Principal Data Engineer

Company Description

We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Here you can be your authentic self. As a company uniquely positioned to educate, entertain and empower through our platforms, Comcast NBCUniversal stands for including everyone. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, coupled with our Corporate Social Responsibility work, is informed by our employees, audiences, park guests and the communities in which we live. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where our employees feel supported, embraced and heard. Together, we’ll continue to create and deliver content that reflects the current and ever-changing face of the world.

Job Description

NBC News Digital is creating the digital future for one of the world’s best-known and most-trusted news organizations. Our Digital Technology organization is at the center of building and improving a suite of digital products including user experiences across web, mobile apps, OTT devices, storytelling tools including CMS and curation systems, and a platform to distribute that content to hundreds of millions of users. Our brands include NBC News, Today, MSNBC, CNBC, E! News, and Telemundo Noticias. 

As a Principal Data Engineer, you will take on a leadership role, shaping the technical direction of our data infrastructure. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including machine learning, data science, and DevOps, to architect and deliver innovative solutions that drive business value. You will mentor and guide more junior engineers while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

This position reports to the Senior Director, Data Science, Engineering

Responsibilities:

• Lead Data Architecture & Strategy: Architect, design, and oversee the development of scalable and reliable data pipelines that serve as the backbone for NBC News’ digital platforms. You will set the technical vision and drive the evolution of our data systems, ensuring they are extensible and aligned with business objectives.
• Build & Maintain Advanced Data Frameworks: Design and build advanced analytics pipelines, data applications, and business intelligence solutions that support key decision-making across NBC News Digital.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with data scientists, machine learning engineers, DevOps, and business stakeholders to ensure data systems are aligned with organizational goals. Facilitate the integration of data-driven insights into product development and business strategy.
• Mentor & Lead Engineers: Provide leadership and mentorship to the data engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and adaptability. Help junior engineers grow through code reviews, training, and guidance.
• Data Governance & Quality: Ensure that data systems and pipelines comply with best practices in terms of security, governance, and quality. Build frameworks for data validation, testing, and monitoring to ensure the integrity of the data ecosystem.
• Problem-Solving & Innovation: Demonstrate advanced problem-solving abilities by identifying challenges in the data pipeline and creating efficient, scalable solutions. Take a proactive approach to solving issues and improving system performance.
• Drive Data Scalability & Performance: Ensure the data systems scale efficiently with growing volumes of data, driving performance optimization and cost-efficiency in cloud platforms like AWS.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product teams, senior business leaders, and technical teams to identify data-driven opportunities that improve business operations, enhance user experiences, and streamline workflows.

Qualifications

• Extensive Experience in Data Engineering: 7+ years of experience in data engineering, software development, or related technical roles. Proven track record of designing, building, and optimizing large-scale data systems.
• Advanced Technical Expertise: Expertise in modern cloud computing platforms (preferably AWS) and distributed data technologies (e.g., Apache Spark, Hadoop). Proficiency with programming languages such as Python, PySpark, and JavaScript.
• Deep Understanding of Data Architecture: In-depth knowledge of designing data structures, governance frameworks, and modern schema-less big data storage solutions.
• Data Pipeline Design: Experience with designing, developing, and maintaining large-scale data pipelines, including experience with streaming data using tools such as Spark and Kafka.
• Cloud Infrastructure & Serverless: Hands-on experience with serverless computing platforms like AWS Lambda, S3, and other cloud-based services. Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code principles is a plus.
• Strong SQL & Data Querying Skills: Proficiency with SQL, Presto, and related data querying technologies.
• Leadership & Mentoring: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop junior engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team culture.
• Passion for Innovation & Media: Strong interest in the intersection of technology, data, and media, with a passion for contributing to a leading global news organization.
• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Bonus Points:

• Airflow & DAGs Expertise: Experience with workflow orchestration tools like Apache Airflow and DAGs for managing complex data pipelines.
• Real-Time Streaming: Experience building and optimizing real-time data streaming pipelines using technologies like Spark Streaming, Kafka, and other stream processing frameworks.
• Advanced ML & AI Collaboration: Familiarity with data science and machine learning pipelines, with the ability to collaborate with data scientists to integrate machine learning models into production data workflows.
• Big Data Technologies: Experience with additional big data technologies like Hive, Presto, and Redshift for large-scale data storage and analysis.

Fully Remote: This position has been designated as fully remote, meaning that the position is expected to contribute from a non-NBCUniversal worksite, most commonly an employee’s residence.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $185,000-$215,000

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.

For LA County and City Residents Only:  NBCUniversal will consider for employment
qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner
consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance
Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles' County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.