Senior Staff Data Engineer
Meet DeepL
DeepL is a global communications platform powered by Language AI. Since 2017, we’ve been on a mission to break down language barriers. Our human-sounding translations and intelligent writing suggestions are designed with enterprise security in mind. Today, they enable over 100,000 businesses to transform communications, reach new markets, and improve productivity. And, empower millions of individuals worldwide to make sense of the world and express their ideas.
Our goal is to become the global leader in Language AI, building products that drive better communication, foster connections, and make a real-life impact. To achieve this, we need talented individuals like you to join our exciting journey. If you're ready to work with a dynamic team and build your career in the fast-moving AI space, DeepL is your next destination.
What sets us apart
What sets us apart is our blend of modern technology, competitive benefits, and an open, welcoming work culture that enables our people to thrive. When we share what it's like to work at DeepL, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. This may be because of our products that have helped countless people worldwide or our shared mission to improve communication for individuals and businesses, bringing cultures closer together. What we know for sure is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team dedicated to innovation and employee well-being. Discover what our teams have to say about life at DeepL on LinkedIn, Instagram and our Blog.
Meet the team behind this journey
As a Senior Staff Data Engineer, you'll be a strategic technical leader within our Data Track and beyond driving the evolution of our enterprise-wide data practices. You'll work at the intersection of data engineering, product facing teams and platform teams, establishing standards and best practices that enable our engineering teams to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure data solutions. This role requires both deep technical expertise and the ability to influence and mentor engineers across DeepL.
Your responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Architecture
Define and implement enterprise-wide Data engineering standards, strategies, and best practices for data solutions
Provide expert guidance on technology selection, cloud services (AWS), and architectural decisions for data solutions
Drive continuous improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, and innovation across data
Evaluate and recommend tools, technologies, and frameworks to enhance our data capabilities
Collaboration & Mentorship
Partner with and influence leaders from engineering, analytics, machine learning, and security teams to align on goals
Mentor and be a thought leader across data, engineering and platform teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to understand data requirements and translate them into technical solutions
Work closely with customer-facing teams to ensure data solutions meet enterprise client needs
Security, Governance & Compliance
Drive best practices in data security, governance, and compliance aligned with enterprise B2B standards
Implement robust security measures for data at rest and in transit
Ensure thorough documentation of data processes, systems architecture, and stakeholder dependencies
Maintain compliance with GDPR, SOC 2, and other relevant regulatory requirements
Qualities we look for
Extensive Data expertise: 10+ years of experience in data engineering or related role with at least 5 years in a staff or principal role
Data architecture experience: Deep understanding of data infrastructure, data warehousing, ETL/ELT processes, and/or data pipeline orchestration
Cloud mastery: Proven experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native data services
Scripting & automation: Advanced scripting skills in Python, Bash, or similar languages for automation and tooling
Leadership & communication: Proven track record of technical leadership, mentoring engineers, and influencing cross-functional teams
Enterprise experience: Experience working in high-growth technology or SaaS environments with distributed systems and microservices architecture
Experience with data-specific tools and technologies such as Apache Airflow, dbt, Apache Spark, Kafka, or similar
Experience with real-time streaming data processing pipelines (spark, flink, etc.)
Knowledge of data warehousing solutions (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift) and data lake architectures
Background in data engineering or analytics engineering
Nice to haves
Familiarity with machine learning operations (MLOps) and ML infrastructure
Experience with security best practices, including secrets management, network security, and compliance frameworks
Experience with agile methodologies and tools (Jira, Confluence) for managing project timelines and deliverables
Contributions to open-source projects or technical community involvement
Experience with cost optimization strategies for cloud infrastructure
What we offer
Diverse and internationally distributed team: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities. We're more than just colleagues; we're a group of professionals with a shared mission to connect diverse cultures. Our global presence is growing–we've doubled in size nearly every year, with our employees based in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the US, and Japan, and we continue to expand our network.
Open communication, regular feedback: as a language-focused company, we value the importance of clear, honest communication. We value smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback, and believe that leading with empathy and growth mindset makes us better together.
Hybrid work, flexible hours: we offer a hybrid work schedule, with team members coming into the office twice a week. This allows you to engage directly with your team and experience the unique energy of our workspace, while still enjoying the flexibility and comfort of working from home. With flexible working hours and trust in your productivity, we are in sync with your team’s general locations and time zones to foster effective and seamless collaboration.
Virtual Shares - An ownership mindset in every role. We believe everyone should share in our success, and that’s why every employee receives Virtual Shares, linking your contribution directly to DeepL’s growth and rewarding you with a stake in our future.
Regular in-person team events: we bond over vibrant events that are as unique as our team, from local team and business unit gatherings, to new-joiner onboardings, to company-wide events that bring us all together–literally.
Monthly full-day hacking sessions: every month, we have Hack Fridays, where you can spend your time diving into a project you're passionate about and get the opportunity to work with other teams–we value your initiatives, impact, and creativity.
30 days of annual leave: we value your peace of mind. With 30 days off (excluding public holidays) and access to mental health resources, we make sure you're as strong mentally as you are professionally.
Competitive benefits: just as our team spans the globe, so does our benefits package. We've crafted it to reflect the diversity of our team and tailored it to align with your unique location, to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.
If this role and our mission resonate with you, but you're hesitant because you don't check all the boxes, don't let that hold you back. At DeepL, it's all about the value you bring and the growth we can foster together. Go ahead, apply—let's discover your potential together. We can't wait to meet you!
We are an equal opportunity employer
You are welcome at DeepL for who you are—we appreciate authenticity here. Our product is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all succeed, contribute, and think forward! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our diversity that we will find the power to break down language barriers in the world.
