Principal Data & Analytics Engineer

Join a team building Iridium’s modern data platform as the technical leader for data and analytics engineering. In this hybrid role in Chandler, AZ, you will help turn enterprise data into scalable, trusted, business-ready data products, while shaping engineering standards and mentoring engineers. Along the way, you’ll communicate platform capabilities across technical and non-technical groups and support training so teams can use data effectively.

What you’ll do

• Transform raw data into business-ready dimensional models and star schemas, including data marts and semantic models that enable self-service Business Intelligence and AI.
• Design, build, and optimize scalable end-to-end ELT/ETL pipelines to ingest structured and unstructured data from diverse sources.
• Implement automated scheduling, monitoring, and orchestration to maintain data freshness and improve pipeline reliability.
• Collaborate with data owners and governance stakeholders to establish data governance policies and procedures, ensuring data quality and compliance, with robust data security measures to protect sensitive data.
• Partner with business stakeholders and the IT analytics team to understand data requirements, translate them into technical specifications, and work with data engineers to deliver solutions.
• Explain data platform architecture and capabilities to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Assist with the development and delivery of training for data and analytics platform capabilities and content.
• Provide technical authority across projects, including technical leadership and mentoring for the team.
• Mentor and guide junior data engineers, supporting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field of study.
• 10+ years of related experience leading complex technical projects, DataOps, and data engineering.
• Expertise designing data models for different data types and use cases.
• Deep experience with relational databases and advanced SQL.
• Experience with modern cloud data platforms and tools such as Snowflake, Databricks, and dbt.
• Familiarity with data warehouse concepts, data lake architecture, and data analytics tools.
• Proficiency in cloud platforms for data storage and processing: AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Understanding of data governance principles, data privacy regulations, and best practices for data security.
• Programming experience with Python, Java, or Scala for data processing and automation.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey products, deliverables, analyses, and issues clearly and confidently while adapting communication style.
• Familiarity with agile development processes and tools such as JIRA, GIT, and Confluence.
• Ability to build meaningful relationships with senior leadership outside your department, and to provide constructive feedback to team members and management.
• Capability to analyze problems, generate effective solutions, and see solutions through to completion.
• Comfort managing multiple tasks and shifting priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Proactive approach to sharing knowledge and learnings with others.

Technologies you may work with

• Snowflake, Databricks, dbt
• ELT, ETL, SQL
• Python, Java, Scala
• AWS, Azure, GCP
• JIRA, GIT, Confluence

Compensation & benefits

Salary: USD 140,000 - 192,000 per year.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan options
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Company stock
• Annual bonus
• Other discounts and perks

Nice to have

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field of study.
• Experience in telecommunications, ground networks, and/or satellite communications industry.
• Familiarity with agile development tools (JIRA, GIT, Confluence).
• Strong knowledge of data engineering methodologies, DevOps/DataOps & Agile processes.

Additional details

• Occasional travel (quarterly).
• Hybrid work schedule: at least 60% of your time (3 days per week) in-office and 2 days from home.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Work environment

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary, with most time spent working at a computer. Basic office equipment is used as needed. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.