remote and distributed team environment

• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes

• Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills

Behavioral Expectations

• Demonstrates accountability, professionalism, and integrity

• Leads with a solution-oriented and optimistic mindset

• Challenges constructively and supports organizational decisions once made

• Communicates clearly and adapts to audience needs

• Mentors others and contributes to team success

• Works independently while maintaining alignment with broader team goals

Work Environment

• Remote or hybrid work environment

• Collaboration across onshore and offshore teams

• Participation in an on-call or support rotation as needed

Equal Opportunity Statement

SCA Health is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

USD $120,000.00/Yr. USD $140,000.00/Yr.