Principal Data Engineer

TL;DR

Principal Data Engineer (Data Platforms): Leading the design and evolution of scalable data systems, pipelines, and modeling strategies with an accent on data governance, contracts, and observability. Focus on building robust, contract-driven data environments that support both analytical and operational workloads across the enterprise.

Location: Must be based in or able to commute to the NJ/NY area (Hybrid: 3 days per week in office).

Salary: $170,000 - $200,000

Company

hirify.global is a leading media and entertainment company home to iconic brands across cable networks and digital platforms.

What you will do

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable data pipelines, transformation frameworks, and data models.
• Define enterprise standards for data modeling, schema design, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure alignment with data contracts, governance, and lineage requirements.
• Partner with Platform Engineering to integrate data systems into platform services and APIs.
• Drive best practices for testing, validation, performance, and modular design.
• Mentor engineers and influence technical direction across the organization.

Requirements

• 8–10+ years of experience in data engineering or related roles.
• Deep expertise in data modeling, ELT pipelines, and large-scale data processing.
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Strong understanding of data governance, contracts, lineage, and observability.
• Proven ability to lead technical direction without direct authority.
• Must be able to work in the office at least 3 days per week in the NJ/NY area.

Nice to have

• Exposure to ML platforms or services (e.g., Databricks, AWS Bedrock).
• Familiarity with analytics and BI tools like Tableau or Power BI.
• Experience in media, streaming, or large-scale enterprise environments.
• Experience modernizing legacy systems within a cloud-native architecture.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions.
• Paid leave and tuition reimbursement.
• Commuter support with free shuttles from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and NJ transit hubs.
• Focus on innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within a large-scale media environment.