Senior Data Engineer

About AIR Communities

AIR Communities is a multifamily real estate operator headquartered in Denver, CO. We are one of the country’s largest owners and operators of multifamily housing, managing high‑quality properties in most major markets. At AIR, we value integrity, respect, collaboration, customer focus, and performance. Our corporate office is located in the Denver Tech Center, spanning the top two floors of the building with expansive views of the mountains and downtown skyline.

This position will be in‑office five days a week to support operations.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Engineer to join our dynamic data team. The role focuses on designing, building, and optimizing modern data pipelines and cloud‑based data platforms to support analytics, machine learning, and essential business applications across the organization.

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines for ingesting, transforming, and delivering large and diverse datasets.
• Write efficient, reusable SQL and/or Python code for data ingestion, transformation, automation, and integration.
• Optimize data workflows for performance, reliability, security, and cost‑efficiency in cloud environments.
• Collaborate with data scientists, analysts, application teams, and business stakeholders to understand data needs and deliver solutions.
• Implement data governance and security practices across pipeline components and data assets.
• Monitor data flows, troubleshoot issues, and ensure data quality, availability, and integrity.
• Integrate data from a wide range of internal and external sources into centralized data platforms.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and provide guidance to less‑experienced engineers when needed.
• Stay informed on emerging tools and architectures and contribute insights for continuous improvement.
• Perform performance tuning and optimization across ingestion, transformation, and storage layers.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in data or related engineering roles, with 5+ years focused on data engineering.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and/or Python for data processing, transformation, and automation.
• Hands‑on experience building and optimizing data pipelines and integration workflows.
• Strong understanding of data modeling, performance optimization, and query tuning.
• Experience working with cloud platforms and their data ecosystems.
• Knowledge of ETL/ELT concepts, orchestration patterns, and automated data workflows.
• Understanding of data governance, security, and handling sensitive or regulated data (e.g., PII).
• Experience with version control and CI/CD practices.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and comfort working with complex or unstructured datasets.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities, including root‑cause analysis.

• Experience with distributed data processing or declarative pipeline frameworks.
• Familiarity with cloud‑native functions and workflow orchestration tools.
• Experience with data governance frameworks, metadata management, or cataloging solutions.
• Knowledge of columnar storage and big‑data file formats.
• Familiarity with modern table formats such as Parquet, Delta, or Iceberg.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working across cross‑functional teams.
• Adaptability and resilience when navigating ambiguity or shifting priorities.
• Proactive problem‑solver who identifies opportunities and drives solutions forward.
• Strong sense of ownership and commitment to delivering high‑quality engineering work.
• Growth mindset with ongoing curiosity and a desire to improve tools, processes, and personal skills.

• Expected pay rate of $125,000 – $145,000 plus annual bonus.
• 25% discounted rent at AIR Communities (certain exclusions apply, and an application is required).
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options available. HSA with company contributions, FSA (traditional and dependent care FSA).
• Short and long‑term disability paid by the company.
• 401(K) plus…