Data Engineer

Institute of Foundation Models; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Bonus

401K Plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

The Institute Of Foundation Models in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a Data Engineer specialized in NLP and large-scale data processing to build and curate high-quality datasets for cutting-edge AI research. You will implement scalable data pipelines, web crawling, and LLM-output refinement to support researchers and engineers.

The role emphasizes Python-based engineering, data quality, and collaboration across teams, with responsibilities spanning data collection, processing, and documentation in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, or engineering is required.
• Master’s degree or PhD preferred, related to data engineering or AI research.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly collect, curate, and preprocess datasets based on NLPresearchers' specifications, delivering data within tight timelines.
• Develop and maintain efficient web crawling solutions, APIs, and automated data workflows to improve data collection processes.
• Refine and evaluate outputs from large language models (LLMs) to generate structured datasets for model training and benchmarking.
• Implement scalable data pipelines ensuring efficient processing, storage, and distribution to research teams.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to ensure data meets quality and relevance criteria.
• Document data collection methodologies, dataset characteristics, and pipeline architecture clearly.
• Engage with peer teams and participate in technical reviews to uphold data quality standards.
• Represent MBZUAI at industry and research forums, showcasing capabilities in large-scale data processing and AI data infrastructure.

Skills

Python

Data engineering

Web crawling

AWS

Spark

Kafka

Kubernetes

SQL

Algorithms

Data structures

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Data Science/Engineering

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

Spark

Kafka

Kubernetes

APIs

Job description

About The Institute Of Foundation Models

We are a dedicated research lab for building, understanding, using, and risk-managing foundation models. Our mandate is to advance research, nurture the next generation of AI builders, and drive transformative contributions to a knowledge-driven economy.

As part of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to work on the core of cutting-edge foundation model training, alongside world-class researchers, data scientists, and engineers, tackling the most fundamental and impactful challenges in AI development.

You will participate in the development of groundbreaking AI solutions that have the potential to reshape entire industries. Strategic and innovative problem-solving skills will be instrumental in establishing MBZUAI as a global hub for high-performance computing in deep learning, driving impactful discoveries that inspire the next generation of AI pioneers.

The Role

As a Data Engineer specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and large-scale data processing, you will quickly and effectively gather, curate, and prepare high-quality datasets to support cutting-edge NLP research. Your role will be instrumental in enabling researchers by delivering essential data through efficient and scalable engineering practices, including web crawling, LLM-generated content refinement, and robust data pipelines, primarily leveraging Python and related technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Rapidly collect, curate, and preprocess datasets based on detailed specifications provided by NLPresearchers,delivering data within tight timelines
• Develop and maintain efficient web crawling solutions, APIs, and automated workflows to continuously improve data collection processes
• Refine and evaluate outputs from Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate structured datasets suitable for model training and benchmarking
• Implement scalable data pipelines, ensuring efficient data processing, storage, retrieval, and distribution to research teams
• Collaborate closely with researchers and engineers to ensure collected data meets specified quality and relevance criteria
• Document data collection methodologies, dataset characteristics, and pipeline architecture clearly and effectively
• Engage with peer teams and participate in technical reviews to uphold best practices and data quality standards
• Represent MBZUAI at industry and research forums, showcasing technical capabilities in large-scale data processing and AI data infrastructure

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field required
• Master’s degree or PhD degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or related technical fields preferred

Professional Experience - Required

• Extensive experience in data engineering, data processing, and automation using Python
• Demonstrated proficiency in designing and deploying web crawling solutions, automated data extraction, and processing pipelines
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, databases, SQL, and performance optimization
• Experience working with cloud infrastructure and distributed data processing frameworks (e.g., AWS, Spark, Kafka, Kubernetes)
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and the capability to rapidly address technical challenges
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional teams

Professional Experience - Preferred

• Proven track record of supporting NLP or AI research teams with rapid and reliable data delivery
• Experience working with large language models, including evaluation, efficient inference, and prompt engineering
• Experience with refining outputs from large-scale AI models, such as LLM-generated data
• Contributions to open-source projects, coding competitions, or high visibility in coding communities (e.g., GitHub, Stack Overflow)
• Familiarity with the latest advancements in NLP data processing and large language model technologies

Benefits Include

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Bonus
• 401K Plan
• Generous paid time off, sick leave and holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance and disability

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Salary Range

The posted salary range represents the company’s good faith estimate of the compensation for this position upon hire. The actual compensation offered may vary within this range depending on individual qualifications, including but not limited to relevant skills, experience, education, certifications, geographic location, and specific business needs.