Summary
What you’ll impact
The Lead Data Platform Engineer defines and drives architecture for storage, streaming, and data lake systems supporting transactional, real-time, and analytical workloads. The role uses PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, Kafka, Flink, Spark, Delta Lake, and Kubernetes to build scalable, low-latency distributed services such as sharding, proxy routing, and event pipelines. Key responsibilities include designing sharding mechanisms, implementing real-time streaming and CDC pipelines, and improving data freshness toward near-real-time processing. Collaboration with engineering leaders aligns platform strategy, ensures reliability and performance, and drives 0→1 initiatives that expand capabilities.
Responsibilities
What you'll do
- Lead architectural direction across storage, streaming, and data lake platforms, connecting systems that handle transactional, real-time, and analytical workloads
- Design and guide implementation of distributed systems, including database sharding, proxy-based query routing, and real-time event processing pipelines
- Improve data freshness and latency by evolving streaming and ingestion systems toward near real-time processing goals
- Partner with engineering leaders and teams across the organization to define platform strategy, align roadmaps, and ensure systems meet reliability, scalability, and performance requirements
- Drive 0→1 initiatives that introduce new platform capabilities, including next-generation streaming, CDC, and data processing systems
Requirements
What you’ll bring
- Extensive experience building and scaling distributed systems, with deep expertise in at least two of the following areas: storage systems, streaming platforms, or data lake / large-scale data processing
- Strong understanding of database systems such as PostgreSQL and/or DynamoDB, including replication, sharding, and performance optimization
- Experience with streaming and event-driven architectures using technologies such as Kafka, Flink, or similar systems
- Familiarity with modern data platforms and compute engines such as Spark, Delta Lake, or equivalent large-scale data processing systems
- Proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives, define long-term architecture, and collaborate across multiple teams
- This role is based in our Bellevue, WA office, with in-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week