Data Engineer

Title: Quantitative Data Engineer
Location: New York, NY(Hybrid)
Duration: Contract
Pay range: $70-$75

Position Summary:

The Quantitative Data Engineer role is a hybrid position based in New York, NY, focused on supporting quantitative teams in modernizing and scaling statistical risk models using cloud-based data engineering solutions. It combines advanced data engineering with quantitative model development, requiring the candidate to build high-performance pipelines while transforming legacy models into efficient, scalable architectures.

The role involves close collaboration with Quantitative Strategists and modelers to design, implement, and deploy machine learning and statistical models across their full lifecycle. Strong expertise in Python, Spark, and cloud platforms such as Databricks and Snowflake is essential, along with experience reengineering legacy C++/Java models into PySpark-based solutions with improved performance and latency.

Day-to-day responsibilities include developing Spark-based pipelines, enabling scenario analysis, managing data migrations, and supporting model training and deployment in production environments. The role also emphasizes leadership and innovation, requiring mentorship of junior team members, contribution to cloud strategy, and continuous improvement of reusable frameworks and data engineering practices in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop data engineering pipelines using Spark on cloud platforms
• Modernize legacy statistical risk models from C++/Java into Python/PySpark
• Work closely with Quantitative Strategists and Statistical Modelers to build, enhance, and test scenarios
• Support a seamless model lifecycle from design and implementation through training and production deployment
• Develop, run, and infer machine learning and statistical models on the cloud
• Design reusable components, utilities, and out-of-the-box architectures to improve modeler experience
• Assess risks in design and development upfront and identify process improvements
• Plan and coordinate data and process migrations across databases
• Participate as a senior team member, provide thought leadership, mentor junior developers, and lead new initiatives such as cloud strategy
• Support Quant teams in running scenario analyses to evaluate business impact under different conditions

Required skills & experience:

• 10+ years of total experience
• C++ and Java experience
• Python, Spark, PySpark, and PyTorch
• Experience working with Quant or ML models
• Knowledge of Machine Learning, Statistics, and model development, training, and inference
• Strong understanding of ML tools including MLflow, Databricks, and Snowflake
• Strong SQL and database programming skills (views, stored procedures, triggers, referential integrity, performance coding)
• RDBMS experience (DB2, Teradata, Oracle, or Snowflake)
• Unix/Linux programming experience (shell and/or Perl)
• Strong design, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills
• Organization, discipline, detail orientation, self-motivation, and delivery focus

Preferred Qualifications:

• Financial industry experience
• Interest in GenAI and Agentic AI
• Data engineering principles and risk model development experience
• ETL experience with Informatica
• Cloud database experience (Azure, Snowflake)
• Experience with Scala, Spark, C++, or PyTorch
• Experience migrating Java code to Python/PySpark
• Experience with AngularJS or KDB

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred (Engineering, Computer Science, or Mathematics)

Russell Tobin is a leading minority-owned professional and technical recruitment and staffing advisory organization. We are comprised of specialized practices focusing on a variety of skill sets and industries. Having a depth and breadth of industry expertise, our subject matter experts are able to provide tailored and swift sourcing solutions to fulfill client hiring needs. In other words, we connect top talent with companies. We are the staffing arm of the Pride Global network, a minority-owned integrated human capital solutions firm, with additional offerings in vendor management, payroll programs, and business process optimization.

Russell Tobin offers eligible employee’s comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, and vision plans), supplemental coverage (accident insurance, critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity), 401(k)-retirement savings, life & disability insurance, an employee assistance program, legal support, auto, home insurance, pet insurance and employee discounts with preferred vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Russell Tobin is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of the race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, reproductive health decision making, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Fair Chance Employment
Russell Tobin is a Fair Chance employer. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local Fair Chance laws and ordinances, including, the California Fair Chance Act and all applicable local Fair Chance ordinances.

Accommodations
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of this role, please contact us.

Only applicable for San Francisco Candidates:
Under the San Francisco Lactation in the Workplace Ordinance, we will provide written notice of lactation accommodation rights, and this notice will automatically be given upon hiring, any inquiry of parental leave or lactation accommodation.

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