Director, Data Engineering

About Ascent Ascent Developer Solutions is a leading private lending platform, serving real estate developers nationwide in the acquisition, renovation, and construction of residential real estate. Founded by a leadership team with a deep understanding and personal experience in virtually every facet of real estate development, Ascent is uniquely positioned to create custom, innovative lending solutions for a variety of real estate development business strategies. The Role The Data Engineer is central to shaping and maintaining the organization's data infrastructure, enabling seamless access to critical data for various teams. This position will focus on building, optimizing, and managing data pipelines to support analytics and data science initiatives, contributing directly to data-driven decision-making processes. By ensuring data is clean, reliable, and accessible, the Data Engineer will play a crucial role in driving operational efficiency and supporting strategic objectives across the organization. The role involves collaboration with data analysts, software engineers, and stakeholders to understand data requirements, implement robust data solutions, and ensure the integrity and security of data systems. The Work Design, build, test, and manage scalable data pipelines and ETL processes that ingest data from multiple sources and ensure reliable, efficient, and high-quality data. Optimize and maintain database structures to support data processing and storage requirements, including indexing, partitioning, and schema design. Work closely with data scientists, product managers, analysts, and other stakeholders to understand data requirements and translate them into scalable data infrastructure solutions. Partner with data scientists to develop and deploy machine learning models Document data processes, pipelines, and schemas to ensure transparency and ease of troubleshooting for future updates. Continuously monitor and improve the performance, scalability, and reliability of data systems. Ensure that all data handling, storage, and processing comply with relevant data protection regulations and organizational policies, including GDPR, CCPA, etc. Monitor and tune data pipeline and database performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement improvements as needed. Manage a team of 1-2 data engineers and consultants to deliver on stated goals Your Skills and Experience Bachelor's in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field. Experience setting up databases and processes on real estate data (public records, listings, etc) 7-10 years of experience in data engineering, with a proven track record of developing and managing data pipelines and data warehouses. 2-3 years of experience managing a team. Strong proficiency in Python or Scala for data processing. Proficiency in Azure - developing pipelines, blob storage, setting up databases, functions, and machine learning Advanced knowledge of SQL for developing and managing relational databases and experience with both SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB). Proficiency with ETL tools and frameworks Exposure to data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for facilitating self-service analytics. Understanding of machine learning concepts and experience deploying ML models to production. The Pay Salary range is $150k-$170k per year, with a discretionary bonus adding up to 25% per year The Work Environment This role works on-site from Ascent's Encino office, Monday - Thursday (Fridays are work-from-home). Full-time, 40 hours per week; must be available for occasional overtime. Some nights and weekends required. Ascent's Benefits We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and work-life balance. Our benefits include five health plans, four dental plans, health savings and flexible spending accounts, vision coverage, and other optional benefits to choose from. Ascent's Pledge We pledge to be fair and considerate in hiring and promoting individuals, ensuring everyone can contribute their fullest potential regardless of background, identity, or personal circumstances. By promoting equal opportunity, we not only enhance our workplace but also contribute to a more just and equitable society. At Ascent, we stand united in building a community where everyone is empowered to succeed. Thank you for joining us on our journey towards a more inclusive future. The pay range for this role is: 150,000 - 160,000 USD per year (Southern California)