Senior Data Engineer

AIR Communities; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted Rent

Medical Insurance

401(K)

Job summary

AIR Communities in Denver, CO seeks an experienced Senior Data Engineer to design, build, and optimize modern data pipelines and cloud-based data platforms. You will contribute to analytics, ML, and business applications across the organization.

The role focuses on scalable data infrastructure, data governance, security, and collaboration with data scientists and stakeholders. 8+ years in data engineering with cloud experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in data or related engineering roles, with 5+ years in data engineering.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and/or Python for data processing.
• Hands-on experience building and optimizing data pipelines.
• Cloud platforms and their data ecosystems experience.
• Understanding of ETL/ELT concepts and data governance.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines for large datasets.
• Write efficient SQL/Python code for ingestion, transformation, and automation.
• Optimize workflows for performance, security, and cost in cloud environments.
• Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to meet data needs.
• Implement data governance and security across pipelines.
• Monitor data flows and ensure data quality and availability.
• Integrate data from diverse sources into centralized platforms.
• Share knowledge and mentor junior engineers.
• Stay updated on new tools and architectures.
• Perform performance tuning across ingestion, transformation, and storage layers.

Skills

SQL

Python

Data pipelines

Cloud platforms

Data governance

CI/CD

ETL/ELT

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Tools

Airflow

Spark

Parquet

Delta Lake

Job description

AIR Communities is a Multifamily Real Estate Operator headquartered in Denver, CO. We are one of the country’s largest owners and operators of multifamily housing, managing high-quality properties in most major markets. At AIR, we value integrity, respect, collaboration, customer focus, and performance. These values are brought to life by our teammates, who are ultimately responsible for our success. When you join our team, you’ll work alongside the most dedicated professionals in the industry and open the door to unlimited career opportunities.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Engineer to join our dynamic data team. The ideal candidate has a deep background in designing, building, and optimizing modern data pipelines and cloud‑based data platforms. In this role, you will contribute to the development of scalable data infrastructure that supports analytics, machine learning, and essential business applications across the organization.

What you will do:

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines for ingesting, transforming, and delivering large and diverse datasets.
• Write efficient, reusable SQL and/or Python code for data ingestion, transformation, automation, and integration.
• Optimize data workflows for performance, reliability, security, and cost‑efficiency in cloud environments.
• Collaborate with data scientists, analysts, application teams, and business stakeholders to understand data needs and deliver solutions.
• Implement data governance and security practices across pipeline components and data assets.
• Monitor data flows, troubleshoot issues, and ensure data quality, availability, and integrity.
• Integrate data from a wide range of internal and external sources into centralized data platforms.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and provide guidance to less‑experienced engineers when needed.
• Stay informed on emerging tools and architectures and contribute insights for continuous improvement.
• Perform performance tuning and optimization across ingestion, transformation, and storage layers.

Qualifications

What you should have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in data or related engineering roles, with 5+ years focused on data engineering.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and/or Python for data processing, transformation, and automation.
• Hands‑on experience building and optimizing data pipelines and integration workflows.
• Strong understanding of data modeling, performance optimization, and query tuning.
• Experience working with cloud platforms and their data ecosystems.
• Knowledge of ETL/ELT concepts, orchestration patterns, and automated data workflows.
• Understanding of data governance, security, and handling sensitive or regulated data (e.g., PII).
• Experience with version control and CI/CD practices.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and comfort working with complex or unstructured datasets.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities, including root‑cause analysis.

Preferred:

• Experience with distributed data processing or declarative pipeline frameworks.
• Familiarity with cloud‑native functions and workflow orchestration tools.
• Experience with data governance frameworks, metadata management, or cataloging solutions.
• Knowledge of columnar storage and big‑data file formats.
• Familiarity with modern table formats such as Parquet, Delta, or Iceberg.

Required Soft Skills:

• Strong communication skills and the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working across cross‑functional teams.
• Adaptability and resilience when navigating ambiguity or shifting priorities.
• Proactive problem‑solver who identifies opportunities and drives solutions forward.
• Strong sense of ownership and commitment to delivering high‑quality engineering work.
• Growth mindset with ongoing curiosity and a desire to improve tools, processes, and personal skills.

Additional Information

AIR offers attractive total compensation packages designed to recognize and reward performance at the individual, team and company levels. We start with a competitive base salary and add bonus opportunities and benefit choices topped off with:

• Expected pay rate of $$125,000 - $145,000 plus annual bonus. You will be provided a pay rate that is in line with your skills and experience as they relate to the requirements of the job.
• 25% Discounted Rent at AIR communities (certain exclusions apply, and an application is required).
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options available. HSA with company sponsored contributions, FSA (traditional and dependent care FSA).
• Short and long-term disability paid by the company.
• 401(K) plus company contributions.
• Paid Vacation, 14 Paid Holidays, and Paid Sick Time.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Commuter Benefits and Pet-Insurance.
• Up to 100% Reimbursement on Professional Certification/Licensing for Job Related Curriculums.
• Paid parental leave of up to 16 weeks, following the birth or adoption of a child.
• Consumer discounts from various products and services including travel planning, wireless phones, health and fitness, home appliances, and more.
• 15 hours of paid time annually to give‑back to your community.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth including realistic job previews, in person and virtual leadership training, and performance improvement courses.

Application Deadline: The initial deadline for applications is 9/30/2026. Applications submitted after this date may still be considered on a rolling basis until the position/program is filled. If a final decision has not been made by the initial deadline, subsequent applications will be reviewed as they are received.

AIR values diversity and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. AIR prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.