Lead Data Engineer

4h4 hours ago

AIR Communities

Denver, US · Full-time · $135,000 – $160,000

About this role

AIR Communities, a leading multifamily real estate operator, seeks a Lead Data Engineer to join its dynamic data team. The ideal candidate will design, build, and optimize modern data pipelines and cloud‑based data platforms that support analytics, machine learning, and business‑critical applications.

In this role, you will design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines to ingest, transform, and deliver large and diverse datasets. You will write efficient SQL and Python for data ingestion and transformation while optimizing workflows for performance, reliability, security, and cost‑efficiency.

You will collaborate with data scientists, analysts, application teams, and business stakeholders to understand data requirements and deliver technical solutions. This position is in-office 5 days a week at the Denver Tech Center, fostering strong team relationships and direct collaboration.

AIR is preparing for growth in 2026 and offers unlimited career opportunities within the organization. As a lead, you will provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and help shape the future of data infrastructure across the company.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
12–14+ years of experience in data or related engineering roles, with 8+ 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 ecosystem.
Knowledge of ETL/ELT concepts, orchestration patterns, and automated data workflows.
Understanding of data governance, data security, and handling sensitive or regulated data (e.g., PII).

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines to ingest, transform, and deliver large and diverse datasets.
Write efficient, reusable SQL and/or Python for data ingestion, transformation, 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 requirements and deliver technical 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 various internal and external sources into centralized data platforms.
Provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and support knowledge‑sharing within the team.