Senior Data Engineer

About Checkr
Checkr is building the data platform to power safe and fair decisions. Established in 2014, Checkr’s innovative technology and robust data platform help customers assess risk and ensure safety and compliance to build trusted workplaces and communities. Checkr has over 100,000 customers including DoorDash, Coinbase, Lyft, Instacart, and Airtable.

We’re a team that thrives on solving complex problems with innovative solutions that advance our mission. Checkr is recognized on Forbes Cloud 100 2025 List and is a Y Combinator 2024 Breakthrough Company.

About the Role

We are seeking a strong Senior Data Engineer to build and maintain scalable, high-quality data pipelines powering Checkr’s centralized data platform. As a Senior Engineer, you will independently deliver complex features, contribute to system design, and collaborate with cross-functional partners to support the next generation of our data products.

What You’ll Do

• Independently design and implement complex batch and streaming pipelines using PySpark, SQL, and AWS services.
• Navigate ambiguity with guidance, translating high-level direction into well-scoped, high-quality technical solutions.
• Work cross-functionally with product, design, analysts, and engineers to ship impactful features and improve data workflows.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and system improvements without owning long-term strategy.
• Ensure pipeline reliability and data quality, implementing testing, monitoring, and observability best practices.
• Investigate and resolve production issues for services owned by the team.
• Write performant, maintainable code that aligns with engineering standards.
• Support the team in building foundational datasets that enable analytics, ML, and customer-facing features.

What You Bring

• 6–7+ years of experience in data engineering with strong hands-on execution ability.
• Proficiency with PySpark, Python, and SQL, including debugging and performance optimization.
• Experience building large-scale pipelines (up to terabytes or larger), with exposure to streaming systems such as Kafka.
• Strong knowledge of data modeling, relational databases, and NoSQL stores.
• Experience with AWS services such as EMR, Glue, Athena, Lambda, and S3.
• Exposure to Iceberg or other lakehouse technologies (nice to have).
• Understanding of security and data privacy fundamentals.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to execute independently.
• Knowledge of Databricks, Snowflake, or Graph/Vector stores is a plus.

At Checkr, we believe a hybrid work environment strengthens collaboration, drives innovation, and encourages connection. Our hub locations are Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA, Nashville, TN, and Santiago, Chile. Individuals are expected to work from the office 3 days a week. In-office perks are provided, such as lunch five times a week, a commuter stipend, and an abundance of snacks and beverages. A relocation stipend may be available for those willing to relocate to a Checkr hub location.

Equal Employment Opportunities at Checkr
Checkr is committed to building the best product and company, which requires hiring talented and qualified individuals with a diverse set of perspectives and lived experiences. Checkr believes in hiring people of all backgrounds, including those whose histories are impacted by the justice system in accordance with local, state, and/or federal laws, including the San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.

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