Staff Data Engineer

Accountabilities

• Design and evolve an Iceberg-based lakehouse architecture with a focus on scalability, performance, cost efficiency, and maintainability.
• Establish technical standards for table design, partitioning, schema evolution, optimization, and data layout across the data platform.
• Lead complex architectural initiatives spanning batch, streaming, and event-driven data processing, enabling teams to deliver independently within clear technical guardrails.
• Evaluate build-versus-buy decisions and assess emerging technologies to strengthen the data ecosystem.
• Define and implement shared approaches for metadata, dataset documentation, data lineage, governance, and cataloging using open standards and tools.
• Establish metadata practices that support self-service analytics, governance, and AI readiness while ensuring data models align with business terminology.
• Design and evolve secure data access models, including table-, column-, and row-level controls, and collaborate with Security and Platform teams on scalable policy enforcement.
• Build automation for compaction, retention, lifecycle management, and cost optimization while establishing observability standards for pipeline health, data quality, and reliability.
• Provide architectural leadership during critical incidents, identify systemic improvements, and reduce ongoing operational workload.
• Participate in architecture and design reviews, communicate complex technical concepts clearly, and align data initiatives with business and customer outcomes.
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers, provide technical guidance, and raise engineering quality across the broader organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience, with typically 12+ years of experience building and operating large-scale data systems.
• Deep expertise in distributed data systems, data architecture, and the design of secure and governed data platforms.
• Strong hands-on experience with Apache Iceberg or comparable table formats such as Delta Lake or Hudi.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL, along with experience designing data orchestration patterns using tools such as Airflow.
• Experience with metadata, data catalogs, governance frameworks, and broader modern data ecosystems.
• Strong experience working in at least one major cloud environment, such as AWS, GCP, or Azure, including cloud-native data services and object-storage-based lakehouses.
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code and automated platform management.
• Strong understanding of batch, streaming, and event-driven architectures, as well as data security, access control, privacy, and compliance considerations.
• Proven ability to operate as a senior technical leader, set architectural direction, influence cross-functional teams, and mentor other engineers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for engineering, product, analytics, security, and data science stakeholders.
• Permanent authorization to work in the United States is required.

Benefits

• Base salary ranging from $175,000 to $218,000 USD, depending on experience, skills, certifications, education, and other relevant factors.
• Eligibility for a potential annual bonus of up to 10% based on company performance.
• Equity opportunities through a common share option grant with a defined vesting schedule.
• Comprehensive health benefits, including a no-monthly-cost medical plan.
• Fully paid parental leave of 5 or 13 weeks.
• 401(k) matching at 100% for the first 3% contributed and 50% from 3–5%.
• Flexible time-away benefits, including PTO, sick time, volunteer time, and seven paid holidays annually.
• Annual funds supporting an active lifestyle and opportunities to participate in company-wide outdoor activities.
• Opportunities for professional growth, technical leadership, and meaningful impact within a mission-driven environment.
• Flexible work options through established distributed-work communities, offices, and virtual workforce hubs across eligible U.S. locations.
• Commitment to an inclusive workplace, equal opportunity, reasonable accommodations, and a culture that values diverse perspectives.