ZS Associates

Engineering Specialist

ZS Associates$120K — $150K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
  • 6-8+ years of experience focused on cloud data engineering and architecture.
  • Deep expertise in Databricks and AWS for building scalable data platforms.
  • Strong architectural skills for designing end-to-end data solutions.
  • Experience with PySpark and familiarity with Snowflake is a plus.
  • Desirable domain knowledge in pharma or life sciences.
  • Prior consulting experience preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Stay updated on cloud platform capabilities and industry trends relevant to pharma.
  • Act as a technical architect to design and implement data solutions.
  • Contribute to strategic decision-making through POVs and architecture recommendations.
  • Support business development with solution design and estimation.
  • Design end-to-end data architectures and automation pipelines.
  • Lead teams of developers and data engineers to deliver solutions.
  • Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and well-being package.
  • Professional development opportunities including custom learning pathways.
  • Flexible and connected working model, with hybrid options.
  • Robust skills development programs to enable career progression.
  • Collaborative culture designed to empower individual and team growth.
Full Job Description
ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you'll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.

Architecture & Engineering Specialist

What You'll Do: Engineering Specialist in the Architecture and Engieering Exerptise Center will...
  • Stay current on Databricks, AWS, and modern cloud data platform capabilities, emerging technologies, industry trends, and architecture patterns, particularly as they apply to pharma and life sciences use cases
  • Act as a hands-on technical architect, leveraging deep technical expertise to design, build, and implement scalable, production-grade data solutions that meet complex client objectives.
  • Contribute to the development of points of view (POVs), market scans, and architecture recommendations to support strategic decision-making, including drafting CXO-level materials and guiding teams on best practices.
  • Play a key role in business development pursuits, supporting solution design, estimation, and client discussions related to cloud data platforms, analytics, and architecture.
  • Design and implement end-to-end data architectures, including data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and automation pipelines using Databricks, AWS services, PySpark, DBT, and related technologies.
  • Lead and guide teams of developers and data engineers, enabling effective delivery of data engineering, analytics, and reporting solutions; Snowflake experience is a strong plus.
  • Ensure high-quality technical delivery by enforcing architecture standards, design guidelines, coding best practices, and conducting regular design and code reviews.
  • Collaborate closely with clients to understand business challenges, data quality metrics, regulatory and IT standards, and deliver outcomes aligned with client expectations.
  • Mentor and coach junior practitioners through hands-on guidance, architecture reviews, and ongoing technical leadership.Explore beyond core data platforms to support broader solution architectures, including application integration, APIs, process automation, and gradual evolution toward enterprise architecture.
  • Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, serving as a trusted technical advisor to clients.

What You'll Bring
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
  • 6-8+ years of relevant industry experience, with a strong focus on cloud-based data engineering and architecture.
  • Deep expertise in Databricks and AWS, with hands-on experience designing and implementing scalable, production-grade data platforms.
  • Strong architectural mindset with the ability to design end-to-end solutions, solve complex engineering problems, and guide technical decision-making.
  • Experience delivering data solutions using platforms such as Databricks, AWS (e.g., EMR, S3, Glue, Lambda), and PySpark; Snowflake experience is a plus.
  • Exposure to or interest in AI/ML-enabled data platforms, such as AWS Bedrock, Databricks Mosaic, Snowflake Cortex, or similar technologies.
  • Prior experience in a consulting environment is strongly preferred, with the ability to balance hands-on delivery and client-facing responsibilities.
  • Desirable domain experience in pharma, life sciences, or healthcare, with an understanding of industry-specific data challenges and regulatory considerations.
  • Experience leading or mentoring small teams, reviewing deliverables, and coaching engineers to grow technically.
  • Comfort working in an offshore-onshore model, collaborating across time zones with global teams and client stakeholders.
  • Exposure to business development activities such as RFP responses, solution estimation, and resource planning is a plus.
  • Industry-recognized certifications (e.g., AWS, Databricks, Snowflake, Azure, GCP) are desirable.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage confidently with clients, articulate technical trade-offs, and translate architecture decisions into business outcomes.
  • Ability to serve as a trusted advisor, helping clients define technical roadmaps and align architecture decisions to long-term business goals.
  • Fluency in English
  • Client-first mentality
  • Intense work ethic
  • Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

Additional Skills:
  • Ability to quickly adapt new technology and be innovative in creating solutions;
  • Ability to independently run POCs on new technologies and document findings to share;
  • Knowledge of data modeling and data warehouse concepts;
  • Travel to other global offices as needed to work with client or other internal project teams

How you'll grow:
  • Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
  • Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
  • Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions


Hybrid working model:

ZS is committed to a Flexible and Connected way of working. ZSers are onsite at clients or ZS offices three days a week. Combined flexibility to work remotely two days a week is also available. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Perks & Benefits:

ZS offers a comprehensive total rewards package including health and well-being, financial planning, annual leave, personal growth and professional development. Our robust skills development programs, multiple career progression options and internal mobility paths and collaborative culture empowers you to thrive as an individual and global team member. We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and onsite presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Hybrid working model:

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Travel:

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems-the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.

If you're eager to grow, contribute, and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.

To complete your application:
Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment. An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.

NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.

Find Out More At:
www.zs.com

About ZS Associates

ZS is a professional services firm that works side by side with companies to help develop and deliver products that drive customer value and company results. From R&D to portfolio strategy, customer insights, marketing and sales strategy, operations and technology, we leverage our deep industry expertise and leading-edge analytics to create solutions that work in the real world. Our most valuable asset is our people?a fact that?s reflected in our values-driven organization in which new perspectives are integral and new ideas are celebrated. ZSers are passionately committed to helping companies and their customers thrive in industries ranging from healthcare and life sciences, to high-tech, financial services, travel and transportation, and beyond.
Learn more about ZS Associates
Size
10,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1983

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