Sr. Principal Data Engineer

Job Title: Sr. Principal Data Engineer Department: IT Department Reports To: IT Director FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $141,840 - $182,050

SUMMARY

The Senior Principal Data Engineer will serve as the strategic technical leader for our organization’s data ecosystem. This role is responsible for architecting and delivering scalable data platforms, integrating enterprise systems, and building a modern data warehouse to enable advanced analytics, business intelligence, and data driven innovation. Operating with a high level of autonomy, this individual will proactively drive solutions, set technical direction, and ensure the data infrastructure evolves to meet future demands. The Senior Principal Data Engineer will work directly with department leaders and senior stakeholders to translate enterprise business needs into innovative, high-impact data solutions, while shaping the organization’s long term data strategy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of scalable data architectures, pipelines, and platforms that support enterprise analytics and reporting.

· Lead the management and optimization of enterprise database environments, ensuring high availability, strong performance, and secure access for business-critical applications.

- Develop and implement a modern data warehouse environment, including integration, modeling, and performance engineering across multiple data sources.

· Partner with departmental and organizational leaders to understand business goals and translate them into long-term data engineering strategies and solutions.

· Partner with technical stakeholders across operational and enterprise systems to reduce fragmentation, expand data sharing capabilities, and provide integrated, accessible data that drives more efficient business operations across the organization.

· Define and enforce engineering standards for data quality, security, governance, and lifecycle management.

· Serve as the primary technical authority for data engineering, providing architectural leadership, expert guidance, and hands-on direction for complex data initiatives.

· Evaluate and recommend data technologies, tools, and platforms that align with organizational strategy and deliver measurable value.

· Establish and maintain clear documentation for data architectures, pipelines, and governance processes to support knowledge sharing, continuity, and long-term system reliability.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Additional responsibilities may be assigned as business needs develop.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

· Aligns data initiatives with organizational priorities, influencing long-term planning and advocating for scalable, future-ready solutions.

· Completes complex tasks and drives high-impact initiatives with minimal oversight, demonstrating strong ownership and accountability.

· Identifies and solves complex data and architectural challenges with foresight, anticipating risks and implementing proactive solutions.

· Maintains deep expertise in modern data engineering practices, quickly absorbing new technologies and adapting to a rapidly evolving environment.

· Effectively prioritizes and manages multiple large initiatives concurrently to meet strategic deadlines and deliver measurable business value.

· Communicates clearly and confidently, tailoring complex technical concepts to diverse audiences including leadership and non-technical stakeholders.

· Upholds data security and safety standards, proactively identifying risks and ensuring systems, processes, and information are handled responsibly.

· Demonstrates strong ethical judgment, maintaining confidentiality and trust while working with sensitive business data, systems, and strategic information.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must demonstrate expert-level capability in each essential responsibility. The qualifications below reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical concepts and influence decision-making among non-technical business leaders.

· Strong attention to detail with an emphasis on data accuracy, reliability, and quality.

· Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of addressing complex data and architectural challenges with innovative, scalable solutions.

· Ability to build productive relationships with stakeholders across all levels of the organization and guide them toward data-driven decisions.

· Highly organized with proven success prioritizing multiple large initiatives in a fast-changing environment.

· Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative setting while operating with significant autonomy.

· Willingness to support critical business needs after hours when necessary.

· Ability to travel occasionally to field or operational locations within Colorado as required.

· Must maintain a valid driver’s license and meet company vehicle use requirements.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

- Expert-level proficiency in designing and implementing scalable data architectures, data models, and ETL/ELT pipelines.

- Advanced SQL expertise across major relational systems (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL), including performance tuning, complex query development, and database optimization.

- Hands-on development experience with data engineering languages such as Python.

- Comprehensive understanding of data warehousing concepts such as dimensional modeling, star/snowflake schemas, and data marts.

- Familiarity with operational technology and upstream data sources common in oil & gas (e.g., SCADA, GIS, geology, reservoir engineering, and production accounting systems).

- Knowledge of data governance practices including metadata management, lineage tracking, data quality monitoring, and access control.

- Strong understanding of data integration technologies and patterns (APIs, streaming, batch ingestion, message queues).

- Experience implementing and maintaining BI & analytics enablement (Power BI, Spotfire).

- Strong understanding of security controls and regulatory requirements for protecting operational and business-critical data in the energy sector

- Proficiency in version control, CI/CD practices, documentation standards, and collaborative development workflows.

- Ability to evaluate emerging technologies and drive technology adoption aligned to strategic outcomes.

EDUCATION (and/or) EXPERIENCE

· A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical field is required, with a Master’s degree preferred, along with at least 10 years of progressive experience in data engineering or enterprise data architecture, ideally within the energy industry.

LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

· Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

CERTIFICATIONS/TRAINING (accepted in lieu of experience)

Certifications are a strong advantage and may supplement required experience but are not a substitute for demonstrated expertise in leading enterprise-class data engineering initiatives.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Can lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

· Sufficient dexterity to assemble/inspect hardware and peripherals.

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

· Sitting for extended periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Various work environments: Work sites vary with noise and temperatures that range from quiet to moderate

· Travel: Moderate travel (< 15% annually) may be required

o Off-Highway Travel may be required to reach field offices and may only be accessible off paved roads and at higher elevations

· Site Safety: Safety training may be required prior to entry into facilities and strict adherence to protocols must be observed while onsite

· Location: This position offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $141,840.00 - $182,050.00 per year

Benefits:

- 401(k)

- 401(k) matching

- Dental insurance

- Employee assistance program

- Flexible schedule

- Flexible spending account

- Health insurance

- Health savings account

- Life insurance

- Paid time off

- Parental leave

- Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Denver, CO 80203