Data Engineer AI-Driven Cybersecurity Platform
Location: San Francisco, United States
Compensation: $230,000 - $275,000 base salary + equity
Company Stage: Series A, $20M funding
Team Size: 15 engineers
About the Company
Our client is an innovative cybersecurity startup on a mission to make security within reach. Founded in 2020 and backed by leading investors, the company is building the industry's first self-driving cybersecurity platform powered by generative AI. By orchestrating and optimising existing security stacks, the platform helps organisations strengthen their posture and outpace adversaries without increasing complexity.
With $20M in Series A funding and strong market traction, the company is entering a high-growth phase and expanding its engineering team.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Senior Data Engineer / Data Platform Architect to design and scale the data infrastructure that powers AI-driven cybersecurity. This is a hands-on, foundational role where you'll own the architecture, ingestion platforms, and orchestration systems that process massive data volumes in real-time.
You'll collaborate closely with product and platform teams, designing pipelines and systems that fuel advanced analytics, ML models, and customer-facing features. Beyond building pipelines, you'll help establish engineering best practices and ensure the platform scales reliably as adoption grows.
Key Responsibilities
Architect, design, and build large-scale data ingestion and transformation platforms.
Develop and maintain reliable ETL/ELT workflows using Apache Airflow or Dagster.
Optimise data models, schemas, and pipelines for performance and scalability.
Work with Databricks, ClickHouse, Apache Spark, and other distributed systems to enable advanced analytics.
Manage infrastructure (e.g., Kubernetes/ECS) to support robust data operations.
Ensure data integrity, quality, and fault tolerance across distributed environments.
Collaborate with product and ML teams to deliver scalable solutions for real-world adversarial challenges.
Establish engineering standards, mentor peers, and contribute to long-term architectural decisions.
Qualifications
Experience in data engineering, with a focus on building ingestion platforms (not just using tools).
Proven expertise with workflow orchestration (Apache Airflow or Dagster).
Deep experience with data warehousing (Databricks, ClickHouse, or similar).
Strong knowledge of batch processing with Apache Spark.
Skilled in infrastructure management (Kubernetes, ECS, or containerised environments).
Familiarity with modern data lake technologies (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake).
Strong coding skills in Python (or equivalent), with experience solving complex system design challenges.
Track record of building end-to-end data platforms, from infrastructure setup to production operations.
Excellent problem-solving and communication skills; ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
Must be a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder.
Nice to Have:
Experience with both batch and streaming data pipelines.
Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Pulumi, AWS CDK).
Strong background in database schema design, optimisation, and scaling.
Must Not Have:
Multiple short stints (last 2 jobs < 2 years).
Recent coding bootcamp graduate.
Primarily contract-based background without long-term platform-building experience.
Interview Process
Initial screen (15-30 mins): Motivation, fit, and walkthrough of past complex projects.
Technical coding interview (45 mins): Live coding exercise (language of choice).
Virtual onsite (3 x 1 hr):
•System design challenge: distributed systems, APIs, schemas, trade-offs.
•Coding exercise, real-world problem solving & implementation.
•Culture fit interview assessing personality, startup DNA, and collaboration style.
CEO/CTO round: Alignment with the company's mission and stage.
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to join a Series A company at the forefront of AI-driven cybersecurity. As one of the first senior data engineers, you'll:
Build and own the core data infrastructure from the ground up.
Work directly with the founders and an exceptional engineering team.
Shape the future of how enterprises secure their platforms against adversaries.
Enjoy competitive compensation, equity, and comprehensive health benefits while working remotely.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role. Only candidates authorised to work in the United States will be considered.