Senior Platform / Data Systems Engineer

TL;DR:

• Ground-floor engineering role at venture-backed startup (TenOneTen Ventures, Jason Calacanis, Lightbank)
• The position is entirely remote, forever
• Significant equity package, huge upside as we revolutionize a $20 trillion (yes, with a “t”) global industry
• Salary range from $165k–$200k, unlimited PTO, competitive health benefits, wellness incentives
• Epic team of A+ players, executing and having a ton of fun doing it. We’d love to have you join us!

About Us:

SparkPlug is Google Ads for brick-and-mortar — allowing consumer brands to bid on in-store influence. In complex CPG verticals like beauty, outdoor gear, and legal cannabis, customers rely on the product recommendation of point-of-purchase experts up to 92% of the time. SparkPlug allows brands to directly reward these key influencers for every sale they generate with cash via gamified commissions, contests, and goals.

We drive more revenue for brands, improve employee performance for retailers, and empower frontline workers across the world with fair compensation and economic equality — all based on the sales revenue they generate each day.

We’re a San Francisco–based company hiring for a ground-floor engineer to help us enter the hyper-growth phase. We’re backed by top VCs and angels like Lightbank, TenOneTen Ventures, the inventors of Google AdSense, Jason Calacanis, and the CEO of Foursquare, and we’re working to revolutionize the future of the nearly $20 trillion global brick-and-mortar retail market.

About the Role:

SparkPlug is a pioneering startup transforming how brands connect with retailers, employees, and customers. Our platform delivers seamless interactions and data-driven insights to empower retail teams and drive growth. We leverage cutting-edge technologies to create a dynamic and impactful ecosystem.

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Platform / Data Systems Engineer to join our innovative team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in backend development, cloud technologies, and data engineering. As a Senior Platform / Data Systems Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in architecting and building the core platform that powers SparkPlug’s innovative solutions.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Platform Development:
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable and robust backend systems using Node.js.
• Infrastructure as Code:
• Define and manage cloud infrastructure programmatically to ensure environments are scalable, repeatable, and easy to evolve.
• Data Engineering:
• Perform data engineering tasks, including data ingestion, transformation, and analysis to support data-driven decision-making.
• Data Ingestion:
• Design scalable batch and event-driven data pipelines using appropriate tools (e.g., Spark, SQL-based transformations, or serverless compute), choosing the right approach for each use case.
• Data Warehouse:
• Design and operate scalable analytical and operational data stores (e.g., lakehouse or warehouse systems), ensuring correctness, performance, and cost efficiency.
• Collaboration:
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product, data science, and front-end development, to deliver high-quality solutions.
• Best Practices:
• Advocate and implement best practices in code quality, testing, and deployment processes to ensure the robustness and reliability of the platform.

Qualifications:

• Experience:
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in software development, with a focus on backend engineering
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in at least one modern object-oriented programming language (e.g., Python, Java, TypeScript), with the ability to ramp quickly on Node.js
• Strong experience with AWS services, particularly AWS Lambda, S3, Glue, and Step Functions for building scalable, serverless data pipelines
• Familiarity with infrastructure as code tools, preferably Pulumi
• Experience with data engineering and building data pipelines
• Experience with Databricks is preferred
• Problem-Solving:
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex issues
• Collaboration:
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Benefits

• Innovative Environment: Work in a fast-paced startup environment with a culture of innovation and continuous learning
• Impactful Work: Contribute to a platform that significantly impacts how brands, retailers, and employees connect and succeed
• Growth Opportunities: Opportunities for professional growth and development within the company
• Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, and other perks