Founding Data Engineer (AI Infrastructure)

Overview Skiffra | Skiffra | Posted Jan 15Full-time | UnknownAbout SkiffraSkiffra is building the intelligence layer for the physical world. We translate complex, real-world environments into clear, actionable data. While most AI companies focus on digital industries, we design AI native orchestration systems for the sectors that extract, move, and build ecosystems around us. We turn messy, high stakes operations into intelligent, adaptive workflows that improve decisions in real time. Our first proving ground is mining and natural resources, but the platform is modular by design and built to scale into any industry where decisions are expensive and the consequences are real.The Role As the Data Engineer, you will build the circulatory system of Skiffra's AI-native orchestration platform. This is a hands-on, high-autonomy role where you'll bridge the gap between messy enterprise reality and clean AI reasoning. You won't just move data; you will architect the foundation that allows autonomous agents to understand and act on complex industrial systems. You'll work directly with the founding team to ship zero-to-one systems where reliability isn't a goal, it's the baseline.What You'll DoDesign and maintain a robust semantic layer that translates raw database schemas into high-context metadata, allowing LLMs and autonomous agents to reason across enterprise dataIntegrate ERPs, operational tools, and legacy systems into a clean, unified internal data layer that powers Skiffra's orchestration engineDesign the schemas and data contracts consumed by LLMs and workflow engines to ensure predictable, high-fidelity inputs from varied, often "messy" sourcesEnsure every data point carries the necessary lineage and metadata for an LLM to understand its business significanceArchitect the end-to-end ingestion and normalization pipelines for structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, transforming fragmented enterprise fragments into a high-fidelity stream for AI agentsImplement the monitoring, observability, and automated data quality gates necessary to ensure our orchestration engine doesn't act on stale or corrupted enterprise contextPartner closely with product and engineering to translate complex operational needs into scalable data systemsOperate with speed and rigor in environments where reliability mattersWhat We're Looking For7+ years building production-grade data engineering or backend systemsStrong Python and SQL masteryExperience with ETL/ELT pipelines and API-based integrationsExperience with cloud data infrastructure and streaming or event-driven systemsAbility to work independently and make sound technical tradeoffsProven track record building systems where data discovery and cataloging were core featuresAbility to make sound technical tradeoffs and thrive in "zero-to-one" environments without a roadmap or perfect documentationNice to HaveExperience with industrial, operational, or enterprise data systemsExperience designing data contracts or vector stores specifically consumed by LLMs, RAG systems, or autonomous agentsExperience managing data access controls and identity within data pipelinesStartup or founding-team experienceHow We WorkWe value speed, clarity, and technical rigor. We favor simple systems over clever ones, prototypes over over-planning, and ownership over handoffs. You'll work directly with founders and ship things that matter quickly.Location & Work ModelThis is a hybrid role with regular in-person collaboration in Los Angeles or the San Francisco Bay Area. We are not a remote-only company.Work AuthorizationCandidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.Benefits & EligibilityThis position is eligible for Skiffra's standard benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans, and may also qualify for participation in the Company's bonus and incentive programs.Equal OpportunitySkiffra is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.Compensation Range: $180K - $260KAbout the companySkiffraBe vigilant about potential scams, phishing attempts, or fraudulent activities, and seek credible sources or reviews to assess the trustworthiness of the company. Remember, your personal and financial security is paramount, and taking preventive measures is crucial to safeguarding your information from potential risks and unauthorized use. SupportFinity is not responsible for any consequences that may arise from disclosing such information to unauthorized or fraudulent entities.#J-18808-Ljbffr