Senior Data Engineer - Platform Enablement at SoundCloud

New York, New York, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Technology, Music StreamingIndustries

Requirements

7+ years of experience in data engineering, analytics engineering, or similar roles
Expert-level SQL skills, including performance tuning, advanced joins, CTEs, window functions, and analytical query design
Proven experience with Apache Airflow (designing DAGs, scheduling, task dependencies, monitoring, Python)
Familiarity with event-driven architectures and messaging systems (Pub/Sub, Kafka, etc.)
Knowledge of data governance, schema management, and versioning best practices
Understanding observability practices: logging, metrics, tracing, and incident response
Experience deploying and managing services in cloud environments, preferably GCP, AWS
Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset

Responsibilities

Develop and optimize SQL data models and queries for analytics, reporting, and operational use cases
Design and maintain ETL/ELT workflows using Apache Airflow, ensuring reliability, scalability, and data integrity
Collaborate with analysts and business teams to translate data needs into efficient, automated data pipelines and datasets
Own and enhance data quality and validation processes, ensuring accuracy and completeness of business-critical metrics
Build and maintain reporting layers, supporting dashboards and analytics tools (e.g. Looker, or similar)
Troubleshoot and tune SQL performance, optimizing queries and data structures for speed and scalability
Contribute to data architecture decisions, including schema design, partitioning strategies, and workflow scheduling
Mentor junior engineers, advocate for best practices and promote a positive team culture

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

SQLApache AirflowETLELTLookerdata pipelinesdata modelingdata qualityDAGsperformance tuningschema designpartitioning

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Senior Data Engineer role?

The salary range is $160,000 - $210,000 annually, with the final offer based on experience, skills, internal equity, and location.

Is this position remote or does it require office work?

The role offers a flexible work culture that accommodates work from home while providing opportunities to collaborate in person at offices in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, and London.

What key skills are required for this Senior Data Engineer position?

Required skills include 7+ years in data engineering, expert-level SQL with performance tuning, proven Apache Airflow experience, and excellent communication skills.

What is the work environment like on the Platform Enablement team?

It's a fast-paced environment with a variety of projects supporting marketing technology, privacy & consent, and observability across web and mobile, emphasizing great communication and a positive team culture.

What makes a strong candidate for this role?

Candidates with 7+ years of data engineering experience, expert SQL and Airflow skills, cloud deployment knowledge (GCP/AWS preferred), and strong communication stand out, especially those who can mentor juniors.

SoundCloud

Digital music streaming platform for creators

About SoundCloud

SoundCloud is a digital music streaming platform that allows users to listen to a vast library of over 265 million music tracks for free. Users can access music online, making it a popular choice for individual listeners, artists, bands, DJs, and audio creators. The platform operates on a multifaceted business model, offering a free tier with ads and premium subscription plans like SoundCloud Go and SoundCloud Go+, which provide ad-free listening, offline access, and higher audio quality. Additionally, SoundCloud has a monetization program called SoundCloud Premier, which enables artists to earn money from their tracks through ad revenue and fan support. This focus on both music consumers and creators, along with its extensive library and community of content creators, sets SoundCloud apart from its competitors. The company's goal is to enrich the music experience for users while providing opportunities for artists to monetize their work.

Berlin, GermanyHeadquarters

2007Year Founded

$450.8MTotal Funding

SERIES_GCompany Stage

Consumer Software, EntertainmentIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as mental health resources

Robust 401k program

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Generous professional development allowance

Interested in a gym membership, photography course or book? We have a Creativity and Wellness benefit!

Flexible vacation and public holiday policy where you can take up to 35 days of PTO annually

16 paid weeks for all parents (birthing and non-birthing), regardless of gender, to welcome newborns, adopted and foster children

Various snacks, goodies, and 2 free lunches weekly when at the office

Risks

Cheaper artist plans may reduce revenue per user without a subscriber increase.

SoundCloud's merch store faces competition from established platforms like Bandcamp and Teespring.

New algorithms may face backlash if perceived as unfair or ineffective by artists.

Differentiation

SoundCloud offers a unique social platform for creators to connect with fans globally.

The platform's vast library of 265 million tracks sets it apart from competitors.

SoundCloud's artist monetization program, SoundCloud Premier, attracts a diverse creator community.

Upsides

AI-driven music tools enhance user engagement with personalized experiences and innovative content.

'Fan-powered' Buzzing Playlists increase user interaction by spotlighting emerging artists.

The beta merchandise program provides additional revenue streams, enhancing artist loyalty.

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