Senior Azure Data Engineer

Senior Expert

Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Azure Data Engineer with 10+ years of hands-on experience, specializing in Azure Data Factory and Azure Databricks, to design, build, and manage scalable, secure, and high-performance data platforms on Microsoft Azure.

The ideal candidate will be deeply skilled in ETL/ELT engineering, distributed data processing, and cloud-native data architecture, and will play a key role in transforming complex data from multiple sources into reliable, analytics ready datasets that support business and operational decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust ETL/ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory and Azure Databricks.
• Ingest and integrate data from on-premises systems, cloud platforms, APIs, and flat files into Azure-based data platforms.
• Build and optimize data processing frameworks using Databricks (PySpark / Spark SQL) for large-scale data transformation.
• Develop and manage data models and curated datasets in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics.
• Architect scalable, secure, and cost-efficient data storage solutions using Azure-native services.
• Optimize Databricks clusters and ADF pipelines for performance, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve pipeline and data quality issues using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and native service diagnostics.
• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders and downstream consumers to understand data requirements and delivery expectations.
• Translate business and analytical needs into technical data engineering solutions aligned with enterprise architecture standards.
• Implement data security, encryption, and role-based access control (RBAC) across the data platform.
• Ensure data pipelines and storage comply with organizational policies and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA where applicable).
• Create and maintain technical documentation for data flows, pipeline logic, transformations, and integration points.
• Mentor junior data engineers and promote best practices in data engineering, coding standards, and cloud operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, with a strong focus on ETL/ELT development.
• Expert-level proficiency in:
• Azure Data Factory
• Azure Databricks (PySpark / Spark SQL)
• Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
• Azure SQL Database / Azure Synapse Analytics
• Strong hands-on experience with SQL, Python, PySpark, and distributed data processing concepts.
• Solid understanding of data warehousing principles, dimensional modeling (star/snowflake), and data lifecycle management.
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines for data engineering workloads using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
• Familiarity with big data ecosystems (Spark, Hadoop concepts) and orchestration patterns.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across data ingestion, transformation, and performance tuning layers.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) or Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate (DP-700) or Databricks Certification (Associate or Professional) is preferred.

 

Added Advantage (Nice to Have)

• Basic working knowledge of Power BI for:
• Connecting to source data (e.g., Azure SQL Database, Data Lake, Synapse, flat files)
• Performing basic data transformation and validation
• Creating simple reports and data visualizations (charts, tables, dashboards)

(Power BI is not a core requirement for this role.)

Preferred Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in agile, cross functional teams.
• Ownership mindset with focus on scalability, reliability, and maintainability.

Additional Information

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: https://www.nielseniq.com/global/en/ai-safety-policies.

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence.  All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion

Experience Level

Senior Level