Data Engineer (Software Developer 2)

SLAC; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC invites applications for a Data Engineer (Software Developer 2) to design, build, and maintain a data platform supporting Enigma’s experimental workflows. You will own end-to-end data pipelines, implement durable data models, and partner with researchers to enable reliable data processing and governance across cloud storage, processing, and downstream stores.

The role emphasizes productionizing research code, observability, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced lab environment

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases, as well as object storage (S3, MinIO, Ceph).
• Experience designing, building, and operating production ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Experience designing durable data models and schemas for complex, evolving datasets.
• Experience building high-throughput ingestion systems and optimizing data movement across storage, compute, and network boundaries.
• Experience with Docker and container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.
• Strong communication skills and experience working in cross-functional teams.
• Experience designing APIs or service interfaces used by multiple teams.
• Experience with scientific computing and large-scale neuroscience or other scientific data.
• Workflow orchestration experience with Airflow, Dagster, Prefect, or similar tools.
• Experience in building pipelines with and for autonomous, agentic AI systems.
• Experience with performance-critical compiled or systems languages (C, C++, or Rust).
• Familiarity with data provenance and lineage tracking, metadata catalogs, or dataset versioning.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate ETL/ELT and high-throughput ingestion pipelines connecting acquisition software, processing code, metadata registries, object storage, and databases.
• Own the data layer end-to-end: schema design, indexing, query optimization, migrations, backups, and durable data models that hold up over years of scientific work.
• Improve reliability, scalability, observability, and performance across the data stack, and lead troubleshooting/incident response when things break.
• Build tools with and to help researchers and our in-house AI agents discover datasets, inspect processing state, and safely diagnose or rerun failed jobs.
• Productionize research code - testing, packaging, deployment, monitoring, documentation.
• Partner with data acquisition, infrastructure engineering, scientific analysis and AI modeling teams.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data modeling

Data warehousing

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Airflow

Dagster

Prefect

S3

MinIO

Ceph

Job description

The Tolias Lab in the Department of Ophthalmology in the School of Medicine is seeking a Data Engineer (Software Developer 2) to build and maintain the data platform supporting Enigma’s experimental workflows. You will partner with scientists and engineers to turn evolving experimental requirements into clear interfaces, observable pipelines, and dependable tools. You will develop reliable systems that move raw data from data acquisition systems through ETL/ELT transformation into downstream data and metadata stores. This role will involve data lakehouse and schema design and administration, data governance and observability, and performance optimization.

The ideal candidate enjoys owning systems end to end while working in a highly collaborative research environment.

About Enigma

Enigma is building the experimental and computational infrastructure needed to understand intelligence through large-scale neuroscience. Our teams work across experimental development, neurophysiology, data engineering, and machine learning to turn complex biological data into reliable, accessible scientific resources.

Within Enigma, the Experimental Development (xDev) team designs and supports neurophysiology and behavioral experiments. xDev develops the systems that connect experimental hardware and acquisition software with data processing and downstream analysis- working closely with our data infrastructure engineering and our scientific data analysis and modeling teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate ETL/ELT and high-throughput ingestion pipelines connecting acquisition software, processing code, metadata registries, object storage, and databases
• Own the data layer end-to-end: schema design, indexing, query optimization, migrations, backups, and durable data models that hold up over years of scientific work
• Improve reliability, scalability, observability, and performance across the data stack, and lead troubleshooting/incident response when things break
• Build tools with and to help researchers and our in-house AI agents discover datasets, inspect processing state, and safely diagnose or rerun failed jobs
• Productionize research code - testing, packaging, deployment, monitoring, documentation
• Partner with data acquisition, infrastructure engineering, scientific analysis and AI modeling teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases, as well as object storage (e.g., S3, MinIO, Ceph)
• Experience designing, building, and operating production ETL/ELT pipelines
• Experience designing durable data models and schemas for complex, evolving datasets
• Experience building high-throughput ingestion systems and optimizing data movement across storage, compute, and network boundaries
• Experience with Docker and container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes
• Strong communication skills and experience working in cross-functional teams
• Experience designing APIs or service interfaces used by multiple teams
• Experience with scientific computing and large-scale neuroscience or other scientific data
• Workflow orchestration experience with Airflow, Dagster, Prefect, or similar tools
• Experience in building pipelines with and for autonomous, agentic AI systems
• Experience with performance-critical compiled or systems languages (C, C++, or Rust)
• Familiarity with data provenance and lineage tracking, metadata catalogs, or dataset versioning

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You

• Are excited by a fast-paced, production-focused research environment that often requires switching between many hats
• Can move quickly without sacrificing rigor
• Care about making complex workflows reliable and easy to use
• Enjoy translating ambiguous research needs into pragmatic technical systems
• Take ownership across design, implementation, deployment, and operations
• Enjoy collaborative design and working closely across team boundaries
• Are energized by working as part of a cohesive team pursuing ambitious, long-term neuroscientific and AI goals

What We Offer

• A highly collaborative environment across neuroscience, engineering, and AI
• Opportunity to contribute to a next-generation neurotechnology platform
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Strong mentoring and career development support