Data Engineer, Principal

Blue Shield of CA; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Shield of CA is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to lead the design and delivery of data-driven solutions. You will partner with Enterprise Architects and analytics teams to build data lakes, data warehouses, and data marts that meet enterprise needs.

The role emphasizes leadership, cloud data product development, and mentoring senior engineers while advancing AI/ML initiatives across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• 10+ years of data engineering experience.
• Experience with enterprise AI/ML and data product ecosystems.
• Expertise in Data Vault 2.0, dimensional modeling, Lakehouse, or domain-driven design.
• Ability to influence enterprise architecture and mentor senior engineers.
• Strong data management, modelling, MDM, integration, architecture, privacy and security.
• Hands-on SQL and Python; DBT Cloud/Core experience.
• Experience with NoSQL and platforms like Snowflake/Synapse/Databricks.
• Designing scalable, high-volume data platforms with parallel/distributed architectures.
• CI/CD, source control, and agile tools (Git, Bitbucket, Jira).
• Healthcare or regulated enterprise experience preferred.

Skills

10+ years data engineering experience

Enterprise AI/ML & data products

Data Vault 2.0 / dimensional modeling

Mentor senior engineers / influence EA

Data management & data architecture

AI/ML concepts in enterprise

SQL & Python

DBT Cloud / DBT Core

NoSQL & Snowflake / Synapse / Databr.

CI/CD / Git / Jira

Healthcare / regulated environments

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

DBT Cloud

DBT Core

Snowflake

Databricks

Azure Synapse

Job description

Your Role

The Data Services team is responsible for technical design and end‑to‑end delivery of complex data‑driven solutions and data products for the enterprise. The Data Engineer, Principal will report to the Sr Manager, Data Solutions / Director. In this role you will be partnering with Enterprise Architects, Portfolio, Analytics and Data engineering teams for designing technical solutions and building data products to meet enterprise data needs. You will be responsible for driving the data product by designing and implementing cloud data lakes, data warehouse and data mart solutions.

Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow - personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high‑performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.

Your Knowledge and Experience

• Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant data engineering experience.
• Experience supporting enterprise AI/ML, advanced analytics, and data product ecosystems.
• Expertise in Data Vault 2.0, dimensional modeling, Lakehouse architecture, or domain-driven data design.
• Demonstrated ability to influence enterprise architecture decisions and mentor senior engineering talent.
• Expert in understanding data management practices, data modelling (data vault 2.0), master data management, data integration, data architecture, data virtualization, data warehousing, data privacy and security.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for AI and emerging technologies, with solid understanding of AI/ML concepts and hands‑on experience applying AI‑driven solutions in enterprise environments.
• Hands on experience with SQL, Python, DBT Cloud and DBT core. Expert in one or more of NoSQL and database appliances and platforms (Snowflake, Synapse, Databricks)
• Proven ability to design and scale large‑volume, high‑performance data platforms leveraging parallel and distributed architectures.
• Advanced knowledge of CI/CD, source control, and agile delivery tooling (e.g., Git, Bitbucket, Jira).
• Experience in healthcare, regulated environments, or large enterprises is strongly preferred.