Data Engineer – FHIR: Healthcare AI Company via Toptal

A forward-thinking healthcare technology company revolutionizing medical care with AI is offering an exceptional remote job opportunity for a Data Engineer with FHIR expertise through Toptal’s elite talent network. This full-time position (3-6 months) allows you to lead the development of cutting-edge AI-powered medical assistants that improve healthcare efficiency, patient experience, and system management across the United States.

In this pivotal role, you’ll leverage your specialized knowledge of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) and Epic Clarity to build advanced data solutions that support nursing staff operations and optimize clinical workflows. You’ll work on complex healthcare data integration, managing large datasets and cloud solutions while conducting FHIR audits and establishing critical data mappings. This is an immediate-start opportunity for subject matter experts ready to make a significant impact in healthcare AI.

The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in data engineering with specialized healthcare IT knowledge, particularly in FHIR standards and Epic Clarity systems. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of healthcare delivery by creating AI assistants that integrate medical policy recommendations, streamline patient data accessibility, and support health system operations at scale. This role through Toptal connects you with innovative healthcare technology while offering the flexibility and autonomy of remote work.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and enhance medical AI assistants by developing sophisticated data pipelines that optimize patient recommendations and medical policy integrations
• Lead FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) audits to ensure compliance with healthcare data standards and identify integration opportunities
• Establish comprehensive data mapping strategies to streamline clinical workflows and improve interoperability between healthcare systems
• Spearhead data extraction and management initiatives focused on big data solutions and cloud-based healthcare platforms
• Develop AI solutions that support health system submissions data and optimize nursing staff operations through intelligent automation
• Work with Epic Clarity databases to extract, transform, and analyze clinical data for AI model training and deployment
• Implement HL7 messaging standards and integrations to facilitate seamless data exchange between healthcare applications
• Design and manage JSON-based data structures for healthcare information exchange and API development
• Collaborate with healthcare stakeholders to understand clinical workflows and translate requirements into technical data solutions
• Optimize patient history data accessibility through smart application development and improved data architecture

Requirements

Professional Experience

• Proven expertise in data engineering with demonstrated ability to handle large-scale healthcare datasets
• Substantial experience working with FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standards and implementations
• Hands-on experience with Epic Clarity database system and healthcare data warehousing
• Strong background in Healthcare IT with deep understanding of clinical workflows and data requirements

Technical Skills

• Expert-level proficiency in FHIR standards, including resource types, profiles, and RESTful API implementation
• Advanced data engineering skills including ETL/ELT processes, data pipeline design, and big data technologies
• Strong experience with Epic Clarity for clinical data extraction, reporting, and analytics
• Proficiency with HL7 messaging standards (HL7 v2, HL7 v3, and CDA) for healthcare data exchange
• Expert knowledge of JSON for data structuring, API development, and healthcare information exchange
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) for healthcare data management and processing
• Strong SQL skills for complex healthcare database queries and data analysis
• Understanding of healthcare data security and compliance requirements (HIPAA, HITECH)
• Knowledge of data mapping, transformation, and integration techniques for clinical systems
• Experience with healthcare APIs, including SMART on FHIR and other interoperability standards

Healthcare Domain Knowledge

• Deep understanding of clinical workflows and healthcare system operations
• Knowledge of nursing operations, patient care processes, and healthcare documentation
• Familiarity with EHR/EMR systems beyond Epic (Cerner, Allscripts, etc.) is beneficial
• Understanding of healthcare data standards including ICD-10, CPT, SNOMED CT, and LOINC

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to tackle complex healthcare data challenges
• Excellent communication skills to work with both technical teams and clinical stakeholders
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently in a remote healthcare technology environment
• Detail-oriented approach to ensure accuracy in healthcare data processing and compliance
• Ability to quickly understand and adapt to evolving healthcare AI requirements

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Experience with health systems management and understanding of hospital operations
• Knowledge of insurance company integrations and medical policy recommendation systems
• Familiarity with developing SMART apps for improved patient history and data accessibility
• Experience with machine learning or AI implementation in healthcare settings
• Background in nursing operations support or clinical decision support systems
• Understanding of value-based care models and quality metrics in healthcare

