Lead Engineer – Data Export & Data Warehouse

The Lead Engineer at StackAdapt is responsible for architecting scalable, low-latency backend systems and data pipelines. This role involves leading and mentoring a team of engineers, writing code to support the team’s initiatives, conducting code reviews, and solving complex technical challenges. The lead also plays a crucial role in the recruitment process, ensuring that we're attracting high-performing talent.

To excel as a Lead Engineer at StackAdapt, you should have extensive experience in big data processing, ideally handling terabytes of data. Strong technical leadership skills, hybrid expertise in software development, and hands-on experience with data warehouse technologies are highly desirable. Familiarity with modern tools like Trino or Snowflake is a bonus, along with a proven track record of building robust data systems.

StackAdapt places a strong emphasis on professional development. As a Lead Engineer, you'll have access to robust training programs, options for continuing education such as conferences and courses, and opportunities to engage with StackAdapt's programmatic courses and certifications, all aimed at supporting your growth and enhancing your skillset.

The Lead Engineer will engage with a diverse tech stack, including Go, Ruby on Rails, Aerospike, Redis, Elasticsearch, Kafka, RocksDB, Redshift, and ScyllaDB, among others. This role encourages experimentation with new technologies as part of our innovative culture, making it an exciting position for tech enthusiasts.

At StackAdapt, we pride ourselves on our friendly, inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture. We celebrate diversity and support each team member in their professional journey, promoting a work environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, which is vital for driving innovation and high-performance results.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you successfully designed scalable systems. Highlight the technologies used, the challenges faced, and how you ensured optimal performance under load. Providing metrics or results from these projects can make your answer more compelling.

Discuss your mentoring philosophy and methods. Share examples of how you've helped team members grow in their roles, whether through one-on-one coaching, providing resources, or facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions. Emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive environment.

Talk about your prioritization techniques and how you assess project urgency and importance. Describe tools or methods you use, such as Agile methodologies or project management software, to ensure you and your team remain organized and meet deadlines.

Provide a specific instance where you encountered a significant technical obstacle. Discuss your thought process, the steps taken to address the issue, and the outcome. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically under pressure.

Explain the importance of code reviews in maintaining code quality and sharing knowledge within the team. Share examples of how you've implemented or improved code review processes to enhance collaboration and provide constructive feedback.

Discuss your methods for keeping up with industry trends, whether through attending conferences, participating in webinars, or reading relevant publications. Emphasize your commitment to lifelong learning and how it translates into actionable insights within your role.

Share specific technologies you've worked with (like Redshift or Snowflake) and discuss how you've leveraged them to build effective data warehousing solutions. Highlight any achievements related to data retrieval performance or system optimizations.

Talk about strategies you implement, such as setting standards for coding, conducting regular training sessions, or utilizing tools for automated testing. Mention how you foster an atmosphere of accountability regarding best practices.

Provide insight into your conflict resolution approach. Emphasize the importance of open communication, understanding differing perspectives, and seeking win-win solutions to foster a positive team dynamic.

Share your enthusiasm about StackAdapt’s innovative culture and the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies. Discuss how you see yourself contributing to the team’s growth and the overall mission of the company.