Senior Big Data Engineer - job 1 of 2

As a Senior Big Data Engineer at Definitive Healthcare, you'll be responsible for designing and developing scalable data pipelines, implementing ETL processes, and integrating data from diverse sources into our data warehouse. You'll also focus on ensuring data quality, optimizing performance, and maintaining data governance, making you an essential part of our data-driven decision-making process.

To qualify for the Senior Big Data Engineer role at Definitive Healthcare, you should have strong technical skills in Python or Scala, experience with Apache Spark, Databricks, and workflow orchestration tools like Apache Airflow. Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS and GCP is paramount, along with a solid understanding of data management principles and CI/CD tools. Preferred qualifications include cloud certifications and previous experience in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.

Definitive Healthcare is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, especially within the Senior Big Data Engineer role. We encourage applications from a broad range of backgrounds, and our employee affinity groups promote a culture of education and community service. This inclusivity helps drive innovative ideas and enhances our collaborative culture.

In the role of Senior Big Data Engineer at Definitive Healthcare, you'll engage with a suite of tools and technologies including Python or Scala for programming, Apache Spark and Databricks for big data processes, and Apache Airflow for orchestrating workflows. You'll also utilize metadata management tools like Unity Catalog and work with various data formats and cloud environments.

The work culture for Senior Big Data Engineers at Definitive Healthcare is lively, collaborative, and driven by a shared passion for improving the healthcare ecosystem. We emphasize community service, ongoing professional development, and celebrate diversity through initiatives like the DefinitiveCares program. Our commitment to work-life balance and employee recognition makes it an engaging place to grow your career.

In interviewing for the Senior Big Data Engineer position, it’s important to highlight your hands-on experience with Apache Spark and Databricks. Discuss specific projects where you've implemented Spark for processing large datasets, emphasizing your approach to performance tuning and how you've utilized Databricks for collaborative development and data operations.

When preparing to answer this question, elaborate on the methods you apply to guarantee data quality, such as validation checks during each stage of the ETL pipeline, implementing automated testing, and regular data quality assessments post-integration. Discuss specific tools you've used for data cleansing and curation.

To effectively answer this question, be ready to discuss the techniques you've employed to optimize Spark jobs. These may include using broadcast joins, optimizing shuffles, leveraging partitioning strategies, or applying caching where appropriate. Concrete examples from your past experience will enhance credibility.

When responding to this question, detail your understanding of the Medallion architecture, which involves organizing data into distinct layers: bronze, silver, and gold. Discuss how each layer serves a different purpose in the data pipeline and how it maximizes usability and value at each stage of data maturity.

In your response, emphasize the importance of clear communication and understanding data needs. Discuss your strategy for translating those needs into actionable data solutions, and include examples of cross-functional projects or collaborative situations where you created effective outcomes.

Show your proactive approach to professional development by mentioning specific channels you follow for the latest information, such as industry blogs, webinars, certifications, or conferences. Highlight how staying updated helps you implement best practices and innovative solutions in your work.

Prepare to give a detailed account of a specific challenge you encountered, focusing on your problem-solving approach. Discuss the steps you took to identify the issue, the analysis performed, and the implementation of your solution. Mention any tools or methodologies that contributed positively to your outcome.

To respond effectively, illustrate your understanding of data governance by discussing frameworks you've implemented or followed in your past roles. Emphasize your strategy for ensuring data compliance, security, and privacy, along with the tools you've used for governance tasks.

In answering this, clarify your familiarity with CI/CD tools like Jenkins or GitLab CI, explaining how you've utilized these practices to automate deployment and testing of data infrastructure. Share examples where you've developed CI/CD pipelines to enhance team productivity and reduce deployment times.

In your response, describe your approach to task prioritization when handling multiple projects, including criteria you use to assess urgency and importance. Discuss tools or frameworks (like Agile methodologies) that help you manage workload effectively while maintaining quality outputs.