Principal Data Engineer / Architect - Data Platform Assessment - Part-time

Work at DaCodes!

We are a firm of experts in high-impact software and digital transformation.

For over 10 years, we have created technology- and innovation-focused solutions thanks to our team of +300 talented #DaCoders, including developers, architects, UX/UI designers, PMs, QA testers, and more. Our team collaborates on projects with clients in LATAM and the United States, achieving outstanding results.

At DaCodes, you will have the opportunity to drive your professional growth, work on diverse projects across different industries, and contribute to the design, implementation, and optimization of cloud infrastructures.

Our DaCoders have a significant impact on the success of our business and our clients. You will be the expert participating in our projects and will have access to disruptive startups and global brands.

Are you interested?

Requirements

Role Purpose

Independently, thoroughly, and objectively assess a data platform that supports a large-scale loyalty program, identifying technical, operational, and business risks, as well as prioritized improvement opportunities to enable executive decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Assessment

• Evaluate the end-to-end architecture of the data platform in cloud environments.
• Analyze batch and/or streaming data pipelines (ingestion, transformation, and consumption).
• Review practices related to:
• data quality
• transactional reconciliation
• handling of late events, duplicates, and reprocessing
• Identify technical debt, single points of failure, and scalability risks.

Business & Operational Assessment

• Evaluate how data supports critical loyalty program processes, including:
• points accrual and redemption
• points expiration
• financial reconciliation
• fraud prevention
• Identify financial risks derived from data errors.
• Assess team maturity and dependencies on key individuals.

Governance & Security Assessment

• Evaluate the handling of:
• personal data (PII)
• financial and transactional data
• Review practices related to:
• access control
• auditing and traceability
• data lineage
• Identify relevant compliance gaps.

Expected Deliverables

• A structured diagnostic including:
• Critical risks (high impact)
• Medium risks
• Existing good practices
• Prioritized recommendations (quick wins vs. structural improvements).
• Suggested 30 / 60 / 90-day roadmap.
• Clear executive-level presentation for non-technical stakeholders.

Required Profile

Experience

• 8–12+ years of experience in data engineering and/or data architecture.
• Proven experience assessing existing platforms (assessment, audit, or recovery scenarios).
• Background in at least one of the following domains:
• loyalty programs
• fintech / payments
• high-volume e-commerce
• telecommunications
• Strong experience in cloud-native environments.

Technical Knowledge (referential, not exclusive)

Experience working with or evaluating platforms that include technologies such as:

Cloud

• AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure (or equivalent)

Data Storage

• Data Lakes (e.g., S3, GCS, ADLS)
• Data Warehouses (e.g., BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, Synapse)

Data Processing

• Advanced SQL
• Batch processing (e.g., Spark, Databricks, or similar)

Streaming / Events

• Event platforms such as Kafka, Kinesis, Pub/Sub
• Event-driven or near-real-time architectures

Orchestration

• Orchestration tools such as Airflow, Dagster, Prefect (or equivalent)

Languages

• SQL (mandatory)
• Python and/or Scala / Java

Data Quality & Observability

• Data quality validations
• Reconciliation rules
• Pipeline monitoring and alerting

Security & Governance

• Access control
• PII handling
• Data auditing and traceability

Experience with all listed tools is not required; a solid understanding of the underlying concepts, trade-offs, and associated risks is expected.

Business Knowledge (Mandatory)

• Understanding of how loyalty programs operate.
• Familiarity with concepts such as:
• breakage
• points liability
• financial impact of data errors
• Ability to assess risks from both technical and business perspectives.

Key Skills

• Strong critical thinking and sound technical judgment.
• Ability to read and evaluate code without needing to rewrite it.
• Clear communication with both technical and executive stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize realistic and actionable recommendations.

What We Are NOT Looking For

• Traditional BI Leads focused solely on reporting.
• Pure Data Scientists without experience in production-grade data platforms.
• Mid-level Data Engineers without assessment experience.
• Profiles that propose rebuilding the entire architecture as a first solution.

Expected Seniority

• Principal / Staff Data Engineer
• Senior Data Architect
• Senior Technical Consultant with proven assessment experience

Benefits

🚀 Integration with global brands and disruptive startups.

🏡 Remote work / Home office.

⏳ Schedule aligned with the assigned work cell/project.

📅 Monday to Friday work schedule.

🎉 Day off on your birthday.

🏥 Major medical expenses insurance (applies to Mexico).

🛡️ Life insurance (applies to Mexico).

🌎 Multicultural work teams.

🎓 Access to courses and certifications.

📢 Meetups with special guests from the IT field.

📡 Virtual integration events and interest groups.

📢 English classes.

🏆 Opportunities within our different business lines.

🏅 Proudly certified as a Great Place to Work.