Benefits & Perks

This position through Walter and Toptal offers an outstanding opportunity to work at the cutting edge of healthcare AI while enjoying the advantages of remote work and specialized expertise recognition:

• Immediate Start – Begin making an impact right away on revolutionary healthcare AI technology
• Full-Time Remote Work – Work from anywhere in the United States with complete location flexibility
• Subject Matter Expert Role – Recognized as a FHIR and Epic Clarity specialist driving strategic initiatives
• Healthcare AI Innovation – Work on cutting-edge medical AI assistants that transform patient care and clinical operations
• High-Impact Projects – Lead development of solutions that directly improve healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes
• Strategic Leadership – Manage complex workflows and drive integration of advanced data solutions in healthcare
• 3-6 Month Engagement – Focused project timeline with potential for extension based on performance and needs
• Competitive Compensation – Reflects specialized FHIR and Epic expertise in high-demand healthcare AI sector
• Through Toptal Network – Access to elite talent community and prestigious healthcare technology companies
• Professional Growth – Expand expertise in emerging healthcare AI technologies and advanced data engineering
• Meaningful Work – Contribute to revolutionizing healthcare delivery and improving patient experiences nationwide
• Cloud & Big Data – Work with modern cloud platforms and big data technologies in healthcare context

About the Healthcare AI Company

The client company is a forward-thinking healthcare technology innovator with a bold mission to revolutionize healthcare delivery through artificial intelligence. They’re focused on creating sophisticated medical AI assistants that integrate seamlessly into health systems, fundamentally improving how healthcare providers deliver care, manage operations, and interact with patients. By leveraging cutting-edge AI technology combined with deep healthcare domain expertise, they’re addressing some of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare: efficiency, patient experience, and system-wide coordination.

Their AI-powered solutions support critical healthcare functions including nursing staff operations, medical policy integration, and health system submissions. The company recognizes that successful healthcare AI requires not just advanced algorithms but also deep understanding of clinical workflows, regulatory compliance, and interoperability standards like FHIR and HL7. By hiring subject matter experts in healthcare data engineering, they’re building a foundation for AI assistants that truly understand the complexities of medical care delivery and can provide meaningful support to healthcare professionals while maintaining the highest standards of patient data security and privacy.

The Data Engineer – FHIR Role in Today’s Remote Work Market

Healthcare data engineering, particularly roles requiring FHIR expertise, represents one of the fastest-growing specializations in the technology sector as healthcare systems increasingly adopt interoperability standards and AI-driven solutions. The convergence of healthcare IT and artificial intelligence has created unprecedented demand for professionals who understand both technical data engineering and healthcare-specific standards like FHIR, HL7, and Epic systems. Remote opportunities in this field have expanded significantly as healthcare organizations recognize that specialized talent can effectively work remotely on data integration, AI development, and system optimization projects. Data engineers with FHIR expertise command premium positions due to the specialized knowledge required and the critical nature of healthcare data interoperability.

Healthcare data engineers with FHIR specialization in the US typically earn between $130K-$180K annually for full-time positions, with contract roles through elite networks like Toptal often commanding even higher rates due to specialized expertise. The 3-6 month engagement model for this role reflects the project-based nature of healthcare AI development while offering competitive compensation for subject matter experts. The healthcare AI sector is experiencing explosive growth, with investments in medical AI assistants and clinical decision support systems reaching record levels, creating sustained demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between healthcare data standards and modern AI technologies. Career opportunities abound for data engineers who maintain current expertise in FHIR, Epic, cloud platforms, and healthcare AI applications.

Insider Tips for Applicants

Showcase Your FHIR Implementation Experience

Since FHIR expertise is the cornerstone of this role, your application must demonstrate deep, hands-on experience with FHIR implementations beyond just theoretical knowledge. Highlight specific projects where you’ve worked with FHIR resources, profiles, and APIs—include details about which FHIR resources you’ve implemented (Patient, Observation, MedicationRequest, etc.), whether you’ve built FHIR servers or clients, and any experience with FHIR validators or testing tools. Discuss challenges you’ve overcome in FHIR data mapping, particularly how you’ve handled complex clinical data transformations or reconciled differences between FHIR versions. If you have experience with SMART on FHIR applications or CDS Hooks, emphasize these as they demonstrate advanced interoperability knowledge. Companies need FHIR experts who can immediately contribute to healthcare AI projects without extensive ramp-up time.

