Data Engineer

Data Engineer @ Data Guild ☂️

Location: Hybrid (Customer offices / Our office / Remote flexibility)

Who We Are

Data Guild isn't your typical data consultancy. We're the trusted advisors that tech companies turn to when they want to do data right. We don't just build pipelines and dashboards; we architect solutions that transform how businesses leverage their data in the AI era.

Our approach is simple: understand deeply, advise honestly, execute brilliantly. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients, embedding ourselves in their challenges and emerging with solutions that actually move the needle.

The Role: More Than Just a Data Engineer

Let's be direct: the title says "Data Engineer," but we're looking for something rarer: a technical generalist who can navigate the entire data landscape with confidence.

AI is reshaping everything we do. The old playbook of building ETL pipelines and hoping for the best? That's table stakes now. We need engineers who can leverage AI to help our clients achieve more with less effort, faster execution, and unprecedented accuracy.

You'll be the person who can:

• Jump into a client meeting and discuss data architecture strategy with their CTO
• Roll up your sleeves and build a dimensional model that actually makes sense
• Leverage AI tools to accelerate development without sacrificing quality
• Explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Pivot from writing dbt transformations to building a dashboard to investigating a data quality issue, all in the same day

This isn't about being a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. It's about being fundamentally curious and adaptable, with engineering as your foundation.

What You'll Actually Do

Client-Facing Engineering

• Work directly from customer offices (yes, real face-time with real people)
• Translate business needs into technical solutions and back again
• Build trust through competence, clarity, and genuine collaboration

Technical Execution Across the Stack

• Design and implement data warehouse models that scale
• Build and optimize ETL/ELT pipelines using modern tools (dbt, Airflow, and beyond)
• Work with cloud data platforms (BigQuery, Snowflake, Databricks)
• Create dashboards and visualizations that tell the right story
• Architect data infrastructure with an eye toward maintainability and evolution

AI-Augmented Development

• Leverage AI tools to write better code faster
• Implement AI-driven solutions for data quality, documentation, catalog, anomaly detection, and automation
• Stay ahead of the curve on how AI is changing data engineering practices
• Help clients understand where AI adds value vs. where traditional approaches still win

Strategic Contribution

• Assess client data maturity and recommend roadmaps
• Identify opportunities for optimization and innovation
• Mentor junior team members and share knowledge
• Contribute to Data Guild's evolving methodology and best practices

Who Thrives Here

Technical Foundation (The Must-Haves)

• 4+ years of hands-on data engineering experience in a tech environment
• Strong SQL skills; the kind where you dream in SELECT statements
• Solid understanding of data warehousing concepts, dimensional modeling, and ETL/ELT patterns
• Experience with at least one modern data stack (dbt, Airflow, cloud MPP databases)
• Comfortable with Python or another programming language

The X-Factor (What Sets You Apart)

• Analytical mindset: You don't just build, you question, validate, and optimize
• Systems thinking: You see how the pieces fit together, not just individual components
• Rapid learning ability: You can pick up new tools and concepts quickly
• AI curiosity: You're excited (not threatened) by how AI is changing our field
• Communication skills: You can explain "slowly changing dimensions" to a product manager and have them actually understand

The Human Element (What Makes You a Great Teammate)

• You genuinely enjoy working with people, not despite them
• You can read the room and adapt your communication style
• You're comfortable with ambiguity and changing requirements
• You take ownership without needing to be the hero
• You're as good at listening as you are at talking

Bonus Points

• End-to-end BI expertise: You've built, shipped, and maintained complete business intelligence solutions from data integration and transformation through to visualization and stakeholder communication
• Modern data stack proficiency: Hands-on experience with tools like dbt, Snowflake, Fivetran, Looker, or similar platforms in the modern data ecosystem
• AI integration experience: You've successfully incorporated AI tools and techniques into your data development workflow, enhancing productivity and solution quality

What You Should Know About This Role

The Real Talk:

• Some weeks you'll be working full-time from a client's office. This is a feature, not a bug; it's how we build real partnerships.
• The work is varied, sometimes unpredictably so. If you need every day to look exactly the same, this isn't it.
• You'll be expected to think, not just execute. We value judgment as much as technical skill.
• AI will be your copilot, not your replacement. We're looking for engineers who can leverage these tools strategically.

Why This Role Matters: You won't just be another data engineer on a massive team. You'll be a trusted advisor helping shape how companies approach data in the AI age. Your work will directly influence strategy, not just execution.

Why Data Guild

• Real Impact: Work directly with clients, see your solutions in action, and have strategic influence
• Learning Velocity: Exposure to multiple companies, tech stacks, and challenges means you'll grow faster here than anywhere else
• Elite Team: Work alongside experienced consultants, architects, and data leaders who've seen it all
• AI-Forward Culture: We're not just talking about AI; we're actively integrating it into how we work
• Flexibility with Purpose: Hybrid work that balances client collaboration with focused deep work
• Professional Growth: Clear path from execution to strategy, with mentorship and real responsibility