Jr. Data Engineer

As a Junior Data Engineer at Focus Financial Partners, your primary responsibilities will include developing and optimizing ELT pipelines, writing and refining SQL queries for data transformation, and contributing to data model design for scalable analytics solutions. You'll also monitor, troubleshoot, and enhance data pipelines, collaborate with data analysts, and support data governance initiatives to ensure data integrity and quality.

To apply for the Junior Data Engineer role at Focus Financial Partners, you should have at least 2 years of experience in data engineering, analytics, or software development, along with proficiency in SQL and Python. Familiarity with cloud-based platforms such as Snowflake, AWS, or GCP is essential, and an understanding of ELT/ETL concepts and exposure to tools like Airflow or Spark will give you an edge.

Focus Financial Partners is committed to supporting the growth of its Junior Data Engineers through mentorship opportunities, continuous learning, and access to best practices in data engineering. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with experienced professionals, enhancing your skills in a hands-on environment while staying updated on industry advancements.

The work environment at Focus Financial Partners is collaborative and dynamic, where your contributions as a Junior Data Engineer are valued. You will work alongside talented professionals who are eager to share their knowledge and experience, fostering a culture of learning. This role encourages independent work while promoting teamwork to achieve common goals in data engineering.

The expected salary range for a Junior Data Engineer at Focus Financial Partners is between $55,000 and $65,000 annually. However, actual pay may vary based on your experience, geographic location, and skill set. In addition to base pay, you will also have access to other compensation components, such as cash bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

In your response, highlight specific projects or tasks where you've utilized SQL to transform and analyze data. Discuss the complexity of the queries you've written, and how your work has impacted the outcomes of a project. Emphasize your problem-solving skills and attention to detail in ensuring data accuracy and performance.

Start your answer by explaining your understanding of data pipeline architecture. Describe the techniques you’ve used for optimization, such as index usage, query refactoring, or scaling data processing. Providing a concrete example where you improved performance will demonstrate your practical knowledge in data engineering.

Discuss the significance of normalization vs. denormalization, how to model for analytics versus transactional systems, and the importance of scalability. Providing examples from your experience can showcase your deep understanding of data modeling principles and their implications on data workflows.

Discuss any experience you have with cloud platforms like AWS, Snowflake, or GCP. Explain specific challenges, such as managing data security or optimizing for cost, and how you addressed them. This shows your ability to adapt to different environments and your problem-solving mindset.

Focus on processes you implement, such as data validation checks, automated testing, and monitoring systems. Sharing successful strategies or tools you’ve used to maintain data quality could provide the interviewer with insight into your attention to detail and commitment to reliable data solutions.

Discuss any experience with tools like Apache Airflow, dbt, or similar software. Explain how you've used these tools to schedule, monitor, or manage data workflows, and how they helped improve efficiency in your past projects.

Provide a specific example where you encountered a problem with a data pipeline, describing the root cause and the systematic approach you took to resolve the issue. Highlight your analytical skills and how you communicated and collaborated with team members to fix the problem.

Share your personal journey into data engineering, including what aspects of the field you find most interesting. Whether it's the challenge of working with data or the impact of your work on business decisions, your passion will resonate with the interviewer.

Mention specific resources you follow, such as blogs, podcasts, or online courses. Emphasize your commitment to continuous learning and improvement in your skills to adapt to the fast-evolving data landscape.

Tailor your response to highlight what excites you about Focus Financial Partners, such as their innovative projects in data or strong team culture. Demonstrating an understanding of their mission will show your genuine interest in the role and the company.