ZS, a management consulting and technology firm focused on life sciences and healthcare, is hiring an Associate – Platform Services (Data Engineer) across its Pune and Gurgaon offices. The role sits on ZS’s own ZAIDYN platform, building data pipelines and “Agentic AI-ready” data products rather than working on a generic in-house data stack — so candidates get exposure to a proprietary platform alongside standard ETL and data engineering fundamentals.
This isn’t a zero-experience fresher listing — ZS is looking for candidates with 1–2 years of relevant development experience, ideally on medium-to-large technology delivery engagements, with a preference for candidates who’ve worked in Pharma or Life Sciences settings. If you’re early in your data engineering career with some hands-on ETL/SQL/Python work behind you, this is worth a look; if you’re a pure fresher with zero professional experience, this specific role will be a stretch.
For more roles in this space, browse IT & Private Sector Jobs for Freshers and AI/ML Jobs on FreshersJob4U. If you’re still figuring out whether a data engineering track is the right fit for you, our Data Analyst vs Data Scientist vs ML Engineer guide breaks down how this path compares to the other two.
Apply Online — ZS Associate, Platform Services (Data Engineer)
Quick Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | ZS (ZS Associates, Inc.) |
| Job ID | 62377 |
| Role | Associate – Platform Services (Data Engineer) |
| Team | Platforms and Products > Platform Professional Services |
| Experience Required | 1–2 years of relevant development experience |
| Work Locations | Pune, India; Gurgaon, India |
| Work Mode | Hybrid |
| Salary / CTC | Not disclosed in the official posting |
| Application Mode | Online via ZS’s careers portal |
Role & Responsibilities
- Developing complex client solutions using programming languages, ETL platforms, cloud technologies, and related tools.
- Owning delivery across project phases — design, build, test, and deploy.
- Translating business requirements into technical designs, data models, and implementation plans.
- Building and configuring ZAIDYN pipelines to ingest, process, and transform data from multiple sources.
- Implementing ETL workflows — extraction, validation, transformation, and loading — using platform and cloud-native capabilities.
- Applying business rules to ensure data quality, consistency, and alignment with business definitions.
- Defining and computing KPIs to support dashboards, reporting, and advanced analytics.
- Delivering analytics-ready and Agentic AI-ready data products, complete with structured features, metadata, and documentation.
- Partnering with leads and global teams (engineering, BI, analytics) for end-to-end delivery.
- Following best practices — agile delivery, version control, code reviews, testing, and documentation.
- Supporting project/program leads with planning, staffing, risk management, and status reporting.
- Mentoring junior team members and coordinating work across engineering, cloud, BI, and operations roles.
- Managing internal and client communication for assigned workstreams.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a specialization in Computer Science, MIS, Information Technology, or another related discipline.
Required Skills
- 1–2 years of relevant development experience on medium-to-large technology solution delivery engagements, preferably within Pharma or Life Sciences organizations.
- Strong experience in ETL development, including building and maintaining data pipelines.
- Proficiency in SQL for data transformation, validation, and performance tuning.
- Hands-on experience with Python scripting for data processing, automation, and transformation logic.
- Solid understanding of data modeling concepts — conceptual, logical, and physical models.
- Strong knowledge of data warehousing concepts, including dimensional modeling and fact/dimension tables.
- Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) and big-data/ETL tools such as Hadoop, Spark/PySpark, Informatica, Talend, or SSIS.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to understand business context.
- Fluency in English and strong communication skills for collaborating across global teams.
Who Should Apply?
- Early-career data engineers with 1–2 years of genuine hands-on ETL, SQL, and Python experience — this isn’t a role for candidates with purely academic or coursework-level exposure.
- Candidates interested in the pharma/life sciences domain specifically, since ZS’s client base and this role’s preference lean that way.
- Those comfortable with both technical delivery and some client/stakeholder communication, since the role explicitly includes managing internal and client communication.
- Candidates open to travel, since ZS states travel is a requirement for client-facing ZSers based on project and client needs.
Who Is This Role Not For?
- Absolute freshers with zero professional development experience — the posting specifically asks for 1–2 years of relevant experience.
- Candidates unwilling to travel, since client-facing travel is described as a firm requirement, not an occasional possibility.
- Those looking for a pure research/data science role — this position is squarely data engineering and ETL/pipeline-focused.
Salary
ZS has not disclosed a salary or CTC figure in the official posting. Candidates should confirm compensation during the interview or offer stage. ZS does describe a broader “total rewards” package covering health, financial wellness, time away, and professional development, with more detail available on its careers website.
Work Mode & Travel
ZS operates a hybrid working model, combining work-from-home with on-site presence at client or ZS offices for most of the week. Travel is described as a requirement for client-facing ZSers, prioritized based on project and client business needs — candidates should factor this into their decision if travel flexibility matters to them.
Selection Process
The official posting does not describe a specific test or interview format. Given the technical depth expected — ETL, SQL, Python, data modeling, and cloud exposure — candidates should be ready to discuss real pipeline-building experience, including specific tools they’ve used (Spark, Informatica, Talend, etc.) and how they’ve handled data quality or business-rule implementation in past work.
How to Apply
- Visit the official ZS job listing: Associate Platform Services – Data Engineer, Job ID 62377.
- Review the full job posting and click Apply.
- Complete the online application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), which ZS requires for the application to be considered.
- Confirm you possess or can obtain work authorization for your intended country of employment.
- Submit your application.
ZS has stated it does not accept agency calls or submissions for this role — applications should come directly from candidates through the official portal.
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Apply Now → |
| ZS Careers Portal | jobs.zs.com |
| ZS Official Website | zs.com |
About ZS
ZS is a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving healthcare and life sciences outcomes, combining data, science, technology, and human expertise to help clients make better decisions. The company works with patients, caregivers, and consumers worldwide, partnering with clients to build custom solutions and technology products across critical areas of their business. This role sits within ZS’s Platform Professional Services team, working specifically on the company’s ZAIDYN platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can freshers with no work experience apply for this role?
Not directly — the posting requires 1–2 years of relevant development experience on medium-to-large technology delivery engagements, so this isn’t structured as a zero-experience fresher role.
Q2. Is this a remote role?
No. ZS operates a hybrid model, combining work-from-home with on-site presence at client or ZS offices for most of the week.
Q3. Is travel required for this role?
Yes, for client-facing ZSers. ZS states travel is prioritized based on project and client business needs, and candidates should be prepared for this.
Q4. What is the salary for this role?
ZS has not disclosed a salary figure in the official posting. Candidates should confirm this during the hiring process.
Q5. Which tools should I be familiar with for this role?
SQL and Python are core requirements, along with exposure to cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) and big-data/ETL tools such as Hadoop, Spark/PySpark, Informatica, Talend, or SSIS.
Source & Verification
- Source: Official ZS careers listing (Job ID 62377), directly confirmed
- Official Website: zs.com
- Application Portal: jobs.zs.com
- Last Checked: 27 August 2026
FreshersJob4U is not affiliated with ZS. This post is for informational purposes only. Candidates should verify all details, including current application status, directly on the official application link before applying.
Engineering graduate and founder of FreshersJob4U. I write detailed job guides, interview prep resources, and career roadmaps for freshers and early-career professionals in India. This site started from my own experience with the scattered, confusing fresher job search — I wanted to build something cleaner.