Data Pipeline Operations Engineer

As a Data Pipeline Operations Engineer at SixMap, your main responsibilities include managing the weekly scanning process, ensuring the timely and correct progression of customer data through research, scanning, and UI ingest phases. You'll prepare input files, monitor and troubleshoot jobs on the scanning cluster utilizing Airflow, and perform data ingests into production databases using SQL and Python. Ensuring the quality and validation of the ingested data is also a key task, alongside identifying process bottlenecks for continuous improvement.

To qualify for the Data Pipeline Operations Engineer position at SixMap, you should have strong Linux command line skills, proficiency in Python programming, and advanced SQL knowledge for data ingestion and validation. Experience with workflow orchestration tools like Airflow is essential, along with the ability to troubleshoot long-running batch processes. Flexibility to handle off-hours work is also important to meet SLAs. Familiarity with network scanning tools and AWS services can be an added advantage.

As a Data Pipeline Operations Engineer at SixMap, you should be proficient in Python for programming tasks and have advanced SQL skills for data handling. Familiarity with Airflow or similar workflow orchestration tools is crucial as it will assist in managing and monitoring the job execution processes. Experience with Linux command line operations is also necessary to navigate the system effectively.

Challenges you may encounter as a Data Pipeline Operations Engineer at SixMap involve managing the complexity of data ingestion workflows, troubleshooting issues in a timely manner, and identifying bottlenecks in the scanning processes. You must also ensure that all data processing meets contractual obligations while optimizing for efficiency and speed. This position may require flexibility in handling uncertainties that arise outside of regular hours to meet service-level agreements.

The role of a Data Pipeline Operations Engineer at SixMap is crucial as it directly supports our mission to enhance cybersecurity for enterprises and government agencies. By ensuring seamless data flow through our scanning processes, you are enabling SixMap to deliver comprehensive visibility into external attack surfaces, identify vulnerabilities, and provide actionable insights. Your efforts in maintaining data integrity and performance optimizations are key to our proactive defense strategies against imminent threats.

When discussing your Linux experience, highlight specific tasks you've completed on the command line, such as managing files, troubleshooting systems, or automating processes. Mention how these skills will help you efficiently handle data ingestion workflows and resolve issues at SixMap.

To answer this question, share your strategy for prioritization, such as assessing deadlines, impact on stakeholders, and aligning with SLAs. Discuss any tools or methodologies you use to stay organized, ensuring that no critical items fall through the cracks.

Share a specific example where you analyzed the data flow, recognized inefficiencies, and implemented a solution—be it optimizing a process or introducing new tools. Highlight the outcomes of your actions, emphasizing improvements in speed and reliability.

Provide a step-by-step approach you take to troubleshoot, including monitoring logs, checking system resources, and testing various parameters. Mention any tools you've used to facilitate these tasks and how your methodological approach has led to successful resolutions.

Discuss your experience with Airflow or similar orchestration tools by outlining how you've used them to schedule, monitor, and manage workflows. Be sure to highlight specific features you have leveraged, such as task dependencies and retry mechanisms, to streamline data processing.

Emphasize data validation's role in ensuring data quality and accuracy. Talk about methods you use for validating data after ingestion and how this contributes to meeting client contractual obligations and maintaining the integrity of the process at SixMap.

Discuss any scripting languages you are adept with, particularly emphasizing Python. Provide examples of automation you have implemented in past roles that improved efficiency and reduced manual intervention.

Embrace the importance of clear and consistent communication. Talk about how you keep team members informed of issues and progress and leverage tools for transparency. Share a specific scenario where effective communication resulted in a successful outcome.

Highlight your proactive approach to continuous learning. Discuss resources you use, such as courses, documentation, or community forums, and how you apply this newfound knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Discuss your previous experiences optimizing database performance. Include techniques you employed, such as indexing, query optimizations, or partitioning, and the results you achieved through these practices.