The SAS to Python/R Migration Architect is responsible for end-to-end strategy, design, and governance of large-scale analytical and statistical code migrations from SAS to modern open-source ecosystems (Python and R). This role focuses on assessment, architecture, standards, risk management, and validation, working closely with stakeholders and development teams to ensure accuracy, performance, and regulatory fidelity.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role, not just documentation or oversight.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead enterprise-scale migrations from SAS (Base SAS, PROC SQL, STAT, ETS, MACRO, etc.) to Python and/or R
- Perform detailed SAS estate assessments, including:
- Code inventory and dependency mapping
- Macro complexity analysis
- Data access patterns (SAS datasets, DBs, flat files)
- Statistical method equivalency analysis
- Define target-state architecture for Python/R analytics platforms (libraries, frameworks, environments)
- Establish migration patterns and standards, including:
- SAS PROC → Python/R library mappings
- Macro-to-function translation strategies
- Reusable templates and shared components
- Design validation and reconciliation frameworks to ensure:
- Statistical equivalence
- Numeric tolerances
- Regulatory and audit compliance
- Guide performance optimization strategies for large datasets
- Identify automation opportunities (code scanners, translators, test harnesses)
- Lead technical reviews and approve migrated code
- Mentor developers and review complex conversions
- Communicate migration risks, tradeoffs, and timelines to leadership
Requirements
- 8+ years of advanced analytics or statistical programming experience
- 5+ years hands-on SAS development (Base SAS, PROC SQL, MACRO, STAT)
- Proven experience architecting or leading SAS → Python and/or R migrations
- Deep expertise in:
- Python (NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, statsmodels, scikit-learn)
- and/or R (tidyverse, data.table, caret, survival, forecast)
- Strong understanding of statistical methods parity between SAS and open-source tools
- Experience with data platforms (SQL databases, cloud storage, data lakes)
- Familiarity with CI/CD, version control, and testing frameworks for analytics code
Nice to Have
- Experience in regulated environments (government, healthcare, finance)
- Prior work modernizing legacy analytics platforms
- Exposure to cloud analytics stacks (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Experience designing automated validation frameworks
Benefits
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Skills Required
- 8+ years of advanced analytics or statistical programming experience
- 5+ years hands-on SAS development (Base SAS, PROC SQL, MACRO, STAT)
- Experience architecting or leading SAS to Python and/or R migrations
- Deep expertise in Python and/or R libraries
- Strong understanding of statistical methods parity between SAS and open-source tools
- Experience with SQL databases and data platforms
What We Do
Passion and Purpose. We are a start-up borne out of a group of architects and engineers providing solutions that transform with digital breakthroughs. We Partner - Partnership to us means being all in - on the ground, in the weeds, producing and delivering mission solutions. We Innovate - driving digital innovation and experimentation to improve decision services for the American people. We Engage – co-creating to deliver HCD (human centered design) to solve tour customers digital challenges. We Deliver – and take pride and accountability in everything we do. We are Ignite IT. Ignite IT deploys teams that are customer-obsessed, delivering a CX (Customer Experience) renaissance to our Private and Public Sector customers. We combine Commercial BX (Business of Experience) with customer delivery experts to benefit agencies to innovate and improve services and launch new digital solutions. We have built a company foundation dependent on each of our employee’s success, and provide a healthy, engaging, community where learning and knowledge sharing are encouraged. We empower our employees to be bold, continually innovate and propose new ideas to improve processes and services. We engage daily on work that touches millions of people, always focusing on positive impacts and results. We enable mission services that enable Enterprise companies to succeed in digital transformation, protect Border Agents, deploy the Army Reserve and National Guard, providing decision dominance to make America safer. We apply these digital services across the Private and Public Sectors to include include HHS, DHS, AOUSC and Army. We aim to continually raise the bar for our customers to expect more from their digital services. For more information, visit www.igniteitservices.com
