Lead Data Engineer

About Kovalee

Founded in 2020, Kovalee is transforming the mobile industry with a bold vision: empowering app creators to make their app the #1 in their field, regardless of resources. Using proprietary technology and expertise in user acquisition, app store optimization, product enhancement, and monetization, Kovalee allows developers to focus on their craft while we drive their apps' growth. Apps like Bend, PepTalk, and ParrotPal stand as testaments to our success, reaching the top of their categories.

Recognized as one of the fastest-growing startups of 2024 by Sifted, Kovalee is powered by a diverse, global team of 20+ professionals from 15+ nationalities, united by a shared ambition: to reshape the mobile app industry.

Join the Data Engineering team at Kovalee as our Lead Data Engineer, driving the design and scaling of our data infrastructure while leading the team. You will shape the team's roadmap, streamline data workflows, and ensure reliable, high-quality data delivery across the organization to power smarter decision-making in User Acquisition, Product, and Creativity.

• Lead and mentor the Data Engineering team, currently managing one Junior Data Engineer, and set the technical direction and roadmap.
• Design, implement, and scale robust data pipelines and workflows to ensure reliable and timely data delivery.
• Collaborate with Product, Growth, and Creative teams to understand data needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Optimize data storage, processing, and retrieval to support analytics and decision-making at scale.

• Degree in a STEM field and 5+ years of experience in data engineering, maintaining end-to-end ETL/ELT pipelines
• Proficient in Python, SQL, and familiarity with RESTful APIs
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Helm, Kubernetes)
• Experience designing, building, and orchestrating batch data pipelines using DAG-based tools (e.g., Dagster, Airflow)
• Strong understanding of CI/CD (e.g. GitHub Actions), and automation to streamline workflows
• Effective communicator, able to mentor junior engineers and lead technical initiatives
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset, proactive, and ownership-driven
• Nice-to-have: experience with streaming systems (Kafka, Flink, Pub/Sub), observability tooling, security & compliance (GDPR, IAM, encryption), or metadata/catalog tools (DataHub, Amundsen, Dagster Catalog)
• Open to candidates within ±2 hours of Paris time, with the legal right to work in the country where they reside (we do not sponsor visas)

What we value

At Kovalee, our principles guide how we work, collaborate, and grow as a team. Here's what we stand for:

Direct and Transparent Communication: Open, honest communication builds trust, allowing us to share our progress, challenges, and when we need help, fostering a supportive environment.

Striving for Excellence: Excellence isn't about perfection—it's about consistently refusing to settle for mediocrity. We take pride in delivering work we are truly proud of, embodying an attitude of care and commitment in everything we do.

Ownership Mentality: At Kovalee, we take responsibility and seek solutions, not excuses. We value creativity, curiosity, and proactivity, and our integrity and drive enable us to achieve remarkable outcomes while enjoying the trust and flexibility we are given.

Being a Great Teammate: Reliability and respect are at the heart of our teamwork. We empower each other with critical thinking and a positive attitude, ensuring that we move forward together and create a culture of mutual support.

Test, Learn, Improve: Experimentation is in our DNA. We stay open to new ideas, test them rapidly, and analyze the results to learn and refine. By embracing this iterative approach, we constantly improve and push boundaries.

Individuals representing diverse profiles, encompassing various genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds, are less likely to apply for this role if they do not possess solid experience in 100% of these areas. Even if it seems you don't meet our must don't let it stop you, we are all about finding the best talent out there Skills can be learned, and embracing diversity is invaluable.

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