Data Lead- Dallas, TX

Photon$46K — $162K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in Data Engineering with focus on data for LLMs or AI/ML applications
  • Deep expertise in Python, including Pandas, Pydantic, FastAPI
  • Strong experience with modern data stack tools like dbt, Airflow, and Snowflake
  • Hands-on experience with at least one major Vector Database
  • Familiarity with hybrid search techniques combining semantic and traditional search
  • Proficiency in managing data workloads on AWS, Azure, or GCP

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement scalable ETL/ELT pipelines for LLM consumption
  • Architect and optimize Vector Databases for high-speed similarity searches
  • Collaborate with AI Engineers on data chunking and embedding strategies
  • Develop automated Data Cleaning workflows to enhance dataset quality
  • Enrich raw data with advanced metadata tagging for prioritization
  • Build low-latency data streams for real-time data access
  • Construct Gold Datasets and versioned data snapshots for performance benchmarking

Benefits

  • Medical, vision, and dental benefits
  • 401k retirement plan
  • Variable pay/incentives
  • Paid time off
  • Paid holidays
Full Job Description
Job Description

We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to build and scale the data infrastructure powering our Agentic AI products. You will be responsible for the "Ingestion-to-Insight" pipeline that allows autonomous agents to access, search, and reason over vast amounts of proprietary and public data.

Your role is critical: you will design the RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architectures and data pipelines that ensure our agents have the right context at the right time to make accurate decisions.

Key Responsibilities
  • AI-Ready Data Pipelines: Design and implement scalable ETL/ELT pipelines that process both structured (SQL, logs) and unstructured (PDFs, emails, docs) data specifically for LLM consumption.
  • Vector Database Management: Architect and optimize Vector Databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate, Milvus, or Qdrant) to ensure high-speed, relevant similarity searches for agentic retrieval.
  • Chunking & Embedding Strategies: Collaborate with AI Engineers to optimize data chunking strategies and embedding models to improve the "recall" and "precision" of the agent's knowledge retrieval.
  • Data Quality for AI: Develop automated "Data Cleaning" workflows to remove noise, PII (Personally Identifiable Information), and toxicity from training/context datasets.
  • Metadata Engineering: Enrich raw data with advanced metadata tagging to help agents filter and prioritize information during multi-step reasoning tasks.
  • Real-time Data Streaming: Build low-latency data streams (using Kafka or Flink) to provide agents with "fresh" data, enabling them to act on real-time market or operational changes.
  • Evaluation Frameworks: Construct "Gold Datasets" and versioned data snapshots to help the team benchmark agent performance over time.

Required Skills & Qualifications
  • Experience: 10+ years in Data Engineering, with at least 2 years focusing on data for LLMs or AI/ML applications.
  • Python Mastery: Deep expertise in Python (Pandas, Pydantic, FastAPI) for data manipulation and API integration.
  • Data Tooling: Strong experience with modern data stack tools (e.g., dbt, Airflow, Dagster, Snowflake, or Databricks).
  • Vector Expertise: Hands-on experience with at least one major Vector Database and knowledge of similarity search algorithms (HNSW, Cosine Similarity).
  • Search Knowledge: Familiarity with hybrid search techniques (combining semantic search with traditional keyword search like Elasticsearch/BM25).
  • Cloud Infrastructure: Proficiency in managing data workloads on AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with LlamaIndex or LangChain for data ingestion.
  • Knowledge of Graph Databases (e.g., Neo4j) to help agents understand complex relationships between data points.
  • Familiarity with "Data-Centric AI" principles-prioritizing data quality over model size.


Compensation, Benefits and Duration

Minimum Compensation: USD 46,000
Maximum Compensation: USD 162,000
Compensation is based on actual experience and qualifications of the candidate. The above is a reasonable and a good faith estimate for the role.
Medical, vision, and dental benefits, 401k retirement plan, variable pay/incentives, paid time off, and paid holidays are available for full time employees.
This position is not available for independent contractors
No applications will be considered if received more than 120 days after the date of this post

About Photon

Photon Careers

Joining Photon presents an unparalleled opportunity to advance one's career with a leader in digital innovation. Photon is actively seeking talented individuals to join its diverse team of professionals, dedicated to reshaping industries through technology and creativity.

Explore Job Opportunities

Photon offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and interests. Each position at Photon is designed to challenge team members while providing meaningful pathways for professional and personal growth.

Experience the Culture and Benefits

Photon is committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. The company provides comprehensive benefits designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of each team member. At Photon, every professional enjoys access to career development programs and diversity training, ensuring they are equipped for leadership roles in an evolving marketplace.

Engage in Professional Growth

Photon believes in the power of innovation and leadership to drive success. The company supports its team members with resources for continuous learning and growth, including advanced training sessions and leadership workshops. Networking within Photon’s industry-leading community allows for unparalleled career advancement and skill enhancement.

Internship Programs

For those beginning their professional journey, Photon offers internship programs that provide a robust foundation in digital solutions. Internships at Photon are characterized by immersive projects and hands-on learning, guided by experts in various fields. These programs are a gateway to full-time employment and a promising career path.

Join the Team

Photon is hiring! Explore open positions that match your skills and interests. Photon looks for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you are starting your career or looking to make a significant impact in your professional journey, Photon has a place for you.

Prepare for Your Interview

Photon values a thorough selection process. Prospective team members are encouraged to prepare by understanding the company’s mission and values. Tailoring your resume to highlight relevant experience and skills will make a significant difference. Engage actively during your interview, demonstrating your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role you are applying for.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from Photon by following the company’s career blog. Gain insights from insiders, learn about new job openings, and get tips on preparing your resume and acing your interview.

Career Development at Photon

Photon is dedicated to the professional development of its team members. The company offers various tools and resources, including career coaching and performance feedback, to help individuals reach their full potential. With Photon, career aspirations are nurtured, encouraging every team member to excel and innovate in their respective roles.

Networking and Career Opportunities

Photon encourages its team members to engage in networking within the company and the broader industry. These connections can lead to myriad opportunities, from collaborative projects to mentorship. Networking at Photon is not just about building professional relationships; it's about fostering a community of innovation and mutual growth.

Conclusion

Photon is not just a company; it is a community of driven professionals committed to making a difference. With a focus on innovation, leadership, and diversity, Photon offers a dynamic environment where ambitious individuals can thrive. Explore the possibilities and join Photon’s team of leaders, innovators, and visionaries.
Learn more about Photon

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