Analytics Engineer II

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to eliminate the back row in education – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class digital education at scale. As the parent company of edX, the world’s leading online learning platform, 2U powers more than 4,000 online higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporate partners, we are helping to unlock human potential.

What We’re Looking For:

The Analytics Engineer II role is responsible for building, maintaining, and optimising data pipelines, models, and analytics frameworks that drive business insights and decision-making.  This analytics engineer role will also provide technical guidance to junior team members.  This role will contribute to medium complexity data sets and spans singular product lines and/or functional areas with increased business criticality. The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise in data manipulation and processing, analytics development, and a passion for uncovering insights through data. They will also be proactive in identifying opportunities to improve data processes and drive the company’s strategic objectives through data-driven solutions.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

• Technical 
• Cleanse and verify data integrity, enhancing data sources when required
• Thoroughly test code and adhere to best practices
• Analyse data to deliver data-driven insights using proven data mining and statistical techniques to produce solutions to business problems 
• Visualise data insights, communicate findings, and engage in data engineering tasks to enhance analytical capabilities  
• Build and optimise data models for analytics and reporting, ensuring accuracy and consistency of data.
• Collaborate with data engineers and software developers to manage data warehouse architecture, ensure data integrity, and enable seamless integration across systems.
• Management
• Support and provide technical guidance to junior analysts.
• Contribute expertise in data architecture, modelling, and analytics by offering guidance on best practices and collaborating with teams to find effective solutions.
• Business 
• Work closely and collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project goals and data requirements for the successful completion of these projects
• Leverage business knowledge to enhance business performance
• Help guide business when making technical decisions
• Ensure alignment of data strategy with business objectives, contributing to the company’s overall data-driven culture.
• Personal 
• Perform research and constantly stay on top of the industry’s trends and insights
• Engage and proactively seek opportunities for improvement through ongoing learning
• Self-driven and able to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• Educational/professional experience with a heavy quantitative, analytical focus. 
• Experience in data analysis, data engineering and business intelligence.
• Skilled in SQL with ability to utilise window functions and generate scalable solutions.
• Skilled in R or Python with ability to efficiently and effectively write and debug code.
• Skilled understanding of version control; efficiently create pull requests, collaborate, debug/track issues, document and host code.
• Independently develop moderately complex data models. 
• Basic understanding of orchestration/data transformation tools, such as Airflow and DBT.  
• Experience with a reporting tool, such as Tableau.

Other Attributes That Will Help You In This Role:

• Manages multiple projects, resolves challenges swiftly, delivers flexible approaches, and values diverse opinions.
• Effectively identifies root causes, generates diverse solutions with benefits and risks, explores various sources for creative ideas, and presents complex problem solutions.
• Sets quarterly goals aligned with team objectives, tracks progress, ensures timely deadlines, communicates proactively, understands downstream impact, and takes personal responsibility for quality and timeliness of work.
• Maintains and builds job knowledge, applies it effectively, demonstrates solid understanding of tools and methodologies, and proactively identifies and recommends improvements.
• Tailors messages for audience understanding, engages respectfully in team meetings, synthesizes thoughts effectively, presents confidently, and actively listens to stakeholders.
• Builds and maintains key stakeholder relationships, listens actively to understand needs thoroughly, and effectively manages expectations, finding middle ground solutions when necessary.

Benefits & Culture

Our global employee base is a diverse collection of innovators, dreamers, and doers working together to transform lives through higher education. We believe that every employee can advance our shared purpose, and that life at 2U should be fun and meaningful. If you’re excited by the opportunity to provide over 40 million learners and counting with access to world-class online higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference. #NoBackRow

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance.
Full-time, ZA benefits include: 

• 2 complimentary Getsmarter short courses per year
• Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme
• 4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave and a company-wide festive season break

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture of belonging, respect, and inclusion. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to bring together an employee base that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by what makes us different, as well as by how we are alike. 

2U is committed to providing reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodations, please reach out to us at: [email protected]. 

About 2U Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU)

For more than a decade, 2U, Inc. has been the digital transformation partner of choice to great non-profit colleges and universities delivering high-quality online education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading global online learning platform, 2U provides over 45 million learners with access to world-class education in partnership with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporations. Our people and technology are powering more than 4,000 digital education offerings — from free courses to full degrees — and helping unlock human potential. To learn more: visit 2U.com.

About edX

edX is the education movement for restless learners and a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU). Together with the majority of the world’s top-ranked universities and industry-leading companies, we bring our community of over 45 million learners world-class education to support them at every stage of their lives and careers, from free courses to full degrees. And we're not stopping there — we're relentlessly pursuing our vision of a world where every learner can access education to unlock their potential, without the barriers of cost or location. Learn more at edX.org.

Learn more at https://2u.com/careers/
#NoBackRow

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

2U is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. 2U’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits and pay. 

2U is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. 2U requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.