Sr. Data Engineer

About Rula: We believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. At Rula, we recognize that mental health challenges are complex and multi-faceted, and we are completely dedicated to treating the whole person, not just the isolated symptoms. We aim to create a modern world where mental healthcare is no longer stigmatized or marginalized, but rather is embraced as an integral part of one overall well-being. By providing quality care that is both evidence-based and deeply compassionate, we empower individuals to take charge of their mental health and achieve their full potential. As a remote-first platform, we strive to be a powerful force for positive change across the healthcare landscape.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly analytical, security-minded, and code-fluent Sr. Data Engineer to join our core engineering cell under a permanent, full-time remote model open across the United States (excluding Hawaii). In this business-critical individual contributor seat, you will act as a primary engineering architect partnering cross-functionally alongside internal analytics, marketing, and product management teams to build the highly secure data systems that enable our platform to leverage artificial intelligence against internal data fields in a safe and compliant manner. Shifting completely away from routine back-office data entry transcription, basic helpdesk ticket logging, or client-facing graphic user interface styling, you will run an active data pipeline, schema modeling, and semantic layer integration laboratory. This position requires an engineering authority with 4+ years of experience who designs robust data platforms fluidly natively using SQL and Python mechanics, structures advanced data architectures cleanly to let Large Language Models (LLMs) reason over sensitive internal data assets, establishes rigorous governance boundaries over sensitive clinical information, and mentors other developers confidently to elevate technical direction across the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Core Production Pipeline Governance: Design, implement, and maintain scalable data pipelines, automated data platforms, and robust data models to support company-wide analytical needs natively utilizing SQL and Python tools.
• AI & LLM Infrastructure Architecture: Architect and govern advanced secure data environments that allow AI applications and Large Language Models to safely access, isolate, and reason over trusted enterprise datasets at scale.
• Technical Strategic Integration: Translate complex business requirements into clean, scalable technical engineering designs, driving data solution deliveries in absolute partnership with technical and non-technical stakeholders alike.
• Data Security & Access Controls: Implement and enforce rigorous data security, access control policies, and lifecycle tracking protocols over highly sensitive health information to guarantee total platform safety.
• Engineering Standard Formulation: Establish modern internal software engineering standards, build repeatable code components, and provide expert mentorship to scaling developer cohorts.
• Project Roadmap Ownership: Independently lead data engineering initiatives from early conceptual technical design entirely through to live production deployment and ongoing operational support cycles.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• A minimum of 4+ years of proven professional history operating inside a Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or closely related quantitative digital development capacity.
• Pipeline Ownership History: Demonstrated track record acting as an individual contributor who owns the end-to-end architecture, optimization, and support of live production data pipelines and enterprise data platforms.
• Expert-level, granular coding proficiency writing data solutions in both Python and SQL languages.
• Proven capacity to translate multi-layered business workflows into pragmatic technical specifications, independently driving projects through execution phases.
• Location Context: Position operates under remote guidelines open to data professionals residing permanently within the United States (with the singular exception of Hawaii due to regional operational constraints).

Preferred Strategic Indicators (Nice to Have)

• Direct experience building secure data pipelines and data architectures situated within highly regulated HIPAA or health tech compliance environments.
• Hands-on technical familiarity with modern AI context abstractions, including semantic layers, Model Context Protocols (MCPs), and LLM vector embeddings.
• Operational experience managing data nodes across cloud platforms, including cloud architectures such as Snowflake, AWS, Spark, Kafka, or Apache Iceberg.
• Familiarity deploying configuration scripts programmatically using infrastructure-as-code software like Terraform.

What We Offer

• Transparent Total Starting Cash Scale: A competitive annual base salary range of $163,710 – $192,600 USD, customized precisely around pay equity and experience benchmarks, paired with attractive startup equity components (there is no secondary variable bonus track for this role).
• 100% remote work independence across most U.S. states, structuring healthy operational hours to maximize work-life balance.
• Comprehensive physical well-being parameters, including premium Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance tracks alongside Health Savings Account (HSA/FSA) matches.
• Retirement savings security through enterprise-backed 401(k) program access.
• Generous Self-Care Time Off Framework: Inclusions for flexible vacation structures supplemented by 2 full company-wide shutdown weeks each year to completely disconnect and recharge.
• Fully paid parental leave benefits extending to all parental profiles (birthing, non-birthing, adoption, or foster pathways).
• New hire home-office setup stipends, combined with a monthly $50 remote infrastructure allowance and an additional $50/month corporate wellness spending account.