Demonstrate Epic Clarity and Healthcare IT Depth

Your Epic Clarity experience needs to be clearly articulated with specific examples of data extraction, reporting, and analytics projects you’ve completed. Discuss the types of clinical data you’ve worked with (encounters, diagnoses, medications, lab results), the complexity of your SQL queries against Clarity tables, and any performance optimization work you’ve done. If you’ve worked with Epic’s Chronicles database or have Cogito certification, mention these as they show comprehensive Epic knowledge. Beyond Epic, demonstrate your broader healthcare IT understanding by discussing other EHR systems you’ve worked with, your knowledge of clinical workflows, and how you’ve collaborated with clinical stakeholders. Healthcare AI companies need engineers who can speak the language of both technologists and clinicians.

Emphasize AI and Big Data in Healthcare Context

While the role focuses on data engineering, the end goal is building AI-powered medical assistants, so demonstrate your understanding of how healthcare data feeds AI systems. Discuss experience with data pipelines that prepare clinical data for machine learning models, any work with healthcare-specific NLP or predictive analytics, and your understanding of how AI can support clinical decision-making. Highlight your big data and cloud expertise specifically in healthcare contexts—handling millions of patient records, ensuring HIPAA compliance in cloud environments, or implementing real-time healthcare data processing. If you’ve worked on projects involving nursing operations, medical policy integration, or health system submissions data, these align perfectly with the role’s requirements. Show that you understand not just the technical aspects but also how your work translates into improved patient care and operational efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 3-6 month engagement timeline mean for this position?

This role is structured as a focused, project-based engagement lasting between 3 to 6 months, which is common for specialized healthcare AI development projects. The timeline allows you to make significant contributions to building and enhancing medical AI assistants while providing the flexibility typical of contract work through Toptal. The immediate start requirement suggests the client has urgent needs for FHIR expertise to support active AI development initiatives. While the initial engagement is 3-6 months, strong performance often leads to contract extensions or opportunities for longer-term collaboration as healthcare AI projects evolve and expand. This structure is ideal for subject matter experts who prefer project-based work or want to gain diverse experience across different healthcare AI applications without committing to traditional long-term employment.

Do I need to have experience with both FHIR and Epic Clarity, or would one suffice?

The job posting emphasizes seeking “SME’s with FHIR expertise and/or Epic Clarity experience,” suggesting that deep expertise in either area would qualify you for consideration, though having both is ideal. If you’re exceptionally strong in FHIR with proven implementation experience but limited Epic Clarity exposure, you should still apply—the core focus is FHIR expertise for healthcare interoperability. Conversely, if you have extensive Epic Clarity experience and working knowledge of FHIR (even if not expert-level), that combination would also be valuable. The role requires someone who can handle healthcare data integration challenges, and both FHIR and Epic Clarity skills serve that purpose. However, since the position involves building AI assistants for healthcare systems where Epic is widely used, some familiarity with Epic’s data structures would strengthen your candidacy significantly.

What type of healthcare data and clinical workflows will I be working with?

You’ll be working with diverse healthcare data types related to nursing operations, medical policy recommendations, and health system submissions. This includes patient clinical data (diagnoses, medications, lab results, vital signs), nursing documentation and workflow data, medical policy information for clinical decision support, and administrative data for health system submissions and reporting. The role involves understanding how this data flows through clinical workflows—from patient admission and care delivery to documentation, policy application, and system-level reporting. You’ll need to extract and structure this data to train AI models that can assist with tasks like optimizing patient recommendations, integrating policy guidance into clinical workflows, and supporting nursing staff in their daily operations. Experience with real-world clinical data—understanding its messiness, inconsistencies, and the importance of data quality in healthcare AI—will be crucial to success in this role.