Senior Data Analyst

Overview:
A public sector client of ours in NYC is looking for a seasoned Senior Data Analyst with VSAM experience to support a critical Legacy Replacement initiative of theirs for a 1-year contract that is likely to extend. This role will be hybrid with 3 days required onsite in their Brooklyn, NY office.
The Senior Data Analyst will join the agency's Data Management team to support data profiling, cleansing, conversion, migration, and validation activities for an enterprise-wide Legacy Replacement initiative. This role will also contribute to ongoing process improvement efforts focused on data integrity, data quality, and modernization of legacy data environments.

The Senior Data Analyst will be responsible for detailed field-level analysis, metadata analysis, data profiling, and source-to-target mapping of VSAM files into relational and dimensional SQL tables. This position will work across mixed mainframe and relational database environments and support conversion and validation efforts involving pension administration systems.

This role requires strong experience with mainframe data structures, IBM DataStage ETL, COBOL, CICS, DB2, SQL Server, SSRS, Control-M, Git, and complex SQL validation. The ideal candidate will have the ability to extract business rules from legacy code, document data definitions, identify data quality gaps, and collaborate with technical leads and subject matter experts to support successful legacy system replacement.

Key Responsibilities

Data Profiling, Mapping & Documentation

• Participate in the identification, inventory, and classification of the agency's critical data.
• Perform detailed field-level analysis, metadata analysis, data profiling, and data mapping.
• Create source-to-target mappings for VSAM files into relational and dimensional SQL tables.
• Create and maintain data dictionary documentation, including business terms, valid values, and definitions.
• Work with data subject matter experts to document data quality rules, definitions, and business rules.
• Extract business rules from existing legacy code and translate them into source-to-target mappings.

Data Conversion, Migration & Validation

• Support data conversion and migration from VSAM files to relational and dimensional SQL distributed databases.
• Develop complex SQL data validations based on source-to-target mappings and target data models.
• Transform business rules and data quality rules into ETL and SQL technical specifications.
• Validate converted and migrated data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
• Support processes that proactively detect, correct, and prevent invalid data values.
• Provide technical and analytical support for agency data integrity and quality initiatives.

ETL, SQL & Reporting Support

• Develop and support ETL processes using IBM DataStage.
• Actively participate in optimization and performance tuning of existing ETL and SQL processes.
• Write and optimize complex SQL queries and stored procedures.
• Support SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) report development.
• Apply understanding of data structures and their relationship to ETL applications.
• Work across IBM Mainframe, Windows Server, and SQL Server environments.

Legacy System Analysis & Technical Support

• Extract field references and calculated data from COBOL programs.
• Analyze mainframe applications involving COBOL, CICS, and DB2.
• Support data analysis and validation activities related to pension administration systems.
• Collaborate with technical leads and subject matter experts to identify and address data quality gaps.
• Work with IT partners to remediate identified gaps using manual and automated solutions.
• Support defect handling, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem resolution.

Process Improvement & Collaboration

• Contribute to ongoing process improvement programs related to data management, quality, profiling, conversion, and validation.
• Recommend solutions based on analyzed requirements and team methodology.
• Collaborate with data SMEs, technical leads, application teams, and IT partners to support legacy replacement objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve data quality, streamline validation activities, and strengthen repeatable data management processes.

NOTE: Candidates who don't meet the required qualifications for this role will NOT be considered at this time.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of source-to-target data mapping experience in mixed mainframe and relational database environments.
• Experience creating data dictionary documentation with business terms, valid values, and definitions.
• Experience converting and migrating VSAM data to relational and dimensional SQL distributed databases.
• Minimum of three (3) years of recent experience developing applications using IBM DataStage ETL.
• Experience extracting field references and calculated data from COBOL programs.
• Experience with BMC Control-M workload automation software.
• Experience with Git version control software.
• Minimum of three (3) years of recent experience with pension administration systems.
• Strong SQL knowledge, including experience working with complex queries and stored procedures.
• Proficiency in SSRS report development.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to receive and analyze requirements and propose suitable solutions aligned with team methodology.
• Ability to work across IBM Mainframe, Windows Server, and SQL Server environments.
• Proficiency with mainframe applications, including COBOL, CICS, and DB2.
• Understanding of data structures and their relationship to ETL applications.
• Ability to develop complex SQL data validations based on source-to-target mappings and target data models.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, information-gathering, and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience supporting data profiling, cleansing, conversion, migration, and validation efforts.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with data subject matter experts, technical leads, and IT partners.
• Ability to support defect handling and problem resolution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience extracting business rules from existing legacy code.
• Experience with data quality or data profiling tools.
• Experience with data warehouses and data marts.
• Experience with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
• Prior experience working in a pension system environment.
• Prior experience working with a New York State or New York City pension system.
• Experience supporting enterprise-wide legacy replacement or modernization initiatives.
• Experience improving data quality processes, validation standards, or ETL performance in complex data environments.