SAS Developer

Job Description: SAS Developer

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled SAS Developer to join our data analytics team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in analyzing and optimizing existing SAS scripts and datasets, with a focus on identifying and handling Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data attributes. The role involves modifying SAS processes to implement tokenization and detokenization of PII data to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations. The candidate must possess strong SQL proficiency for data analysis and a critical mindset to challenge and improve legacy SAS code for efficiency and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze Existing SAS Scripts and Datasets:
• Review and interpret complex SAS scripts to understand their functionality, logic, and data flows.
• Examine SAS datasets to identify PII data attributes (e.g., names, addresses, Social Security Numbers, emails, etc.) and assess their usage within processes.
• Document findings and provide clear summaries of script and dataset structures for stakeholders.
• Tokenization and Detokenization of PII Data:
• Design and implement modifications to SAS processes to tokenize PII data attributes, ensuring sensitive information is securely masked.
• Develop detokenization processes to retrieve original PII data when required, ensuring compliance with security and access control policies.
• Collaborate with data security teams to align tokenization strategies with organizational data privacy standards (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA).
• Optimize and Modernize Legacy SAS Code:
• Critically evaluate legacy SAS code for inefficiencies, redundancies, and outdated practices.
• Propose and implement optimized SAS code to improve performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• Refactor code to align with modern SAS programming best practices, including modularization and documentation.
• SQL-Based Data Analysis:
• Write complex SQL queries to analyze SAS datasets and other relational databases for data profiling, validation, and quality checks.
• Perform data reconciliation and integrity checks to ensure accuracy of tokenized and detokenized data.
• Leverage SQL to support ad-hoc reporting and data exploration for business stakeholders.
• Collaboration and Documentation:
• Work closely with data architects, analysts, and business stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Create detailed technical documentation for modified SAS scripts, tokenization processes, and SQL queries.
• Provide recommendations for process improvements and data governance related to PII handling.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a SAS Developer, with a focus on data analysis and process optimization.
• Proven experience in analyzing and modifying complex SAS scripts and datasets.
• Hands-on experience with PII data handling, including tokenization/detokenization processes in a secure environment.
• Strong background in writing and optimizing SQL queries for data analysis and reporting.
• Technical Skills:
• Advanced proficiency in SAS programming (Base SAS, SAS Macros, SAS/STAT, SAS/GRAPH, etc.).
• Expertise in SQL for querying and analyzing data in relational databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, DB2).
• Familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA) and their implications for PII data handling.
• Knowledge of data security practices, including encryption, tokenization, and access controls.
• Experience with data integration tools and ETL processes is a plus.
• Soft Skills:
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to challenge existing processes and propose innovative solutions.
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on producing high-quality, maintainable code and documentation.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Data Integration Studio, or SAS Viya.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and their integration with SAS.
• Knowledge of other programming languages (e.g., Python, R) for data analysis is a plus.
• Certification in SAS (e.g., SAS Certified Base Programmer, SAS Certified Advanced Programmer).