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Urgent! Director of Data Engineering Job Opening In Springfield – Now Hiring State of Illinois

Director of Data Engineering



Job description

Job Requisition ID: 50445
Closing Date: 10/17/2025
​Agency: Department of Early Childhood
Class Title: SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTR - 40070 
Skill Option: General Administration/Business Marketing/Labor/Personnel 
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $9,500 - $11,500 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: None
Merit Comp Code: Term Appointment/ Agency

 

A resume is highly encouraged to evaluate your qualifications and skills as part of your application.

Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application if you decide to provide one.


Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV), a copy of your transcripts or diploma for all degrees earned, and a copy of any applicable professional licensures to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application.

Please note that the Department of Early Childhood must verify proof of higher education for any degree earned (if applicable) before any offer can be extended.

You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.

 

Position Overview:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is seeking a Director of Data Engineering to lead the management and utilization of scalable data systems that power the agency’s analytics and reporting.

This role oversees data pipelines and infrastructure to ensure that clean, secure, and timely data is available for decision-making.

Working closely with IDEC leadership and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), the Director develops solutions that integrate diverse data sources, optimize workflows, and support advanced analytics, dashboards, and business intelligence.

The position also ensures compliance with state and federal data privacy requirements and builds sustainable systems that strengthen transparency, accountability, and insight into services for young children and families.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with a commitment to using data to inform strategy, improve operations, and advance IDEC’s mission.

Apply today to join a team committed to making Illinois the best place in the nation to raise a family!

                                                                                                                                         

Illinois Department of Early Childhood offers a robust benefit package including:

  • Monday-Friday schedule
  • Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
  • Paid Parental leave
  • Pension Plan
  • Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs
  • Employees earn (12) paid sick days annually
  • (10-25) paid vacation days (based on years of service)
  • Employees earn (3) paid personal days (pro-rated based on start date)
  • (13-14) paid state holidays annually

Work hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by supervisor during the onboarding process.

 

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state.

Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits.

Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams.

Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Essential Functions

  • Serves as the Data Engineer Director for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), ensuring that clean, organized, and timely data is available to downstream users. 
  • Directs, plans, and manages the IDEC Data Engineering Section database and infrastructure management programs. 
  • Directs, plans, and manages the IDEC Data Engineering Section collaboration and integration functions. 
  • Serves as a full-line supervisor.

     
     
  • Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonable within the scope of duties enumerated above. 

Minimum Qualifications

  • This position requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with coursework in business or public administration, data science, and/or data engineering or analytics or closely related fields. 
  • This position requires four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private organization in data science, data engineering, education policy, statistics, and/or economics or closely related fields. 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prefers five (5) years of experience designing or developing complex data architectures and data pipelines using modern tools and technologies [e.g., Python, Structured Query Language (SQL,) Spark, Databricks, Data Build Tool  (DBT)], managing cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Amazon Web Services/AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), and/or implementing scalable storage and compute solutions. 
  • Prefers five (5) years of experience with data modeling, governance, cataloging, lineage practices, and/or AI machine learning data processes and frameworks.  
  • Prefers a master’s degree with coursework in Information Management, Data Science, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field. 
  • Prefers four (4) years of experience working with data related to Early Childhood services/education. 
  • Prefers four (4) years of experience ensuring continuous improvement by modernizing data infrastructure to automate processes that optimize performance, reliability, efficiency, and accountability. 
  • Prefers three (3) years of professional work experience serving as a full-line supervisor. 

 

Conditions of Employment

All applicants must be able to meet the following Conditions of Employment to be considered for this position.

The State of Illinois
complies with federal and state disability laws and will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

 

1.

Requires ability to obtain and maintain advanced proficiency with DevOps practices (e.g., Continuous Integration, Infrastructure as Code, automated testing, collaboration, and version control)

2.

Requires a criminal history check.

3.

Requires the ability to use state issued equipment, such as a cell phone or laptop

4.

Requires the ability to travel with overnight stays.

5.

Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.

This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends.

6.

Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position.

As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

7.

This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest.

The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public.

All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission.

(See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

 

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state.

During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC will be working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS),
and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026.

   
 

Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families center while reducing complexities and finding efficiencies in the system and advancing equity.

 

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Work Location: 313 S 6th St Springfield, IL 62701-1805
Agency Contact: Sally McDanierl-Smith
Email: dec.jobs@illinois.gov
Phone #: 217-900-0865
Posting Group: Social Services

 

Revolving Door:
Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position.

As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.

 

Term Appointment:
Candidates hired into a term position shall be appointed for a term of 4 years and are subject to a probationary period.

The term may be renewed for successive four-year terms at the Director of the Department of Early Childhood’s discretion.

 

The main form of communication will be through email.

Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s).

You may receive emails from the following addresses:

  • donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
  • systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com


Required Skill Profession

Other Management Occupations



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