Staff Data Engineer

About Customer.io

Over 7,500 companies — from scrappy startups to global brands — use our platform to send billions of emails, push notifications, in-app messages, and SMS every day. Customer.io powers automated communication that people actually want to receive. We help teams send smarter, more relevant messages using real-time behavioral data.

Hi there! We’re looking for a Staff Data Engineer to take ownership of the data models and infrastructure that power analytics across our company. This is our first dedicated data engineering hire — a high-impact opportunity to shape our semantic layer, streamline our modern data stack, and unlock self-service analytics for the entire business. You’ll be the go-to person for building a high-trust, governed data foundation that enables everyone (from executives to product teams) to make smarter, faster decisions.

What we value

• High agency, high impact — you’re energized by building and improving, not just maintaining the status quo
• Collaboration — you thrive on partnering with analysts, product teams, and data scientists to bring innovative ideas into reality
• Pragmatism — you balance speed with scalability, building solutions that work today and scale over the long haul
• Continuous improvement — you’re always on the lookout for ways to make models cleaner, pipelines more efficient, and governance stronger
• Curiosity — you want to learn, experiment, and evolve the data stack as the company grows and our products evolve
• AI-ready data — you build pipelines and models that don’t just serve today’s reporting needs but are structured and governed to support machine learning and AI use cases tomorrow

What you’ll do

• Own and evolve our semantic layer: design, document, and optimize dbt models that drive business KPIs and enable self-service analytics
• Administer and improve our data stack (Snowflake, dbt, Sigma, Stitch, Fivetran) — ensuring reliability, scalability, and best practices
• Partner with analytics and product teams to deliver trusted, AI-ready data that supports both internal decision-making and new product features
• Lead improvements in efficiency and governance: streamline dbt runtimes, refactor inefficient SQL, reduce Snowflake costs, and implement RBAC and documentation standards
• Evaluate and shape the future of our orchestration and data infrastructure, including opportunities for front-end data apps (e.g., Streamlit)

What we’re looking for

• 5–8 years of hands-on experience as a Data or Analytics Engineer in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Must-have: advanced SQL, dbt, and Python — you’re comfortable writing complex queries, building robust models, and automating workflows
• Experience with Snowflake administration and optimization
• Familiarity with ETL tools (like Stitch and Fivetran), and modeling and orchestration frameworks (like dbt Cloud and Airflow)
• Experience with GCP nice to have, Terraform experience a plus
• A track record of building and improving data systems — not just operating them
• Excited by the opportunity to join early, take ownership, and have a direct impact on the company’s growth
• Americas-based, remote-friendly

What success looks like in this role

Within your first 3–6 months, you will:

• Deliver clean, documented dbt models that define core business metrics
• Ensure reliable pipelines from key systems into Snowflake
• Improve query performance and reduce data costs
• Establish basic governance and documentation standards
• Enable analysts to build trusted dashboards on top of consistent data
• Lay the groundwork for AI/ML by structuring data for future use cases

About the Data Team

We’re building the data foundation to power the next phase of our company’s growth. With a modern stack already in place (Snowflake, dbt, Sigma, Fivetran/Stitch), we’re ready to take things to the next level: a governed, documented, and trusted semantic layer, a world-class self-service analytics experience, and a data platform that scales with our AI-first future. 

Disclaimer

The above job description is not an exhaustive list of activities, responsibilities, or requirements. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation & Benefits

We believe in transparency. Starting salary for this role is $170,000 (or equivalent in local currency) depending on experience and subject to market rate adjustment.

We know our people are what make us great, and we’re committed to taking great care of them. Our inclusive benefits package supports your well-being and growth, including 100% coverage of medical, dental, vision, mental health, and supplemental insurance premiums for you and your family. We also offer 16 weeks paid parental leave, unlimited PTO, stipends for remote work and wellness, a professional development budget, and more.

See full benefits here →

Our Process

No gotchas, no trick questions – just a clear, human process designed to help both of us make an informed decision.

• 30-minute call with Maria (Recruiter)
• 45-minute call with Hiring Manager
• 30-minute calls with 2 potential team members
• Take-Home Assignment + 45-minute review call

All final candidates will be asked to complete a background check and employment verifications as part of our pre-employment process.

Customer.io recognizes the stifling impact of systemic injustice on diverse communities. We commit to using our influence to increase inclusion and equity within the tech industry. We strive to build an inclusive team culture, implement bias-free hiring practices, and develop community partnerships to expand our global impact.

Zoom is the only video conference platform that we use, virtual interviews will be conducted using the video capability (i.e., not via the chat), and offers will be extended in writing on official Customer.io letterhead. Please be vigilant in all of your job search activity, and if you have any questions please contact jobs@customer.io.

Join us!

Check out our careers page for more information about why you should come work with us! We believe in empathy, transparency, responsibility, and, yes, a little awkwardness. If you’re excited by what you read — apply now.