Principal Data Engineer

Alignment Health

Principal Data Engineer setting standards and scaling cloud data platforms for Alignment Health’s Medicare Advantage healthcare ecosystem. Improving pipelines, data quality, compliance, and AI/ML integration.

Posted 9/10/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $130,332 - $195,498 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in data engineering, including the design and implementation of scalable data processing frameworks and cloud-based data pipelines. Proficient in applying machine learning and automation techniques within healthcare data environments, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and CMS standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Data Engineering ExperienceHealthcare Data ComplianceCloud Data Platform ToolsETL/ELT Pipeline DesignMachine Learning Operationalization

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data EngineeringETL/ELT Pipeline DesignAdvanced SQL ProficiencyPythonScalaJavaKafkaDatabricksApache SparkData Quality Frameworks

Soft Skills

Technical LeadershipMentoringCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

AzureAWSGCPAzure DatabricksAzure Data FactoryData LakesLakehousesStreaming Architectures

Industry Keywords

HIPAACMSHEDISMedicare AdvantagePHIPIIICD-10CPT CodesData GovernanceData Platform Modernization

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ApacheAWSAzureCloudETLGoogle Cloud PlatformJavaKafkaPythonScalaSparkSQL

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Define and maintain data engineering patterns, pipeline standards, and architectural guardrails
Lead design of scalable data processing frameworks and transformation models for claims, encounters, risk adjustment, and member data
Maintain accountability for platform reliability and data quality outcomes
Apply machine learning and automation techniques in production data engineering environments
Implement and continuously improve high-performance cloud-based data pipelines for real-time and batch workflows
Serve as the technical subject matter expert for data engineering
Mentor engineers through architecture reviews, design sessions, and internal documentation
Evaluate emerging data technologies and make build-versus-buy recommendations
Contribute to the multi-year data platform engineering roadmap
Apply Medicare Advantage, CMS, HIPAA, HEDIS, and risk adjustment expertise to deliver audit-ready, compliant healthcare data solutions
Provide informal technical leadership and subject matter guidance to Data Engineers and Senior Data Engineers
Perform essential physical functions including talking, hearing, standing, walking, sitting, handling objects or controls, reaching, and occasionally lifting up to 10 pounds

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of progressive data engineering experience, with demonstrated platform engineering at scale
5+ years of experience in healthcare, health insurance, or a Medicare Advantage environment
Experience building and governing enterprise data platforms using Apache Kafka, Databricks, and non-relational databases
Experience designing complex ETL/ELT pipelines in cloud environments (Azure, AWS, or GCP)
Experience working in HIPAA-compliant data environments with PHI/PII datasets
Experience setting engineering standards or architectural patterns adopted by others
Experience as a technical lead in a data platform modernization or cloud migration initiative
Experience working on AI tooling and usage in the data platform space
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent combination of education and experience considered
Demonstrated working proficiency with cloud data platform tools, such as Azure Databricks or Azure Data Factory, or equivalent; hands-on experience accepted in lieu of formal certification
Expert-level Kafka, Databricks, Apache Spark, and cloud-native tooling skills
Deep experience with Azure, AWS, or GCP data services, data lakes, lakehouses, and streaming architectures
Ability to operationalize machine learning and automation in production data engineering pipelines, including feature stores and model serving infrastructure
Advanced knowledge of HIPAA, HL7/FHIR, ICD-10/CPT codes, CMS data submission standards, and PHI/PII data governance
Ability to design scalable relational and non-relational data models
Advanced SQL proficiency and production-level experience in Python, Scala, or Java
Experience implementing data quality frameworks, lineage tracking, and metadata management
No licensure required

Benefits

Comp & perks

Fully remote work
Opportunities for growth and innovation
Equal employment opportunity