[Remote] Principal Data Engineer (streaming and real-time data systems)

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. PointClickCare is a leading health tech company dedicated to helping providers deliver exceptional care. They are seeking a Principal Data Engineer to design and implement scalable streaming data pipelines, optimize real-time data solutions, and mentor team members while driving technical excellence in a collaborative environment.ResponsibilitiesLead and guide the design and implementation of scalable streaming data pipelinesEngineer and optimize real-time data solutions using frameworks like Apache Kafka, Flink, Spark StreamingCollaborate cross-functionally with product, analytics, and AI teams to ensure data is a strategic assetAdvance ongoing modernization efforts, deepening adoption of event-driven architectures and cloud-native technologiesDrive adoption of best practices in data governance, observability, and performance tuning for streaming workloadsEmbed data quality in processing pipelines by defining schema contracts, implementing transformation tests and data assertions, enforcing backward-compatible schema evolution, and automating checks for freshness, completeness, and accuracy across batch and streaming paths before production deploymentEstablish robust observability for data pipelines by implementing metrics, logging, and distributed tracing for streaming jobs, defining SLAs and SLOs for latency and throughput, and integrating alerting and dashboards to enable proactive monitoring and rapid incident responseFoster a culture of quality through peer reviews, providing constructive feedback and seeking input on your own workSkillsPrincipal Data Engineer with at least 10 years of professional experience in software or data engineering, including a minimum of 4 years focused on streaming and real-time data systemsProven experience driving technical direction and mentoring engineers while delivering complex, high-scale solutions as a hands-on contributorDeep expertise in streaming and real-time data technologies, including frameworks such as Apache Kafka, Flink, and Spark StreamingStrong understanding of event-driven architectures and distributed systems, with hands-on experience implementing resilient, low-latency pipelinesPractical experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerized deployments for data workloadsFluency in data quality practices and CI/CD integration, including schema management, automated testing, and validation frameworks (e.g., dbt, Great Expectations)Operational excellence in observability, with experience implementing metrics, logging, tracing, and alerting for data pipelines using modern toolsSolid foundation in data governance and performance optimization, ensuring reliability and scalability across batch and streaming environmentsExperience with Lakehouse architectures and related technologies, including Databricks, Azure ADLS Gen2, and Apache HudiStrong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and evangelize modern data practices within your team and across the organizationStrong analytical and problem-solving mindsetAbility to learn quickly and adapt to new technologies, even when uncomfortableSelf-starter who thrives with minimal supervision and collaborates effectively as a team playerExcellent organizational and critical-thinking skillsComfortable leveraging AI tools to accelerate developmentBenefitsBenefits starting from Day 1!Retirement Plan MatchingFlexible Paid Time OffWellness Support Programs and ResourcesParental & Caregiver LeavesFertility & Adoption SupportContinuous Development Support ProgramEmployee Assistance ProgramAllyship and Inclusion CommunitiesEmployee Recognition … and more!Company OverviewPointClickCare develops web-based products and services to help long-term care providers manage the complete lifecycle of resident care. It was founded in 1995, and is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, CAN, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is http://www.pointclickcare.com.Company H1B SponsorshipPointClickCare has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 2 in 2026, 17 in 2025, 11 in 2024, 11 in 2023, 17 in 2022, 4 in 2021. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.