Strategic Data & Analytics Engineer (Cloud Data & Agentic Infrastructure)

Job description

The Role We are seeking a forward-thinking, consultative Data & Analytics Engineer to design, build, and maintain enterprise marketing data models, ontologies, and semantic context layers. In this role, you will act as a strategic bridge between business leaders and technical execution—partnering directly with clients to understand their strategic goals and translating those business requirements into scalable, warehouse-native data infrastructure. Beyond core data engineering, you will spearhead how our clients' data ecosystems adapt to an evolving agentic future. You will architect the semantic models and data integration patterns required to power autonomous AI agents, both native to modern cloud data platforms (such as Databricks and Snowflake) and across connected MarTech platforms (such as Salesforce, Hightouch). What You'll Accomplish Consultative Requirements & Architecture: Partner with key business stakeholders to uncover core business goals, mapping complex business domain needs into unified data engineering solutions, semantic layers, and robust warehouse architectures. Agentic & AI Data Readiness: Architect forward-looking context layers and semantic models designed specifically for AI/LLM-driven engines and autonomous agents—ensuring data ecosystems (from modern cloud warehouses to activation platforms like Hightouch and Salesforce) are structured for reliable execution. Taxonomy & Metadata Engineering: Design scalable data models (e.g. Medallion/Multi-layer architectures) to house controlled classification hierarchies, unified asset tags, and standardized business glossaries across marketing channels. Identity & Semantic Modeling: Build and maintain deterministic and probabilistic identity resolution models and graph-like bridge tables to resolve customer identities across CRM IDs, device tokens, and digital touchpoints. Cross-System Pipeline Integration: Lead the technical integration of complex cross-system datasets, developing high-performance ingestion and transformation pipelines to unify marketing metadata, CDP activation models, DAM content, and real-time telemetry. Data Governance & Quality: Implement enterprise governance, business glossaries, access controls, and data cataloging (e.g., Unity Catalog, Snowflake Horizon) to enable secure self-service analytics and reliable AI execution. What You Bring Experience & Expertise 5+ years of hands-on experience in data engineering, analytics engineering, or data architecture building production-grade data pipelines and semantic models. 2+ years in a client-facing, consultative, or strategic lead role—demonstrated ability to run discovery, map business goals to technical architectures, and present solutions to cross-functional stakeholders. Willing to travel 25% a year and up to twice a quarter minimum. Consultative Mindset: Strong ability to navigate ambiguity, translate non-technical business strategies into clear technical specifications, and articulate technical trade-offs to executives and cross-functional teams. Strategic Vision for AI/Agents: A keen interest in the shift toward agentic AI, with an understanding of how data modeling, semantics, and context layers must adapt to support autonomous workflows across data platforms and marketing engines. Cloud Data Platform Expertise: Hands-on experience designing production pipelines and semantic data models across modern cloud data platforms, with deep expertise in Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent architectures. Advanced Data Engineering Skills: Proficiency in SQL, Python/PySpark, data pipeline orchestration, and modern data stack tooling (e.g., dbt). Domain & Integration Knowledge: Experience with marketing technology (MarTech), Customer Data Platforms (CDPs), reverse ETL tools (e.g., Hightouch, Census), and enterprise platforms (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, CRMs). Data Modeling Fundamentals: Proven track record in multi-dimensional schema design, identity resolution modeling, graph/hierarchical structures, and API payload parsing (nested JSON/REST). Relevant Certifications (Preferred): Professional Data Engineer / Analytics Engineer certifications in Databricks or Snowflake. Preferred Certifications Databricks: Certified Data Engineer Professional or Certified Analytics Engineer. Snowflake: SnowPro Core or SnowPro Advanced Architect. dbt: dbt Cloud Developer Certification. Mindset Forward-Thinking AI Perspective: Active interest and practical awareness of agentic AI concepts (e.g., tool use, LLM context retrieval, autonomous agent workflows) and how data modeling must evolve to serve them. Remote & Autonomous: Ability to manage complex deliverables independently in a distributed, fast-paced environment. What We Offer Competitive compensation aligned with your experience and impact Remote flexibility Collaborative culture that values diverse perspectives and innovative thinking Work that makes a measurable difference for your clients Why SH/FT: SH/FT is a consultancy built for transformation. We bridge the gap between marketing, data, and technology to unlock growth for some of the world's most recognized brands. At SH/FT you'll shape the future of how organizations connect with their customers through intelligent architecture, scalable systems, and the power of data-driven strategy. Comp & Benefits The US salary range for this role is $120,000 to $140,000 USD. Salary is based on several factors including but not limited to skillset, relevant education, level of experience, certifications, and scope of responsibilities. In addition to base salary, SH/FT offers benefits such as medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, Life/AD&D, Flexible Paid Time Off, and various other ancillary benefits and perks. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Candidates must have current US or Canada work authorization. For US candidates, this employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the US. No relocation assistance can be offered at this time. All inquiries are held in strict confidence. About SH/FT Shift Paradigm is an execution-led strategic consultancy that bridges the gap between enterprise strategy and technical reality. We partner with Fortune 500 brands and emerging leaders to solve the inherent complexity of modern digital marketing. As partners to the world’s leading MarTech platforms, including Adobe, Salesforce, Optimizely, and Braze, we deploy integrated experts across data analytics, marketing strategy, technology development, engineering, and revenue operations to ensure our clients’ tech stacks don't just exist, but perform.