Principal - Data Engineering

Ally; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ally is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to join its Enterprise Data & AI organization in a hybrid Detroit role. You will design scalable data pipelines, build cloud-native data platforms on AWS and Snowflake, and lead Data Vault modeling to deliver trusted data assets.

You will mentor teams, shape architecture, and drive best practices in data governance, quality, and AI-enabled analytics. Base pay range is substantial, with incentives and comprehensive total rewards.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or analytics platforms.
• Proficiency in Python, automation, and modern software engineering practices.
• Deep expertise with Snowflake, modern data warehousing, and cloud-based data platforms.
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS services including S3, Lambda, and related cloud technologies.
• Experience with dbt, DataStage, Qlik Replicate, and enterprise data integration tools.
• Strong knowledge of Data Vault, dimensional modeling, and enterprise data architecture.
• Experience designing and delivering large-scale data pipelines, APIs, and distributed data solutions.
• Strong understanding of data governance, metadata, lineage, security, and data quality management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives, influence architecture decisions, and mentor engineering teams.
• Experience with AI/ML enablement and building data foundations that support advanced analytics and generative AI solutions.
• Insurance domain experience is preferred.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable data pipelines, data products, and enterprise data solutions that support analytics, reporting, and AI initiatives.
• Develop cloud-native solutions leveraging AWS, Snowflake, and modern data engineering technologies.
• Lead Data Vault and enterprise data modeling efforts to create trusted and resilient data assets.
• Build and optimize data ingestion, transformation, integration, and quality frameworks across diverse data sources.
• Enable trusted and governed data for business intelligence, advanced analytics, and AI use cases.
• Partner with business and technology teams to define data requirements and deliver scalable solutions.
• Establish data quality, monitoring, metadata, lineage, and governance standards.
• Promote engineering excellence through modern software development, DevOps, and Agile practices.
• Provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and influence architecture and platform decisions.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and drive continuous improvement across Ally’s data ecosystem.

Skills

Python

Automation

Leadership

Data governance

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IS or related

Tools

Snowflake

AWS (S3, Lambda)

dbt

DataStage

Qlik Replicate

Job description

Hybrid

Detroit, MI

Full time

R2600372

Ally and Your Career

Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?

Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role’s specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.

The Opportunity

Ally is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to join the Enterprise Data & AI organization and help deliver modern, cloud-based data platforms and engineering solutions that power analytics, reporting, AI, and business insights.

This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader with deep expertise in cloud data engineering, data architecture, data modeling, and software engineering. You will drive the design and implementation of scalable data pipelines, enterprise data solutions, and trusted data foundations that support business-critical capabilities across Ally.

The ideal candidate brings experience building modern data platforms on AWS and Snowflake, developing robust data integration solutions, implementing Data Vault modeling, and applying engineering best practices. Experience supporting Insurance Data & Analytics solutions and AI-enabled use cases is highly valued.

You will play a key role in shaping engineering standards, mentoring teams, and driving innovation while delivering scalable, secure, and high-quality data products.

At this time, Ally will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The Work Itself

• Design and build scalable data pipelines, data products, and enterprise data solutions that support analytics, reporting, and AI initiatives.

• Develop cloud-native solutions leveraging AWS, Snowflake, and modern data engineering technologies.

• Lead Data Vault and enterprise data modeling efforts to create trusted and resilient data assets.

• Build and optimize data ingestion, transformation, integration, and quality frameworks across diverse data sources.

• Enable trusted and governed data for business intelligence, advanced analytics, and AI use cases.

• Partner with business and technology teams to define data requirements and deliver scalable solutions.

• Establish data quality, monitoring, metadata, lineage, and governance standards.

• Promote engineering excellence through modern software development, DevOps, and Agile practices.

• Provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and influence architecture and platform decisions.

• Evaluate emerging technologies and drive continuous improvement across Ally’s data ecosystem.

The Qualifications We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or related field.

• 7+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or analytics platforms.

• Proficiency in Python, automation, and modern software engineering practices.

• Deep expertise with Snowflake, modern data warehousing, and cloud-based data platforms.

• Strong hands-on experience with AWS services including S3, Lambda, and related cloud technologies.

• Experience with dbt, DataStage, Qlik Replicate, and enterprise data integration tools.

• Strong knowledge of Data Vault, dimensional modeling, and enterprise data architecture.

• Experience designing and delivering large-scale data pipelines, APIs, and distributed data solutions.

• Strong understanding of data governance, metadata, lineage, security, and data quality management.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives, influence architecture decisions, and mentor engineering teams.

• Experience with AI/ML enablement and building data foundations that support advanced analytics and generative AI solutions.

• Insurance domain experience is preferred.

• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field(s) of study or equivalent

How We’ll Have Your Back

Ally’s compensation program offers market-competitive base pay and pay-for-performance incentives (bonuses) based on achieving personal and company goals. Our Total Rewards program includes industry-leading compensation and benefits plus additional incentives that are designed to meet your needs and those of your family so you can get the most out of your career and your life, including:

Time Away: Program starts at 20 paid time off days in addition to 11 paid holidays and 8 hours of volunteer time off yearly (time off days are prorated based on start date and program varies based on full or part-time status and management level).

Planning for the Future: plan for the near and long term with an industry-leading 401K retirement savings plan with matching and company contributions, student loan pay downs and 529 educational save up assistance programs, tuition reimbursement, employee stock purchase plan, and financial learning center and financial coach access.

Supporting your Health & Well-being: flexible health and insurance options including medical, dental and vision, employee, spouse and child life insurance, short- and long-term disability, pre-tax Health Savings Account with employer contributions, Healthcare FSA, critical illness, accident & hospital indemnity insurance, and a total well-being program that helps you and your family stay on track physically, socially, emotionally, and financially.

Building a Family: adoption, surrogacy and fertility assistance as well as paid parental and caregiver leave, Dependent Day Care FSA back-up child and adult/elder care days and childcare discounts.

Work-Life Integration: other benefits including Mentally Fit Employee Assistance Program, subsidized and discounted Weight Watchers program and other employee discount programs.

Other Compensations: depending on the role for which you are considered, you may be eligible for travel allowances, relocation assistance, a signing bonus and/or equity.

To view more detailed information about Ally’s Total Rewards, please visit this link: https://www.ally.com/content/dam/pdf/corporate/ally-total-rewards-snapshot.pdf

Who We Are

Ally Financial is a customer-centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers. For more information, visit www.ally.com .

Ally is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email [e-mail] with details of your accommodation request.

Base Pay Range

$110,000.00 - $180,000.00

An individual's position in the range is determined by the specific role, the scope and responsibilities of the role, work experience, education, certification(s), training, and additional qualifications. We review internal pay, the competitive market, and business environment prior to extending an offer.

Incentive Compensation

This position is eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan.

We all work better as allies. Join a team that thrives on doing it right — whether we’re helping people live their best financial lives or helping each other grow in our careers.

We’re a leading financial services company serving over 11M customers through banking, auto financing, insurance and investment services. Our team’s approach of celebrating differences and lifting each other up is consistently recognized on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Here, you’ll find people who care about doing work that matters and making an impact in the communities we serve. Good enough is never enough for us — we’re always looking for ways to be better, together.

CCPA Notice (https://www.ally.com/content/dam/pdf/corporate/ally_careers_ccpa_disclosures_ca_residents.pdf)