Sr Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform
AI summary of the role
This is a top-level individual contributor role defining the 3-5 year technical roadmap for WEX's Data Lakehouse, building internal SDKs and orchestration frameworks to abstract cloud complexity.
No longer in the current catalog. Last included 2026-09-09. Check the employer’s posting for availability.
What you’ll do
- Define the 3-5 year technical roadmap for the Data Lakehouse, deciding how storage, compute, and metadata layers interact.
- Build internal SDKs, CLI tools, and automated orchestration frameworks to abstract cloud complexity.
- Prototype and benchmark emerging technologies (e.g., Spark extensions, Rust-based data accelerators) for performance and cost-efficiency.
- Architect compliance-by-design systems automating data lineage, PII masking, and fine-grained access control across petabyte-scale environments.
What you’ll bring
- 15+ years in software engineering and distributed systems, with at least 4 years in a principal or staff-level capacity.
- Expert-level proficiency in Java or Scala (JVM tuning) and Python; experience with Rust or Go is a major advantage.
- Advanced mastery of Kubernetes (EKS) for stateful workloads, including building custom CRDs and Operators.
- Deep internal knowledge of Apache Iceberg, Hudi, or Delta Lake (metadata management, manifest files, compaction strategies).
Technologies
Java · Scala · Python · Rust · Go · Apache Iceberg · Apache Hudi · Delta Lake · Apache Spark · Trino · Flink · Kubernetes
About Wex
WEX runs a global commerce and payments platform across three segments — fleet/mobility fuel cards, corporate B2B/virtual-card payments, and employee-benefits (HSA/FSA/COBRA) administration.
Public · 5000+ people
Source and classification
Internal deployment & tooling · Evidence for this classification:
As a Sr. Staff Data Platform Engineer, you will be the primary architect and visionary for the core data infrastructure that powers the entire enterprise. This is a "platform-as-a-product" role; your mission is to build the internal foundation—creating the high-performance engines, abstraction layers, and self-service frameworks that enable hundreds of other engineers to move faster. You will operate at the intersection of Systems Programming and Data Engineering, solving "hard-tech" problems like automated schema evolution, multi-engine compute optimization, and global data discovery. As a top-level technical individual contributor, you will bridge the gap between long-term business strategy and deep-kernel technical execution, ensuring WEX’s data platform remains a competitive advantage. Responsibilities Architectural Sovereignty: Define the 3-5 year technical roadmap for the Data
More from the job description
As a Sr. Staff Data Platform Engineer, you will be the primary architect and visionary for the core data infrastructure that powers the entire enterprise. This is a "platform-as-a-product" role; your mission is to build the internal foundation—creating the high-performance engines, abstraction layers, and self-service frameworks that enable hundreds of other engineers to move faster. You will operate at the intersection of Systems Programming and Data Engineering, solving "hard-tech" problems like automated schema evolution, multi-engine compute optimization, and global data discovery. As a top-level technical individual contributor, you will bridge the gap between long-term business strategy and deep-kernel technical execution, ensuring WEX’s data platform remains a competitive advantage. Responsibilities Architectural Sovereignty: Define the 3-5 year technical roadmap for the Data Lakehouse. You aren't just using tools; you are deciding how storage, compute, and metadata layers (e.g., Apache Polaris, Unity Catalog or Datahub Catalog) interact at an elemental level. Platform-as-a-Product: Build internal SDKs, CLI tools, and automated orchestration frameworks. Your goal is to abstract away cloud complexity via Control Planes and Custom Operators, allowing Data Engineers to focus on business logic rather than infrastructure boilerplate. Internal R&D: Prototype and benchmark [... source excerpt omitted ...] PA) or similar frameworks without sacrificing developer velocity. Engineering Excellence & Influence: Set the gold standard for code quality and system design across the company. You will lead Cross-Functional Architecture Reviews and serve as the final escalation point for the most complex system outages or performance bottlenecks. Organizational Mentorship: Beyond individual mentoring, you will foster an "Engineering Community," influencing the hiring bar and professional development paths for the entire data engineering organization. Qualifications & Experience Experience: 15+ years in software engineering and distributed systems, with at least 4 years in a principal or st [... source excerpt omitted ...] . The base pay range represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position. Actual pay rates will vary and will be based on various factors, such as your qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Base pay is one component of WEX's total compensation package. Most sales positions are eligible for commission under the terms of an applicable plan. Non-sales roles are typically eligible for a quarterly or annual bonus based on their role and applicable plan. WEX's comprehensive and market competitive benefits are designed to support your personal and professional well-being. Benefits include health, dental and vision insurances, retiremen
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