Job Title:
Principal Engineer I - Senior Data EngineerLocation:
Block 23What you'll do:
As the Principal Data Engineer, you are accountable to design, build, and implement critical components of the enterprise data platform in accordance with the strategic data and analytics needs of Western Alliance Bank Regulatory Reporting Program. This challenging role requires the best of your data management, cloud data engineering and technology knowledge to develop a cross-business unit data tier that is leveraged to implement and enhance the Bank’s regulatory reporting capabilities, including Large Financial Institution requirements. The Principal Data Engineer is a pioneer in our modern data platform working directly with data analysts, data engineers, enterprise architects, and business stakeholders. Embedded in the Enterprise Data & Analytics function, you influence the culture of data integration practices and are essential to mentoring other data professionals.- Implement data engineering solutions that satisfy the full data lifecycle including efficient technical hygiene and the use of Azure DevOps for the implementation of the Western Alliance Bank Regulatory Reporting and LFI strategy and roadmap.
- Develop ETL and data pipeline capabilities considering how data is created, transformed, stored, archived, analyzed, and shared across Western Alliance Bank and our partner systems.
- Expert-level PySpark development experience, including:
- Writing dynamic, parameterized, and reusable PySpark code
- Building shared frameworks, helper functions, and companion notebook structures
- Performance tuning and optimization of Spark workloads
- Implement Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines for all data solutions in adherence to Western Alliance Bank technical standards.
- Apply Test Driven Development methodology to all data solutions designed, built, and implemented.
- Lead the implementation of outcomes, recommendations, and designs from Data Governance and Enterprise Architecture.
- Perform data exploration and data profiling with tools such as SSAS.
- Actively participate in making data architecture decisions.
- Provide technical mentorship to team members and other data professionals.
- Collaborate with product owners and business stakeholders to gain a working understanding of business requirements and operational processes.
- Implement built-in quality and compliance- by-design in all data solutions.
- Implement methods to include unstructured data and big data.
What you'll need:
- 8+ years’ experience with data engineering specifically in Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) concepts and processes, enterprise data warehouse capabilities, database principles, and other related tools and technologies; preferably strong to expert in Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics and/or Databricks.
- 5+ years’ experience designing, implementing, and supporting cloud data solutions; Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Services, Azure Synapse, Azure Logic Apps, and Azure DevOps experience strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
- Expert level experience with at least one RDBMS and query language such as T-SQL, PL/SQL, Spark SQL.
- Design and build reusable, dynamic PySpark components, including:
- Companion notebook frameworks
- Shared helper functions and libraries
- Parameter-driven ingestion and transformation patterns
- Support and influence the migration from Azure Synapse to Microsoft Fabric, including modernization of patterns and frameworks.
- Expert level experience in conceptual, logical, and physical data design.
- Certifications within Azure such as Azure Fundamentals, Azure Fabric Data Engineer, Azure Data Scientist, and/or Azure DevOps Engineer.
- Experience with design tools as it relates to creating conceptual architecture diagrams and data flow diagrams such as Visio, Archimate, Lucidchart.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
- Familiarity with data science and analytics tools such as SAS, Tableau, PowerBI.
- Experience in Agile, SAFe, and/or Scrum is preferred.
- Experience integrating with data quality, data catalog and data lineage tools is preferred.
- Additional Cloud Data certifications with any major cloud provides (Azure, AWS, GCP) is preferred.
- Banking or financial services industry experience or other highly regulated industry experience is preferred.
- Regulatory Reporting, including Large Financial Institution requirements, is preferred.
Benefits you’ll love:
We offer all the important things you'd want — like competitive salaries, an ownership stake in the company, medical and dental insurance, time off, a great 401k matching program, tuition assistance program, an employee volunteer program, and a wellness program. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to bolster your business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands-on experience to help grow your career!
About the company:
Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Serving clients nationwide, Western Alliance Bank includes six legacy bank brands — Alliance Association Bank, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank and Torrey Pines Bank — that remain part of the company’s heritage, as well as AmeriHome Mortgage, a Western Alliance Bank Company.
Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to equal employment and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, nation origin, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information. Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process and/or need an alternative method of applying, please email [email protected] or call 602-386-2488. When contacting us, please provide your contact information and state the nature of your accessibility issue. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests that involve a reasonable accommodation in the application process.
© Western Alliance Bancorporation
Skills Required
- 8+ years experience in data engineering, ETL, enterprise data warehouse capabilities and related tools
- 5+ years designing, implementing, and supporting cloud data solutions (Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse, Azure Services)
- Expert-level PySpark development experience including dynamic, parameterized, reusable code and performance tuning
- Expert-level experience with at least one RDBMS and query language (T-SQL, PL/SQL, Spark SQL)
- Implement Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines for data solutions
- Apply Test Driven Development methodology to data solutions
- Expert-level conceptual, logical, and physical data design experience
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field
- Support migration from Azure Synapse to Microsoft Fabric and modernize patterns/frameworks
- Certifications within Azure (examples: Azure Fundamentals, Azure Fabric Data Engineer, Azure Data Scientist, Azure DevOps Engineer)
- Experience creating conceptual architecture and data flow diagrams using Visio, Archimate, or Lucidchart
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Familiarity with data science and analytics tools (SAS, Tableau, PowerBI)
- Experience in Agile, SAFe, and/or Scrum
- Experience integrating with data quality, data catalog and data lineage tools
- Additional cloud data certifications (Azure, AWS, GCP)
- Banking or financial services or other highly regulated industry experience
- Regulatory reporting experience, including Large Financial Institution (LFI) requirements
Western Alliance Bank Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Western Alliance Bank and has not been reviewed or approved by Western Alliance Bank.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Feedback suggests annual bonuses are broadly available and can materially lift total compensation when business conditions are favorable. Participation spans many roles beyond executives.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are described as widely accessible to employees at multiple levels, adding long‑term value to the package. This breadth helps align employees with company performance.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) program is positioned as a standout with an employer match structure viewed as stronger than common offerings. Automatic enrollment reinforces accessibility and participation.
Western Alliance Bank Insights
What We Do
Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) is one of the country’s top-performing banking companies. Its primary subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, offers a full spectrum of tailored commercial banking solutions and consumer products, all delivered with outstanding service by banking and mortgage experts who put customers first. Serving clients across the country wherever business happens, Western Alliance Bank operates individual, full-service banking and financial brands with offices in key markets nationwide.
