Principal Engineer - Data & AI Platform

Helia; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Wellbeing benefits

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Helia, Australia’s first Lenders Mortgage Insurance provider, is seeking a Principal Engineer – Data & AI Platform in Sydney. You will define and lead the evolution of an AI-native data platform within Snowflake to enable scalable AI workloads and intelligent applications across the organisation.

You’ll set technical direction, architecture, and engineering practices, guiding teams while delivering reliable, cost-efficient data and AI solutions.

Qualifications

• Deep experience building AI-native data platforms on Snowflake.
• Experience with LLM, vector, embedding or semantic use cases at scale.
• Strong data modeling skills including Data Vault and dimensional models.
• Proven ability to lead architecture standards and foster engineering excellence.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the architecture and evolution of an AI-native data platform within Snowflake.
• Establish engineering standards, design patterns and best practices for scalable AI data solutions.
• Lead enterprise data models and architecture, including Data Vault and common data models.
• Drive adoption of in-database AI workflows and support AI workloads at scale.
• Partner with AI engineers to integrate Snowflake-hosted intelligence into enterprise applications.
• Lead data observability, monitoring, reliability and governance across the platform.
• Mentor engineers and champion continuous improvement in engineering practices.
• Build scalable data pipelines and AI applications using Snowflake-native capabilities.

Skills

Snowflake

SQL

Python

dbt

Snowpark

LLM

Vector embeddings

Data Vault modeling

Data modeling

Architecture leadership

Tools

Snowflake

dbt

Job description

Helia is Australia’s first Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) provider, with more than 60 years of expertise in the Australian housing market. We exist to accelerate financial wellbeing through home ownership. Our mission is to deliver innovative, tailored solutions in partnership with our customers, making the home ownership journey simpler and more accessible. We do this through efficient, customer-focused services powered by leading technology, data and digital solutions.

As a Principal Engineer – Data & AI Platform, you’ll define and lead the evolution of an AI-native data platform within Snowflake, enabling AI workloads and intelligent applications at scale across the organisation. Working at the intersection of data and AI engineering, you’ll set the technical direction, architecture and engineering practices that embed AI directly into the data platform. You’ll play a key role in shaping future platform capabilities, uplifting engineering practices and ensuring our data and AI solutions are scalable, reliable and ready for what’s next.

Responsibilities

Define and lead the architecture and evolution of our AI-native data platform within Snowflake. Establish engineering standards, design patterns and best practices for scalable, high-performing and cost-efficient data and AI solutions. Lead the design of enterprise data models and architecture, including approaches such as Data Vault and common data models. Drive adoption of in-database AI workflows and shape platform capabilities to support LLM, vector and semantic use cases at scale. Partner with AI engineers and platform teams to integrate Snowflake-hosted intelligence into enterprise applications and workflows. Lead data and AI observability, monitoring, reliability and governance practices across the platform. Define and evolve AI-enabled engineering and SDLC practices, driving continuous improvement in engineering effectiveness. Act as a trusted technical advisor, translating complex business challenges into practical, AI-enabled platform solutions and influencing stakeholders at all levels. Provide technical leadership and mentorship, guiding engineers through complex architectural challenges and fostering a culture of engineering excellence, innovation and continuous learning. Build scalable data pipelines and AI applications using Snowflake-native AI capabilities.

What You’ll Bring

Deep experience with Snowflake, SQL, dbt and Python, ideally including Snowpark, and Snowflake capabilities such as Cortex and Snowflake ML. Strong experience designing and implementing AI-enabled data workflows, including LLM, vector, embedding or semantic use cases at scale. Extensive experience designing scalable data architectures and enterprise data models, including Data Vault, common data models or dimensional modelling. Strong understanding of data requirements for machine learning and advanced analytics, including feature engineering and production AI/ML workflows. Experience defining architecture standards and leading the adoption of AI-assisted development tools and engineering practices. Proven ability to provide technical leadership, solve complex architectural challenges and guide engineering teams. Strong stakeholder and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels and translate business needs into effective data and AI solutions.

At Helia, we’re building a team focused on creating opportunities and brighter futures for our people. When you join Helia, you become part of an organisation that genuinely cares about what matters to you — whether that’s work-life balance, flexible ways of working, wellbeing, or professional growth. We offer a range of benefits and support designed to help you thrive both personally and professionally. Helia is a place where you can grow, learn and make a meaningful impact. We foster a collaborative and inclusive culture where innovation, continuous learning and cross-functional teamwork are encouraged to deliver great customer outcomes.

Located in the heart of North Sydney, our office offers a vibrant workplace experience with some of Sydney’s best views.

If you are interested in joining a company where you can realise your full potential and grow, we would love to hear from you! We have a diverse business community: our people, our customers and communities are reflective of this and as an organisation we are committed to continually hiring a diverse workforce. We ensure our people always feel supported and we do this by our openness to flexible work options and our commitment to inclusion, regardless of career level, life-stage, or experience.

Helia (formerly Genworth) has proudly played a pivotal role in the property market since 1965. As Australia’s first Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) provider, we are a specialist in our field and are dedicated to leading the way for years to come. For many Australians, owning your own home remains a lifetime aspiration, and we work with our customers and partners to help them achieve this dream at various stages of their home buying journey — whether they are looking to save for a deposit, purchase their first home, upgrade or manage retirement by unlocking equity in their home later in life. We are reimagining the home ownership experience to get you there faster. Our purpose is to accelerate financial wellbeing through home ownership, now and for the future.