Principal AI & Data Platforms Engineer, Guild Education
AI & Data Platforms
$180.6-250k
Plus variable compensation and stock options
More information about location
Upskilling and education platform for America's workforce
Be an early applicant
Upskilling and education platform for America's workforce
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$180.6-250k
Plus variable compensation and stock options
More information about location
1001+ employees
Company mission
To unlock opportunity for America’s workforce through education and upskilling.
Role
Who you are
- 12+ years of data engineering or relevant experience, with demonstrated leadership in complex technical environments
- Expert-level SQL skills, including advanced performance optimization, query tuning, complex CTEs, window functions, and data orchestration
- Advanced proficiency in Python for sophisticated pipeline development, automation, API integrations, and scalable, maintainable code design
- Data Trust is important to us, so significant experience implementing Change Data Capture (CDC) at scale is a must
- Extensive hands-on expertise with Databricks architecture and optimization, specifically around Unity Catalog, Medallion Architecture, MLFlow, and the Databricks MCP Platform
- Extensive hands-on expertise with Snowflake architecture and optimization, advanced dbt modeling strategies, and comprehensive integration using Fivetran
- Strong command of infrastructure as code (Terraform), Unix/Linux environments, and version control (Git)
- Deep expertise in relational databases (Postgres, MySQL, AuroraDB) and substantial experience with NoSQL databases like DynamoDB
- Advanced understanding of data modeling, warehousing methodologies, and modern ETL/ELT frameworks
- Proven track record aligning technical designs to strategic business objectives and commercial outcomes
- Experience leading technical initiatives within agile, high-growth environments utilizing modern data stack tools
- In-depth knowledge of data governance, privacy, compliance standards, and regulatory frameworks
- Expert understanding of CI/CD, continuous delivery, automated testing, and change management best practices
What the job involves
- As a Principal Data Engineer, you will lead technical strategy and execution for our robust, scalable, and modern data ecosystem
- You'll collaborate cross-functionally with data analysts, engineering teams, and business stakeholders to architect sophisticated data solutions powering analytics, operational insights, and innovative products
- This high-impact role is designed for an experienced technical leader who excels in strategic thinking, long-term planning, and driving the maturity of data systems and practices
- Your deep understanding of data infrastructure, business context, and modern data tooling will help position Guild's data engineering capabilities for future growth and innovation
- Lead the architecture, design, and development of sophisticated, highly scalable data pipelines leveraging tools such as Fivetran, dbt, AWS Glue, Airflow, custom Python applications, Snowflake, Databricks, and cloud storage solutions (e.g., S3)
- Provide technical leadership in integrating and transforming complex data sets from diverse sources including AuroraDB, Snowflake, Postgres, MySQL, and DynamoDB
- Drive collaboration with analytics, engineering, and commercial stakeholders to design and refine data models and marts that empower high-impact decision-making
- Champion and implement rigorous data quality, validation, observability, and reliability standards across data workflows
- Mentor and upskill team members, influencing the development of Guild’s data engineering practices and standards
- Serve as a trusted advisor, guiding enterprise-wide data strategy, prototyping key data initiatives, and ensuring alignment of data engineering practices with long-term business and technical objectives
Application process
- We typically keep job postings active for 3–5 weeks, though this may vary depending on applicant volume and other factors
Our take
The recruitment process can be the most costly element of a company's operation, with future-proof skillset requirements resulting in the hiring of staff for niche tasks. Many existing employees of a company could have the potential to fill talent gaps and prevent the need for a new hire, but they often lack the training for such roles. Helping to solve this problem, Guild Education helps employers partner with nonprofit universities to train staff across a variety of subject matters, including high school completion programs, vocational opportunities, and enrollment in higher education.
As professional development is a strong employer benefit, Guild Education also pitches itself as a perk for employees, aiming to increase retention and worker satisfaction. By solving two major problems - a skills shortage and worker retention, it has gained large companies such as Chipotle, Target, Hilton and PepsiCo as corporate clients.
Guild Education closed a Series F financing round in 2022 led by Wellington Management and with participation from Oprah Winfrey. The company is using this funding to develop its healthcare and financial services learning modules and increase its offering to workers by exploring new ways to lower the barriers to learning, for instance through childcare solutions and financial wellness tools.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
-5% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 7 rounds)
Jun 2022
$265m
SERIES F
Jun 2021
$150m
SERIES E
Total funding: $643.5m
Company benefits
- Access to low-cost, high-quality health care options through Cigna and Kaiser (due to coverage limitations, Kaiser is currently only available in CA & CO)
- Access to a 401k to help save for the future
- Open vacation policy for employees to rest and recharge
- 8 days of fully-paid sick leave, to take the time to heal and or recover
- Family-friendly benefits, including 12 weeks of parental leave for non-birthing parents and 18-20 weeks for birthing parents; 4-week ramp-up period for when employees return from a leave of 6 weeks or more; as well as employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-sponsored life insurance, fertility and caregiving benefits
- Well-rounded wellness benefits including free and low cost mental health resources and financial wellbeing support services
- Education benefits and tuition assistance to help your future development and growth
Company HQ
Central Business District, Denver, CO
Leadership
Rachel Carlson
(CEO & Founder)Prior to co-founding Guild Education, was founder and CEO of Blueprint. Before that was a Director at American Honours and an Associate with The Parthenon Group.
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