Backend Engineer (Data Infrastructure / Data Quality)

Skill; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Skill is seeking a Backend Engineer in New York to build and maintain core data services within a large-scale data ecosystem. You will work on data quality, observability, and reliability, designing APIs and tooling to empower data engineers and product teams.

The ideal candidate thrives in autonomous teams, has strong Java backend skills, and can own features from design through production. This role focuses on scalable backend systems and data-driven improvements across the platform.

Qualifications

• Backend engineer with Platform Engineering or large-scale data pipelines experience.
• Proficient in Java with strong systems design and data structures knowledge.
• Ability to work with stakeholders to clarify requirements and design APIs.
• Commitment to code quality, testing, and maintainable software.
• Ownership mindset from idea to production deployment.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain backend services for key data use-cases.
• Design and implement AI integrations to advance data quality and observability.
• Develop tooling for company-wide AI development best practices.
• Create infrastructure and tools to democratize data access.
• Scale complex systems with teammates and leaders.
• Gain insights into user workflows to improve data quality and reliability.

Skills

Backend engineering

Platform Engineering

Large-scale data pipelines

Java

APIs and docs

Code quality & testing

Ownership

Tools

Kubernetes on GCP

Flyte

BigQuery

Job description

Overview

Placement Type:

Temporary

Salary:

$58-64.67 Hourly

W2

Start Date:

Oct 5, 2026

Aquent is partnering with a leading organization at the forefront of digital innovation, where data drives critical decisions and powers groundbreaking user experiences. This company is renowned for its vast reach and commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to connect and inspire millions globally. Join a team that is building the future of data infrastructure and quality, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and transformative collaboration across a dynamic platform.

Step into a pivotal role as a Backend Engineer, where your expertise will directly shape the integrity and efficiency of a massive data ecosystem. You will be instrumental in enhancing data quality, observability, and reliability, building the foundational systems that empower data engineers and drive strategic initiatives across the entire organization. This is an incredible opportunity to make a tangible impact, contributing to systems that verify accuracy, enhance reliability, and foster collaboration on platform-wide improvements to the organization's data infrastructure. If you're passionate about crafting robust backend solutions and driving innovation in data quality, your work here will directly influence how data is managed, understood, and utilized at scale.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain critical backend services that support the organization's most extensive and vital data use-cases.
• Design and implement innovative AI integrations to advance the future of data quality, observability, and support.
• Develop brand new tooling to establish and promote company-wide best practices for AI development.
• Create infrastructure and tools that democratize data access and enhance data usage across the entire company.
• Contribute to scaling complex systems, collaborating closely with teammates, stakeholders, and leaders.
• Gain deep insights into user workflows to create impactful tools that significantly improve data quality, observability, and reliability.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Proven experience as a backend engineer, specifically in Platform Engineering or working with large-scale data pipelines.
• Proficiency in Java (or a similar object-oriented programming language), coupled with a strong understanding of systems design, data structures, and algorithms.
• A track record of thriving in environments where engineers are empowered with autonomy to solve meaningful problems.
• Ability to work directly with stakeholders to clarify requirements, write clear technical documentation, and design easily adoptable APIs/contracts.
• A strong commitment to code quality, thorough testing, and maintainability, with a clear understanding of what it takes to ship reliable software.
• Enjoys breaking down complex technical challenges, iterating quickly, and taking full ownership from initial idea to production deployment.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with technologies such as Scala, Flyte, Apache Iceberg, Dataflow, or Airflow, or a history of collaborating with data engineers to build impactful tools and pipelines.
• Familiarity with data quality or data monitoring concepts and tools like Great Expectations, SQL Soda, Counters, or Data SLOs.
• Strong Java backend development experience (with additional experience in Python being a plus).
• Experience with agentic coding tools and AI-assisted development workflows, demonstrating strong judgment regarding correctness, security, and reviewability.

Tech Stack You'll Likely Work With

• Languages: Java, Python
• Infrastructure: Kubernetes on GCP
• Storage/Data: Iceberg, GCS, BigQuery, CloudSQL, Scala, Flyte, Dataflow
• Misc: Bazel, VictoriaMetrics, Great Expectations (GX)

About Skill:

Skill connects the best professional, IT, engineering, financial and administrative talent with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to benefits such as health benefit contributions, retirement plans with match and flexible spending accounts.

Skill is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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