Lead Data Engineer

Cypher Games; Fatih; On-site; TRY 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Cypher Games is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to own the data platform and shape the architecture that powers game analytics and live operations. You will partner with game teams and analysts to build scalable ETL/ELT pipelines, implement robust data models, and establish governance, quality, and security across the data stack.

A builder mindset and strong communication are essential. You will work hands-on with GCP, BigQuery, Airflow, and AI-native tools to deliver reliable data solutions at

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 5+ years in Data Engineering with ownership of data platforms or leading initiatives.
• Gaming industry experience required or in a similar tech-driven product.
• Strong SQL and Python skills.
• Deep knowledge of modern data architecture, ETL/ELT pipelines, and data modeling.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms, preferably GCP.
• Experience with BigQuery, Airflow, and modern data warehouses.
• Experience with AI-native development tools (Claude Code, Cursor, OpenClaw).
• Strong system design, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• A builder mindset with a passion for scalable data-driven products.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and evolution of Cypher's data platform.
• Design, build, and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines and data models.
• Lead decisions around data warehouse, orchestration, and data infra.
• Establish data quality, governance, monitoring, security, and performance.
• Build data infrastructure for analytics, experimentation, and live ops.
• Partner with analysts and engineers to deliver scalable data solutions.
• Mentor engineers and promote best practices across the data stack.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven

Communication

System design

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field

Tools

BigQuery

Airflow

Google Cloud Platform

dbt

Kafka/Pub/Sub

Claude Code / Cursor / OpenClaw

Job description

About the job

At Cypher Games, we are building games played by millions around the world, and data is at the core of how we improve every player experience.

As our Lead Data Engineer, you will own and shape our data platform, defining the architecture, technical direction, and best practices that enable fast, reliable, and scalable decision-making across the company.

As a key member of our Analytics team, you will build the foundation that powers everything from game analytics to live operations, while partnering closely with game teams across the company.

You don't just build pipelines: you build the data foundation that helps us create better games.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and evolution of Cypher's data platform
• Design, build, and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines and data models
• Lead technical decisions around our data warehouse, orchestration, and data infrastructure
• Establish best practices for data quality, governance, monitoring, security, and performance
• Build reliable data infrastructure that enables analytics, experimentation, and live game operations
• Partner with analysts and engineers to deliver scalable, high-quality data solutions
• Mentor engineers, drive technical excellence, and help establish best practices across the data stack

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in Data Engineering, including experience owning data platforms or leading technical initiatives
• Experience in the gaming industry or a similar technology-driven consumer product company is required
• Strong expertise in SQL and Python
• Deep understanding of modern data architecture, ETL/ELT pipelines, and data modeling
• Hands-on experience with cloud data platforms, preferably Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Experience with BigQuery, Airflow (or similar orchestration tools), and modern data warehouse technologies
• Experience with AI-native development tools (Claude Code, Cursor, OpenClaw)
• Strong system design, problem-solving, and communication skills
• A builder mindset with a passion for scalable systems and data-driven product development

Nice to Have

• Experience with dbt
• Experience with streaming technologies such as Kafka or Pub/Sub
• Experience supporting live products with millions of users
• Previous experience mentoring or leading engineers
• Contributions to open-source projects or personal data engineering projects

What We Value

• Ownership: you take responsibility for the systems you build and continuously improve them.
• Curiosity: you challenge existing solutions and look for smarter ways to solve problems.
• Simplicity: you build scalable, maintainable systems instead of over-engineering.
• Collaboration: you enjoy working closely with analysts, engineers, and game teams.
• Passion for games and a genuine excitement for building the technology behind great player experiences.