Principal Data Engineer

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design-once, build-many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally.

About the role: 

The Nuclear Company is a cutting-edge tech startup rapidly transforming the nuclear energy sector through innovation, digitalization, and a commitment to safe, sustainable power. We are building the future of clean energy, and reliable, high-quality data is at the core of everything we do. We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Principal Data Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of our foundational data infrastructure.  

As the Principal Data Engineer, you will be a foundational member of our engineering team, responsible for architecting, building, and maintaining scalable, robust, and secure data pipelines and data platforms. You will play a critical role in enabling data-driven decision-making across all facets of our business, from engineering and operations to corporate development and regulatory compliance. This role requires deep technical expertise, a strategic mindset, and a commitment to data integrity and security paramount in the nuclear energy industry. 

This role reports into the VP, Software Engineering.

Responsibilities:

Data Architecture & Strategy:  

• Lead the design and implementation of our end-to-end data architecture, including data warehousing, data lakes, real-time streaming, and batch processing solutions. 

• Define data governance strategies, standards, and best practices to ensure data quality, security, and compliance with industry regulations. 

• Evaluate and recommend new data technologies, tools, and platforms to support our evolving business needs and growth trajectory. 

Data Pipeline Development & Optimization:  

• Design, build, and optimize highly scalable and reliable ETL/ELT pipelines to ingest, transform, and load diverse datasets from various sources (e.g., sensor data, operational systems, financial platforms, third-party APIs). 

• Implement robust data validation, monitoring, and alerting mechanisms to ensure data pipeline health and data quality. 

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex data-related issues, optimizing data flows for performance and efficiency. 

Data Platform Management:  

• Oversee the management and maintenance of our cloud-based data platforms (e.g., data warehouses, data lakes, streaming services), ensuring optimal performance, security, and cost-effectiveness. 

• Develop and implement data security protocols, access controls, and encryption strategies to protect sensitive nuclear-related data. 

• Ensure data systems support auditability and traceability required for regulatory compliance. 

Technical Leadership & Mentorship:  

• Serve as a subject matter expert in data engineering, providing technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers. 

• Champion data best practices, code quality, and scalable engineering principles across the organization. 

• Lead complex data projects from conceptualization to deployment, ensuring successful execution and adoption. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration:  

• Work closely with data scientists, machine learning engineers, software engineers, business analysts, and leadership to understand data requirements and deliver actionable insights. 

• Collaborate with cybersecurity and regulatory teams to ensure data infrastructure meets stringent nuclear industry standards. 

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related quantitative field. 

Experience:  

• 8+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, with a significant focus on building scalable data pipelines and platforms. 

• Proven experience in a lead or principal data engineering role, involving architectural decision-making. 

• Expertise in cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP, with strong preference for [mention specific cloud your company uses]). 

• Proficiency in big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, BigQuery). 

• Strong programming skills in Python, Scala, or Java, with a focus on data manipulation and pipeline development. 

• Expertise in SQL and experience with various relational and NoSQL databases. 

• Experience with data governance, data quality, and metadata management. 

• Understanding of data security best practices. 

Skills:  

• Data Architecture & Design 

• ETL/ELT Development 

• Cloud Data Platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) 

• SQL & Database Management 

• Big Data Technologies 

• Python/Scala/Java 

• Data Governance & Quality 

• Excellent Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills 

• Strong Communication & Collaboration 

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays
• Annual company retreats

Estimated Starting Salary Range: 

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $198,000 - $228,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a semi-monthly basis.  The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role. 

EEO Statement:

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.