Principal Data Engineer

Solink; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in video intelligence is seeking a Principal Data Engineer in Ottawa. The ideal candidate will drive cloud infrastructure evolution and manage complex data integration projects. This role offers opportunities for impactful contributions in a growing team and includes comprehensive benefits and meaningful equity.

Benefits

Fully paid health & dental

Monthly wellness reimbursement

Meaningful equity in the company

Clear advancement based on merit

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of data engineering through relevant degree.
• 10+ years experience in large-scale data architecture.
• Experience with cloud services and data warehousing.

Responsibilities

• Architect systems for scalable, secure data integration.
• Optimize data workflows for efficient data processing.
• Set up monitoring dashboards and ensure data quality.

Skills

Data Understanding

Cloud Services

Data Modeling

ETL/ELT Pipelines

Observability Solutions

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Snowflake

Redshift

Apache Airflow

Spark

Kafka

Job description

Principal Data Engineer

Location: Ottawa, ON | Hybrid (preferred)
Department: R&D | Data Integrations
Reports To: Rohit Dudani, VP of Data and Solutions Engineering
Type: Permanent | Full-Time

About Solink

At Solink, our mission is to safeguard what matters most. We provide businesses with the tools to know sooner and act faster by transforming video security into real-time operational insights.

Our cloud-based platform integrates seamlessly with your existing cameras and systems, turning them into intelligent sensors that detect and interpret key moments. This empowers teams to make data-driven decisions, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency.

Trusted by over 30,000 locations across 32+ countries - including brands like McDonald’s and JYSK - Solink delivers clarity when it counts. Our solutions help businesses reduce shrink, optimize performance, and respond proactively to potential threats.

We're growing rapidly, earning industry recognition, and scaling with purpose. We’ve been recognized by Deloitte’s Fast 50 and Fast 500, Business Intelligence Group, and as one of Ottawa’s Best Places to Work. And we’re just getting started!

The Role

The data team at Solink builds and manages a growing list of over 350 integrations to external data systems, including databases, point of sale systems, access control systems, analytics, API’s and more. These integrations form the basis of Solink’s powerful data analytics platform, a critical component of the Solink application, processing hundreds of millions of events each month.

We’re looking for a passionate Principal Data Engineer who can bring to life simple solutions to complex problems. You’ll be responsible for the evolution of the cloud infrastructure, data architecture and data pipeline that supports all these integrations. Beyond data modelling, architecture, and pipelines, you’ll set up world class observability and response mechanisms in cooperation with our DevSecOps team. With you as a Principal Data Engineer at Solink, we can grow the number of features and data volumes our integrations support exponentially.

What You’ll Do

• Architect Scalable Systems: Design and lead the development of high-volume, secure data architectures capable of ingesting diverse data types from thousands of sources with reliability and speed.

• Optimize Data Workflows: Continuously improve and maintain ETL pipelines and data processing frameworks to support rapid and efficient data integrations across the platform.

• Monitor & Ensure Data Quality: Set up monitoring dashboards, reporting tools, and quality assurance processes to ensure clean, reliable, and actionable data across systems.

• Drive Innovation: Propose and implement ideas to improve performance, usability, and maintainability—making a direct and visible impact on the product and platform.

• Research & Experiment: Stay ahead of the curve by evaluating new technologies and developing solutions to extend and enhance existing data capabilities.

• Mentor & Lead: Serve as a technical mentor within the engineering team—sharing expertise, elevating code quality, and helping others grow in areas like data architecture, performance tuning, and best practices.

What You Bring

Must-Have:

• Data Understanding: You have a solid understanding of data engineering either through a degree in Computer Science, Engineering or Technology related field.

• Data Experience: You have 10+ years of experience designing and implementing large-scale data architectures, with at least 3 years in a senior or principal role.

• Cloud Experience: You have hands-on experience with Cloud Services (AWS, GCP, Azure), data warehousing solutions (Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery), data pipeline tools (AWS Glue, Apache Airflow) and other big data technologies (Spark, Kafka).

• Model Design: You have the ability to design efficient data models and schemas that optimize performance and scalability.

• Pipeline Background: You have a strong background in developing and managing ETL and ELT pipelines.

• Observability Solutions: You have experience setting up observability solutions to ensure data pipeline health (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana)

• Long-Term Planning: You are skilled in long-term planning for scalable and sustainable data solutions.

Nice-to-Have:

• You have experience in DevOps and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) (e.g. cloudformation, AWS CDK, terraform, serverless)

• You have experience with AWS Services: Lambda, VPC, DynamoDB, Elasticache, SQS, Kinesis

• Understanding of data compliance standards (GDPR, PCI, CCPA).

Security Requirements

• Candidates must undergo a criminal records check upon hire;

• Be a Canadian Citizen (dual citizens included), or eligible to work in Canada;

• Be willing to comply with Solink’s own security policies and standards.

Our Values

We do things the Solink way:

• Act with URGENCY – Our customers move fast, so we do too.

• Deliver with QUALITY – We sweat the details and hold a high bar.

• Win with TEAM – No egos. Just outcomes, built together.

• Lead with TRUST – We earn it through clarity, consistency, and care.

These aren’t just words—they shape how we hire, lead, and grow.

Why Solink?

We’re not just building tech - we’re building a place where great people do great work.

• Clarity and trust: Where the role allows, we support flexibility in how and where work gets done - and we’re upfront about what’s required.

• Meaningful equity: Every full-time, permanent employee has a stake in our growth.

• Comprehensive benefits: Fully paid health & dental (no waiting period) + $500 health spending account.

• Wellness support: Monthly reimbursement for fitness, wellness, or mental health programs.

• Growth through merit: Advancement is based on contribution, initiative, and the ability to raise the bar - together.

• Candid culture: Clear expectations, honest feedback, and no politics.

• Social connection: From So-learns to Solink-o and So-lunches, we stay connected in ways that actually feel fun.

What to Expect from the Hiring Process

We respect your time and value transparency. Here’s a general idea of what to expect:

1. Intro call with our Talent Team (30-45 minutes)

2. Interview with VP of Data Engineering (45-60 minutes)

3. Technical Assessment Panel Interview (~120 minutes)

4. Meet the CTO (~30 minutes)

5. Offer & onboarding

Please note: this is subject to change at any point in the recruitment process based on the needs of the business.

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a short cover letter via our Careers Page. Let us know what excites you about this role, and how you’d help move Solink forward.

Solink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require accommodation during the selection process, please let us know.