Staff Data Engineer

Zendesk
remote, united kingdom
10 months ago
Create job alert

Job Description

Who we’re looking for:

The ‘Zendesk Analytics Prototyping’ (ZAP) team is looking for an experienced Staff Data Engineer to support the team’s charter to accelerate CRM measurements and insights, and help promote a data-centric approach to improving customer support tools and operations. To realize that mission, we build and maintain robust, fine-grained, and contextually rich datasets, providing a foundation for developing insights that help enhance Zendesk’s support operations.

The role will be responsible for closely partnering with Software Development Engineers and Business Intelligence Engineers to build high quality data pipelines and manage the team’s data lake. You’ll work in a collaborative environment using the latest engineering best practices with involvement in all aspects of the software development lifecycle. You will craft and develop curated datasets, applying standard architectural & data modeling practices. You will be primarily developing Data Warehouse Solutions in Snowflake using technologies such as dbt, Airflow, Terraform.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Collaborate with team members and internal stakeholders to understand business requirements, define successful analytics outcomes, and design data models.

  • Develop, automate, and maintain scalable ELT pipelines in our Data Warehouse, ensuring reliable business reporting.

  • Design & build ELT based data models using SQL & DBT.

  • Identify, design, and implement internal process improvements: automating manual processes, optimizing data delivery

  • Work with data and analytics experts to strive for greater functionality in our data systems

What you bring to the role

Basic Qualifications:

  • 8+ years of data engineering experience building, maintaining and working with data pipelines & ETL processes in big data environments.

  • Extensive experience with SQL, ideally in the context of data modeling and analysis.

  • Hands-on production experience with dbt, and proven knowledge in modern and classic Data Modeling - Kimball, Inmon, etc.

  • Proficiency in a programming language such as Python, Go, Java, or Scala. 

  • Experience with cloud columnar databases (Google BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, Snowflake), query authoring (SQL) as well as working familiarity with a variety of databases.

  • Experience with processes supporting data transformation, data structures, metadata, dependency, ensuring efficient data processing performance and workload management.

  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

  • Thrive in ambiguous situations, possesses a proactive problem-solving attitude.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with BigQuery, Snowflake, or similar cloud warehouses.

  • Familiarity with AI tools and techniques that could be applied to data analysis and data transformation tasks.

  • Completed projects with dbt.

  • Familiarity with Lean/6 Sigma principles and an understanding of CRM analytics.

Our Data Stack:

ELT (Snowflake, dbt, Airflow, Kafka)

BI (Tableau, Looker)

Infrastructure (AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform, GitHub Actions)

#LI-DT2

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Staff Data Engineer

Staff Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer

Staff/Lead Data Engineer (Edinburgh)

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Top 10 Best UK Universities for Machine Learning Degrees (2025 Guide)

Explore ten UK universities that deliver world-class machine-learning degrees in 2025. Compare entry requirements, course content, research strength and industry links to find the programme that fits your goals. Machine learning (ML) has shifted from academic curiosity to the engine powering everything from personalised medicine to autonomous vehicles. UK universities have long been pioneers in the field, and their programmes now blend rigorous theory with hands-on practice on industrial-scale datasets. Below, we highlight ten institutions whose undergraduate or postgraduate pathways focus squarely on machine learning. League tables move each year, but these universities consistently excel in teaching, research and collaboration with industry.

How to Write a Winning Cover Letter for Machine Learning Jobs: Proven 4-Paragraph Structure

Learn how to craft the perfect cover letter for machine learning jobs with this proven 4-paragraph structure. Ideal for entry-level candidates, career switchers, and professionals looking to advance in the machine learning sector. When applying for a machine learning job, your cover letter is a vital part of your application. Machine learning is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, and your cover letter offers the chance to demonstrate your technical expertise, passion for AI, and your ability to apply machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems. Writing a cover letter for machine learning roles may feel intimidating, but by following a clear structure, you can showcase your strengths effectively. Whether you're just entering the field, transitioning from another role, or looking to advance your career in machine learning, this article will guide you through a proven four-paragraph structure. We’ll provide practical tips and sample lines to help you create a compelling cover letter that catches the attention of hiring managers in the machine learning job market.

Veterans in Machine Learning: A Military‑to‑Civilian Pathway into AI Careers

Introduction Artificial intelligence is no longer relegated to sci‑fi films—it underpins battlefield decision‑support, fraud detection, and even supermarket logistics. The UK Government’s 2025 AI Sector Deal forecasts an additional £200 billion in GDP by 2030, with machine‑learning (ML) engineers cited as the nation’s second most in‑demand tech role (Tech Nation 2024). The Ministry of Defence’s Defence AI Strategy echoes that urgency, earmarking £1.6 billion for FY 2025–28 to embed ML into planning, logistics, and autonomous systems. If you have ever tuned a radar filter, plotted artillery trajectories, or sifted sensor data for actionable intel, you have already worked with statistical modelling—the backbone of machine learning. This guide shows UK veterans how to reframe military experience for ML roles, leverage MoD transition funding, and land high‑impact positions building the models shaping tomorrow’s defence and commercial landscapes. Quick Win: Bookmark our live board for Machine‑Learning Engineer roles to see who’s hiring today.