Principal Data Engineer

Job Title: Principal Data Engineer

Location: Hybrid in Fort Wayne, IN (preferred); Remote within a 4‑hour drive or New York City (with travel)

Our client is a fashion retailer that brings joy to consumers through functional, accessible products made from soft materials and iconic design. The company operates 100 stores in the U.S., two e‑commerce sites, and maintains a strong presence across department stores, specialty retailers, and online marketplaces. Our client is committed to leveraging data and technology to drive profitable growth through increased sales and operational efficiency.

Job Summary We are seeking a highly collaborative and senior-level Principal Data Engineer to design, build, and maintain the company’s data infrastructure. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams to ensure data is accurate, governed, scalable, and actionable. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in Azure-based data platforms, a consultative mindset, and the ability to shape long-term architecture while mentoring others. This role supports both revenue growth and cost optimization across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Architecture & Infrastructure: Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and architectures on the Azure platform, supporting the ingestion, storage, processing, and analysis of large data volumes.
• Data Integration: Develop and manage integrations that unify disparate data sources into cohesive, reliable datasets.
• Data Quality & Governance: Implement data governance and data quality processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, compliance, and security—particularly within a retail context.
• Analytics & Product Enablement: Partner with analytics and business teams to support retail data product discovery and align technical approaches with desired outcomes.
• Business Insight Enablement: Enable teams across the organization to derive insights from data that support growth, efficiency, and decision‑making.
• Standards & Best Practices: Establish and promote architectural, development, and documentation standards and best practices.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Mentor team members, share knowledge, and provide technical leadership within the data engineering function.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay current on best practices in data engineering, data architecture, and Azure cloud technologies.
  
  

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Experience: 8 years of experience in data engineering and data architecture, with a strong focus on Azure and SQL Server environments.
• Skills:
• Advanced SQL Server database administration, data modeling, and data warehousing
• Deep experience with Azure services such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, and related tools
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to design and maintain highly scalable and reliable data platforms
• Methodologies: Experience working within agile software development environments.
• Other: Ability to prioritize and balance both short‑ and long‑term initiatives simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in the retail industry
• Experience with data governance, data quality, and data security in complex environments
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, especially when consulting with non-technical stakeholders
  
  

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: Market‑competitive compensation aligned with experience and impact
• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options
• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning, growth, and career advancement
• Additional Perks: Travel opportunities, employee discounts, and a collaborative, values-driven culture