Reference Data Engineer

KKR; New York (NY); On-site; USD 135,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

KKR is seeking an Assistant Vice President, Software Engineering to join our Operations Systems team in New York. You will design and deliver robust backend services and data pipelines, mentoring junior engineers while shaping technical direction toward a lead or VP level.

The ideal candidate brings 4–7 years of backend-focused software engineering, expert Python, Spark, and Terraform experience, and strong data modeling and ETL/ELT skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 4–7 years of professional software engineering experience with a strong backend focus.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python for building production services and data pipelines.
• Strong hands-on experience with Apache Spark for distributed data processing at scale.
• Proficiency with Terraform for infrastructure-as-code and cloud resource management.
• Deep data engineering fundamentals including data modeling, ETL/ELT design, and data distribution patterns.
• Solid command of relational and non-relational data stores and SQL.
• Experience with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and modern software development practices.
• Demonstrated ability to own complex workstreams and mentor other engineers.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across technical and business teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and own scalable backend services and data pipelines primarily in Python.
• Develop and optimize large-scale data processing workflows using Apache Spark for batch and near-real-time use cases.
• Lead data modeling and schema design decisions that support reliable analytics and downstream consumption.
• Architect and maintain robust ETL/ELT workflows with strong data quality, lineage, and observability.
• Design and implement data distribution patterns to serve data efficiently across internal systems and consumers.
• Provision and manage cloud infrastructure using Terraform and infrastructure-as-code best practices.
• Own delivery of significant workstreams end‑to‑end, from technical design through production and operations.
• Drive engineering quality through design reviews, code reviews, and clear technical standards.
• Mentor and support the growth of analysts and junior engineers on the team.
• Partner with product, data, and platform leaders to shape roadmap and translate requirements into scalable solutions.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for complex production issues and drive continuous improvements in reliability and performance.

Skills

Python

Spark

Terraform

Data modeling

ETL/ELT

SQL

Git

CI/CD

Mentoring

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field

Tools

Terraform

Airflow

Dagster

Kafka

Docker

Kubernetes

Palantir Foundry

Job description

Company Overview

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries.

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries.

Team Overview

KKR's Technology organization is a group of passionate technologists and product managers, unified by a shared mission to deliver exceptional products and solutions that drive value for our stakeholders, clients, and investors. Our passion for technology and innovation fuels our commitment to creating high-quality, impactful solutions that address complex challenges and meet the evolving needs of our sophisticated businesses.

Position Summary

We are seeking an Assistant Vice President (AVP), Software Engineering to join our Operations Systems team. This role blends senior individual contribution with emerging technical leadership: you will design and deliver robust backend services and data pipelines while helping guide the technical direction of your team. The ideal candidate is a strong Python developer with hands‑on experience in distributed data processing (Spark), infrastructure‑as‑code (Terraform), and deep data engineering fundamentals spanning data modeling, ETL, and data distribution. You will own significant workstreams end‑to‑end, raise the engineering bar through code reviews and design input, and mentor junior engineers as you continue to grow toward a lead or vice president level.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and own scalable backend services and data pipelines primarily in Python.
• Develop and optimize large-scale data processing workflows using Apache Spark for batch and near-real-time use cases.
• Lead data modeling and schema design decisions that support reliable analytics and downstream consumption.
• Architect and maintain robust ETL/ELT workflows with strong data quality, lineage, and observability.
• Design and implement data distribution patterns to serve data efficiently across internal systems and consumers.
• Provision and manage cloud infrastructure using Terraform and infrastructure-as-code best practices.
• Own delivery of significant workstreams end‑to‑end, from technical design through production and operations.
• Drive engineering quality through design reviews, code reviews, and clear technical standards.
• Mentor and support the growth of analysts and junior engineers on the team.
• Partner with product, data, and platform leaders to shape roadmap and translate requirements into scalable solutions.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for complex production issues and drive continuous improvements in reliability and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4–7 years of professional software engineering experience with a strong backend focus.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python for building production services and data pipelines.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Apache Spark for distributed data processing at scale.
• Proficiency with Terraform for infrastructure-as-code and cloud resource management.
• Deep data engineering fundamentals, including data modeling, ETL/ELT design, and data distribution patterns.
• Solid command of relational and non‑relational data stores and SQL.
• Experience with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and modern software development practices.
• Demonstrated ability to own complex workstreams and mentor other engineers.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across technical and business teams.

Ppreferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their data services.
• Familiarity with workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, Dagster).
• Experience with streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka, Spark Structured Streaming).
• Exposure to containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Prior experience in financial services or another data‑intensive, regulated industry.
• Experience with Palantir Foundry or similar data integration and analytics platforms.

What We Offer

KKR offers a collaborative, high-performance culture where engineers work on meaningful problems at scale. We provide competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and significant opportunities for professional growth, technical leadership, and impact.
This is the expected annual base salary range for this New York-based position. Actual salaries may vary based on factors, such as skill, experience, and qualification for the role. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, based on factors such as individual and team performance.
Base Salary Range
$135,000—$170,000 USD
KKR is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by applicable law.
KKR will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email [e-mail]. Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access https://www.kkr.com/careers because of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by sending an email to [e-mail]. Only emails left for this purpose will be returned.

Massachusetts Applicants:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. This notice applies only to applicants and employees who work or will work in Massachusetts, in accordance with applicable state law.