Principal Data Engineer
Employment Type: Temporary Full Time (up to 30 June 2028 with possibility of extension)
Position Classification: Health Manager Level 4
Remuneration: $147,653 - $175,917, plus Superannuation
Location: 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards NSW
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ667587
Closing Date: Thursday, 25 June 2026 (11:59PM).
Join our InforMH Team in System Information and Analytics at Ministry of Health for an exciting temporary employment opportunity and be part of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. Our team supports mental health and suicide related services in using data to improve care.
About us
- We are committed to your growth and development, providing the resources and opportunities you need to excel in your career.
- Explore boundless potential in a dynamic environment.
- Join a passionate team dedicated to innovation and creativity.
To learn more about the Ministry and what benefits we offer, access our Employee Benefits Handbook.
About the role
With your skills and experience, you can contribute to the millions of ways we’re enhancing health and wellness while developing your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.
You will be working with InforMH - A team responsible for data development, collection, analysis and reporting for NSW public mental health and suicide related services, and the analysis and reporting of data from the NSW Suicide Monitoring System (SuMS). In this position of Principal Data Engineer, you will work within a passionate team to directly support the NSW Health system and its services in using data to make informed decisions and to improve care.
What you’ll be doing
- Developing and implementing strategies that support new initiatives and drive continuous improvement aligned with the team’s mental health and suicide prevention objectives.
- Leading the strategic development and delivery of enterprise data solutions within the NSW Health ecosystem to transform complex data into actionable insights.
- Overseeing the optimisation of data and data pipeline architecture, including the planning and development of complex infrastructure for the efficient extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) of data from diverse sources.
- Promoting efficient, sustainable, and best-practice data management and pipeline development techniques.
- Providing leadership and technical support, contributing to the successful implementation of data projects and mentoring team members to build internal capability.
About you
We are seeking motivated and committed individuals who can support the work of NSW Health with:
- Demonstrated knowledge and curiosity in modern data engineering techniques and approaches, with experience in building and improving existing data processes in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and reproducibility.
- Extensive knowledge of health-related data collections and systems, including an understanding of their strengths and limitations, and strong knowledge of the NSW and Australian health systems.
- Demonstrated experience managing data projects related to complex health system issues, with a proven track record of delivering large or complex enterprise-level data solutions.
- Demonstrated experience with data management tools and software, and proficiency in programming and scripting for automation, data exploration, transformation, and ETL pipeline development. Technologies may include (but are not limited to) SQL, Python, Java, JavaScript, PySpark, PowerShell, Apache Airflow, and Make.
- Relevant qualifications in software engineering, data engineering, statistics, actuarial science, mathematics, or other related fields, with demonstrated experience and interest in building data engineering workflows and infrastructure, preferably in a health-related context.
How to apply
At The Ministry of Health, we want you to make the most of the opportunities you’ll get to grow your skills and your career, surrounded by authentic, smart people and leaders.
Please review the role description and submit your up-to-date resume (up to 5 pages) and cover letter (3 pages max.) explaining your interest and motivation in applying for this role and responding to how you meet the ‘Selection Criteria’ (8 criteria) outlined in the position description (PD).
For role related queries or questions contact Charmaine Turton on
[email protected] and quote REQ667587.
If you do require any adjustments to the recruitment process during the recruitment process, please contact Lisa Byrne on
[email protected].
Closing Date: Thursday, 25 June 2026 (11:59PM).
Need more information?
Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.
To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.
Additional information
- This is a temporary role and there may be opportunities for ongoing employment at grade.
- This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.
- Please note the selection process will include a range of merit-based techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.
For more information about working at the NSW Health, please visit our career portal.
Applications Close: Thursday, 25 June 2026 (11:59PM).
