Principal Data Platform Engineer

Harnham; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 240,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Data Platform Engineer to lead the design and development of a cutting-edge Data Platform. This hands-on role will involve defining the technical vision and driving innovation across the data ecosystem. You'll architect scalable data solutions, build real-time data pipelines, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product features. If you're passionate about data engineering and want to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment, this opportunity offers the chance to shape the future of web development while working with modern technologies and a talented team.

Benefits

Equity

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• 8+ years in data engineering or architecture, including 5+ years at Principal level.
• Proven expertise in building large-scale data systems in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Architect a scalable data foundation using Kafka, ClickHouse, Tinybird, and Snowflake.
• Build real-time and batch data pipelines for analytics and AI initiatives.

Skills

Data Engineering

Kafka

ClickHouse

Tinybird

Snowflake

Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Data Governance

Mentoring

Communication Skills

Education

Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Big Data Frameworks

Job description

This range is provided by Harnham. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$250,000.00/yr - $280,000.00/yr

Senior Recruitment Consultant (Phoenix) at Harnham

PRINCIPAL DATA PLATFORM ENGINEER

Remote

$240-280,000 + Equity

About the Company

My Client is a leading platform powering modern web development, enabling developers to build, preview, and ship high-performance digital experiences with ease. Trusted by top global brands, the platform integrates seamlessly with modern frameworks like React and Next.js to empower businesses to move fast without worrying about infrastructure. With a focus on performance, scale, and innovation, the company is revolutionizing how the web is built.

About the Role

The company is seeking a Principal Data Platform Engineer to lead the design and development of its next-generation Data Platform. Reporting directly to the VP of Engineering for Data, this role will define the technical vision for the company’s data ecosystem, driving scalability, performance, and innovation across the stack. From building real-time streaming architectures to enabling AI/ML workloads, this role touches every facet of modern data engineering.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who wants to blend strategy with execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect a scalable data foundation using Kafka, ClickHouse, Tinybird, and Snowflake
• Build real-time and batch data pipelines to support analytics, product features, and AI initiatives
• Collaborate across functions with engineering, product, security, compliance, and business leaders
• Lead data modeling, ETL, and data warehousing with a focus on low-latency and high-throughput
• Write high-quality, scalable code and mentor engineers toward technical excellence
• Establish robust data governance, compliance, and monitoring practices
• Strategize and optimize infrastructure for performance, cost-efficiency, and reliability
• Support the AI/ML platform, enabling advanced analytics and machine learning workloads
• Drive architectural decisions and define a long-term roadmap for the data platform

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• 8+ years in data engineering or architecture, including 5+ years at the Principal Engineer level
• Proven expertise in building large-scale data systems in fast-paced, high-growth environments
• Deep experience with Kafka, ClickHouse, Tinybird, Snowflake, and big data frameworks
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Background in data governance, security, and compliance
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a track record of mentoring teams
• Demonstrated ability to align technical strategy with business goals
• Industry contributions such as open-source work, published research, or speaking engagements are a plus
• Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field preferred

Why Join?

• Lead the data strategy at a market leader in web development
• Architect foundational systems that directly power real-time features, analytics, and AI
• Collaborate with a high-caliber team on technically ambitious projects
• Enjoy a culture that values technical excellence, autonomy, and innovation
• Make a company-wide impact as a key decision-maker on data architecture
• Work with modern technologies and help shape the company’s next wave of growth

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Engineering, Research, and Information Technology

Industries

Technology, Information and Media and Engineering Services