Data Engineer / Database Management Specialist for Fish Data
About The Position
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is recruiting candidates to fill the role of a mid-level Data Engineer / Database Specialist, working closely with USGS researchers at the Klamath Falls Field Station. The incumbent will support long-term research on endangered Lost River and Shortnose suckers, helping translate decades of biological, telemetry, and environmental data into insights that guide species recovery and water management in the Klamath Basin. This role has meaningful responsibility and real-world impact. The incumbent will design and build modern, cloud-enabled data systems, improve legacy workflows, and collaborate directly with scientists to advance critical research. The position is based in Portland, Oregon and includes regular travel to Klamath Falls (approximately one week per month) to work on-site with the USGS researchers, with a potential option to relocate to Klamath Falls, Oregon. The incumbent will join a small, highly collaborative team working closely with USGS scientists to turn research needs into technical solutions. The incumbent will perform query and analyze data, support modeling and system performance, and help modernize workflows. In this role, the incumbent will also collaborate with IT on security and access, contribute to data governance practices, and support GIS and field data collection systems, while helping teammates grow through knowledge sharing and collaboration. Contribute to the design and modernization of data systems that support fisheries research and real-world decision making in the Klamath Basin. Build reliable, scalable data platforms, improve legacy systems, and collaborate closely with scientists to turn complex data into actionable insights. We don’t expect candidates to bring experience in every listed technology—strength in core data skills and a willingness to learn are what matter most.
Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in data engineering and/or database administration
- Strong SQL proficiency and at least one scripting language (Python or R)
- Knowledge of customary approaches, techniques, and requirements appropriate to database management
- Knowledge of planning sequences necessary to accomplish assignments where this entailed coordination with others outside the organizational unit and development of project controls
- Adaptation of guidelines or precedents to the needs of the assignment
- Federal System Access: Must meet federal eligibility requirements to access and utilize federal data systems.
- Citizenship & Residency: Due to federal security mandates, this position requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (Green Card holder) maintained for a minimum of three consecutive years.
- Background Investigation: Position is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive federal agency background investigation.
- Driving Clearance: Offers of employment for positions located in Oregon are contingent upon supplying and clearing an MVR check. The selected candidate must provide PSMFC with a copy of their 3-Year Oregon Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) and are are responsible for all associated DMV fees.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with data architecture and system design
- Knowledge of cloud platforms (Azure preferred; AWS/GCP acceptable)
- Familiarity with workflow automation or orchestration tools
- Knowledge of dashboards, Power BI or similar data visualization tools
- Familiarity AI assisted tools
- Exposure to GIS systems (ArcGIS, QGIS) or spatial data is a plus
- Support ingestion workflows for field/mobile data collection systems (e.g., data from ESRI Survey123).
- Contribute to improving data governance or metadata practices
- Familiarity with data lifecycle management and long-term data stewardship concepts
- Support migrating legacy systems or applications (C#, VB)
- Familiarity with Windows Server and/or Linux environments
- Familiarity working with scientific, environmental, or ecological datasets
- Familiarity with fisheries data, telemetry, tagging, or movement data
- Interact with contractors and with IT on security, permissions, and cloud migration (e.g., Azure)
- Help team members grow by sharing knowledge and providing guidance
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, SQLite)
- Perform data modeling, schema design, and performance optimization
- Implement reliability practices (backup/recovery, access controls, availability)
- Maintain documentation and support data stewardship practices
- Troubleshoot and resolve database performance and integrity issues
- Build and support automated data pipelines (ETL/ELT)
- Use SQL and scripting tools (Python, R, or similar) for data processing
- Integrate diverse datasets into centralized systems
- Refactor legacy scripts and workflows into scalable, automated pipelines
- Develop queries and reporting solutions (e.g., Power BI)
- Build reproducible analytical workflows in Python or R
- Partner with scientists, engineers, and IT staff
- Communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Support migration of legacy systems into modern, cloud-enabled environments
- Contribute to ongoing system and workflow improvements
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
