Lead Data Engineer, Assessment Delivery

Join us to make a difference for all students in NSW

Position details

• Clerk Grade 11/12

• Full-time, Ongoing

• Close to Wynyard station & hybrid work arrangements available

About the role

Lead Data Engineer, Assessment Delivery leads a team to manage NAPLAN data workflows, from collection of data, through analysis and quality assurance to reporting of data to various stakeholders and in a variety of formats.

On a day-to-day basis you will be responsible for:

• Developing and monitoring project plans, risk management plans and ensuring the delivery of NAPLAN data projects to achieve project outcomes, and support achievement of organisational objectives.

• During the HSC period, this role will also assist with HSC data processing.
• Deliver NAPLAN datasets and draft the NAPLAN results reports.
• Mentor direct report data engineer and data analyst, promote knowledge sharing, and uphold coding standards across the team.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• High level experience Implementing and overseeing a matured test strategy for the assessment division.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

• Proven experience tackling the largest and most complex problems in their team, both technical and related to project management.

  Build and maintain stakeholder relationships through clear communication, negotiation, and issue management; provide expert advice on emerging issues and recommendations

• Experience in Architecting scalable, maintainable data solutions and developing technical roadmaps.
• Proven achievements in multiple project objectives, given limited resources and tight deadlines, and the need to identify project interdependencies and balance competing demands and priorities.
• Experience designing, deploying, monitoring, and maintaining ETL workflows in AWS cloud environments (e.g., EC2, Lambda, Glue) in line with government cloud policy.
• Previous experience using Linux command-line tools for data and system administration tasks. And applying version control and code review processes to maintain code quality.

Essential Requirements:

• At least five years of demonstrated experience in delivering use-case-driven data engineering solutions, with strong problem-solving and communication skills.

• Expert-level SQL knowledge, including query tuning, schema design, and ETL processes.

• Experience with Python and PySpark.

• Ability to work collaboratively and deliver iteratively: plan, prioritise and deliver in short cycles.

• A current Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance number (for paid employment) prior to commencement (although not required at the application state).

Download the role description.

About us

At the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) we work with the NSW community to drive improvements in student achievement.

We achieve this by supporting all school sectors with high-quality syllabuses, assessment (including managing the HSC and NAPLAN), teaching standards (e.g., accrediting teachers) and school environments (including setting and monitoring school standards).

To find out more about the important work we do for NSW visit our website.

Ready to join us?

Select "Apply" and attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages). Also address the 2 targeted questions below in your online application:

Targeted Question 1: Tell me about a complex data project where you had to manage multiple stakeholders with competing priorities. How did you build consensus and maintain relationships while delivering results? (Max 400 word)

Targeted Question 2: Describe a time when you established and maintained data quality standards across a large-scale data processing operation. What systems did you implement to ensure accuracy, consistency, and reliability of the data? (Max 400 word)

Advice on applying for NSW Public Sector roles

If you need reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process and workplace, please reach out to the contact person above.

Close date: Sunday 28th September 2025 at 11.59pm AEST

Thank you for your interest, we look forward to receiving your application.

Important information

This is a child-related role. For the successful applicant, as a condition of employment, they will be required to provide a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment) prior to commencement in the role. Please note the WWC will be at the applicant's own expense. For more information, click here.

We particularly welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, people of all ages, genders, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans and refugees.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For ongoing roles, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Australian Temporary Residents may be considered for a fixed term contract for the length of their visa, depending on the requirements of the hiring area and the position.

A Talent Pool (valid for 18 months) may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles.