Principal Data Engineer

Summary

Join Newsela as a remote Principal Data Engineer and report to our Engineering Manager. Collaborate with app developers and data stakeholders to create data system changes and respond to data inquiries. Lead initiatives, develop documentation, and build and maintain data pipelines. Establish and maintain a data catalog. This role requires mastery of SQL, Python, and relational datastores, along with advanced experience in data pipelines, large-scale data migrations, and SQL query optimization. Newsela offers excellent benefits, including health and wellness programs, remote work options, flexible PTO, and robust professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• Mastered proficiency in SQL, Python, and relational datastores (columnar and row databases)
• Proficiency in building and maintaining data pipelines and DAG tooling (Dagster, Airflow, etc)
• Advanced experience with event-based pipelines and CDC tooling
• Advanced experience in managing large-scale data migrations in relational datastores
• Advanced experience in optimizing SQL query performance
• Advanced experience with data testing strategies to ensure resulting datastores are aligned with expected business logic
• Experience with DBT orchestration and best practices
• Experience with enabling monitoring, health checks and alerting on data systems and pipelines
• Experience establishing and maintaining a data catalog with business-related metadata
• Experience building tools and automation to run data infrastructure

Responsibilities

• Work alongside app developers and data stakeholders to create data system changes and to respond to data inquires
• Lead initiatives and problem definition scoping, design, and planning through epics and blueprints
• Develop documentation, technical presentation, discussion, and incident reviews with your deep domain knowledge
• Build and maintain data pipelines and DAG tooling
• Establish and maintain a data catalog with business-related metadata

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with writing and maintaining cloud-based infrastructure for data pipelines (AWS, GCP and Terraform)
• Experience in document, graph or schema-less datastores

Benefits

• Access to the world’s leading medical experts for healthcare (pets included!). Discounts and resources to stay healthy: mind, body, and soul
• Almost all of our roles are fully remote - tech stipend included!
• Supplemental programs and time off to take care of your family and yourself
• Flexible PTO to recharge, including Sabbatical Leave
• Robust DEIB curriculum, Identity & Experience Groups (Affinity Groups + Employee Resource Group), Authentic & Transparent conversations with Executive Leadership Teams, and integration of DEIB lens across Talent lifecycle processes
• Holistic Learning & Development Programs that enable meaningful & inclusive experiences, programs that build future-focused competencies, cohort & community learning sessions that foster a sense of belonging, and individual development plans aligned with your personal and professional aspirations to turn goals into reality