Principal Data Engineer

Title: Principal Data Engineer 

Location: Remote in these states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, KS, KY, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI 

Role Description: 
 
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Data Engineer to join our dynamic team. This role is pivotal in shaping the overall data strategy, driving innovation, and influencing key business outcomes through advanced data solutions. As a Principal Data Engineer, you will be responsible for architecting, implementing, and optimizing our data infrastructure, leveraging emerging technologies to create scalable and efficient systems. You will steer complex technical projects, mentor team members, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure that our data platforms not only meet current needs but also anticipate future issues and opportunities.

What you’ll do: 

• Play a key role in defining and executing the data strategy for the organization, driving innovation, and influencing business outcomes through advanced data solutions. Guide by example, providing expert guidance and hands-on development for complex engineering problems. 
• Architect, design, and implement scalable data solutions that support diverse business needs across the organization. Take full ownership of the entire data pipeline, from data ingestion and processing to storage, management, and delivery, ensuring seamless integration and high data quality. 
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies, researching and experimenting with new tools, methodologies, and platforms to continually enhance the data infrastructure. Drive the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that align with the company’s strategic goals. 
• Leverage cloud platforms to ensure the scalability, performance, and reliability of our data infrastructure. Optimize databases through indexing, query optimization, and schema design, ensuring high availability and minimal downtime. 
• Run the modernization of existing data architectures, implementing advanced technologies and methodologies. Plan and execute complex migrations to cutting-edge platforms and ensuring minimal disruption and high data integrity. 
• Work closely with various departments, including Data Science, Analytics, Product, Compliance, and Engineering, to design cohesive data models, schemas, and storage solutions that meet both technical and business requirements. Translate business needs into technical specifications, driving projects that enhance customer experiences and outcomes. 
• Create and set best practices for data ingestion, integration, and access patterns to support both real-time and batch-based consumer data needs.   
• Implement and maintain robust data governance practices to ensure compliance with data security and privacy regulations (CCPA, GDPR, etc..). Establish and enforce standards for data ingestion, integration, processing, and delivery to ensure data quality and consistency. 
• Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence. 
• Develop detailed documentation to capture design specifications and processes, ensuring ongoing maintenance is supported and facilitating effective knowledge sharing across the team.   
• Manage design reviews to verify that proposed solutions effectively resolve platform and stakeholder obstacles while adhering to business and technical requirements, ensuring alignment with industry standards and best practices.  
• Craft and deliver clear communications that articulate the architectural strategy and its alignment with the company's goals. Provide executive-level explanations of the architectural vision and its implementation. 
• Other duties/responsibilities as necessary. 

What you’ll bring to the table: 

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field. 
• 12+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or similar roles, with a focus on cloud technologies and data platforms. 
• Proven experience in designing and scaling highly available data platforms, including data warehouses, data lakes, operational reporting, data science and integrated data stores. 
• Strong expertise in modern data stack: Cloud data technologies (Databricks, Snowflake), data storage formats (Parquet, etc..), and query engines.  
• Extensive experience in data modeling, ETL processes, and both batch and real-time analytics frameworks. 
• Familiarity with modernizing data architectures and managing complex data migrations. 
• Proficiency in SQL and strong knowledge/proven experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, Scala, and tools like Airflow, dbt, and CI/CD tools (Git, Jenkins, Terraform). 
• Experience with streaming platforms like Kafka and integrating with BI tools like PowerBI, Tableau, or Looker. 
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct complex data analysis and present findings in a clear, actionable way. 
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. 
• Strong management experience, particularly in managing and mentoring technical teams, and driving large-scale, cross-functional data initiatives. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple projects effectively and meeting deadlines. 
• A mindset focused on innovation and continuous improvement, with a track record of initiating and running projects that have significantly improved data processes or outcomes. 

Classification: Exempt 
 
Reports to: Sr Director, Data Engineering

Perks & Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision & Basic Life Insurance 
• Paid Maternity/Parental Leave Program 
• Flexible Time Off Program 
• Paid Sick Leave  
• Floating Holidays (2 days/year) 
• Wellness Days (1 day/quarter) 
• 401K Match  
• Competitive Salary, Performance Bonus & Equity 
• Comprehensive Benefits Package 
• Referral Bonus Program 
• Fun Culture >>> Check us out on Instagram (@lifeatshipbob) 

ShipBob believes in transparency while providing a competitive total compensation package with a pay for performance approach. We are targeting a salary range of $201,601 - $336,001 for this role. The full base pay range for this position in our compensation architecture is $201,601 - $336,001.