Data First Jobs

Selby Jennings

Data Platform Engineer

Full Time · In Office · Chicago, Illinois (USA)

$200,000–$800,000 · Posted Jun 4, 2026

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About the Job

  • We are seeking a Software Engineer - Data Platform to join our team in Chicago, focused on building scalable, high-performance data infrastructure. In this role, you will design and develop core platform capabilities that enable reliable, real-time access to data across the organization.
  • This is not an ETL-focused position-you will operate as a true software engineer, building distributed systems and infrastructure that power data ingestion, storage, and accessibility at scale. Your work will directly impact the flexibility, reliability, and scalability of our data ecosystem.
  • You will partner closely with Databricks and internal platform teams to create a unified data platform that empowers teams across the organization to seamlessly access and utilize data. This is an opportunity to work on a high-impact, greenfield initiative at the intersection of software engineering and modern data systems.

What You'll Do

  • Design and build scalable data platform infrastructure to support enterprise-wide use
  • Develop systems for streaming data ingestion, reliability, and performance
  • Build and maintain platform capabilities across:
  • Databricks (core data hub and storage layer)
  • Postgres and SQL-based systems
  • DataHub and metadata tooling
  • Partner with platform engineers and stakeholders to unify data across teams and offices
  • Develop software systems that allow flexible data access, transformation, and usage at scale
  • Contribute to the architecture and evolution of a highly scalable, distributed data platform
  • Ensure platform reliability, performance, and extensibility for future growth

What We're Looking For

  • 4+ years of software engineering experience
  • Strong proficiency in object-oriented programming
  • Experience with one or more of the following:
  • Python (required)
  • C++ or C#
  • Proven experience building distributed systems, infrastructure, or platform-level software
  • Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals (Computer Science degree required)
  • Experience with databases and data systems (SQL, Postgres, etc.)
  • Interest in building data platforms rather than ETL pipelines
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and collaborate across teams
  • Strong communication skills and a problem-solving mindset
  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

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Data Platform Engineer

Selby Jennings

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