Staff Data Engineer
About The Position
Syndio is seeking a Staff Data Engineer to define the architecture and long-term evolution of its data platform, focusing on scaling into AI-driven products. This role is crucial for dictating how data is structured, standardized, modeled, and activated across the company, with a specific emphasis on enabling Large Language Model (LLM)-powered systems and decision-making workflows. The Staff Data Engineer will design, architect, and build data pipelines that generate data products for analytics, product experiences, and Syndio's LLM systems. Key responsibilities include solving complex challenges such as multi-tenant schema standardization, automated field mapping, retrieval-ready data modeling, and developing data pipelines for AI evaluation and feedback loops. This position requires operating across pipeline architecture, platform design, and cross-functional data strategy, in close collaboration with product, data science, and engineering leadership.
Requirements
- Deep experience in data engineering, data platform, or distributed systems roles.
- Proven track record designing and scaling data pipelines across teams or organizations.
- Experience solving ambiguous, high-impact platform problems and building systems widely adopted across teams.
- Strong ability to operate at both architectural and hands-on levels.
- Cross-functional leadership and ability to influence technical direction.
- Strong proficiency in Python and SQL.
- Experience with data patterns for AI/LLM systems: retrieval-ready data modeling, vector storage, embedding pipelines, and evaluation datasets.
- Experience with cloud platforms: GCP (preferred), AWS, or Azure.
- Experience with cloud data warehouses: BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, or similar.
- Experience with data transformation tools: dbt or equivalent modern transformation frameworks.
- Experience with relational databases: Postgres, MySQL, or similar.
- Experience with streaming and CDC ingestion patterns (Datastream, Debezium, Kafka, or similar).
- Experience with data governance and lineage tooling.
- Must currently reside within commuting distance of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
Nice To Haves
- Experience building AI-native data platforms or developer tooling.
- Experience with event-driven or streaming architectures.
- Background in high-scale systems or large multi-tenant SaaS platforms.
- Familiarity with compensation or HR data domains.
Responsibilities
- Define the data architecture behind AI for Pay Decisions and future decisioning systems.
- Build the data foundation that powers LLM-based features, including pipelines for retrieval, context generation, and evaluation workflows.
- Own high-leverage problems such as automated schema mapping and multi-tenant data standardization.
- Establish standards for data contracts, modeling, and pipeline architecture across teams.
- Design data governance into the platform through policy tagging, PII handling, and lineage tracking.
- Build pipelines that support both batch analytics and the event-driven data flows behind AI workflows.
- Shape how data is structured, delivered, and made reliable for stakeholders across Syndio, including analytics, product, and AI training/evaluation teams.
Benefits
- Competitive Compensation: Base salary targeted at $180-195k CAD.
- Syndio Equity.
- 20 days annually for recharge, plus paid sick & safe time, compassion leave, and voting leave.
- Pension Contribution.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
