About this opportunity
At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.
The Position
DESCRIPTION
We are looking for a Principal Data Engineer to join our growing team of Advanced Data Analytics experts. This role calls for a seasoned expert with a robust mix of technical prowess, comprehensive domain knowledge, and strong technical leadership abilities.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who thrives on meeting data requirements across different products while driving the long-term technological vision of the department. You will be responsible for ensuring data accuracy and availability while spearheading future-ready strategies for GenAI and advanced analytics. You will work closely with System Architects, Product Owners, and Engineers to deliver scalable, cost-efficient, and high-impact data initiatives.
LOCATION
Sant Cugat, Spain
JOB TYPE
Full Time
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Define and drive the future strategy for GenAI and emerging technologies to uncover hidden patterns and drive decision-making across diagnostic products.
Design, implement, and optimize data architectures using AWS services, ensuring seamless integration and high performance.
Drive the design and development of efficient data processing workflows using PySpark, SparkSQL, SQL, and modern formats like Iceberg and Parquet.
Optimize the performance, scalability, and cost efficiency of data infrastructure and AWS service consumption.
Provide technical direction and mentorship to a team of developers, enforcing code quality standards and best practices for testing and CI/CD.
Collaborate closely with engineering and business stakeholders to translate complex requirements into impactful data-driven solutions.
Advocate for data security, governance, and compliance, ensuring all products are compliant with HIPPA, GDPR etc.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum of 5 years of professional hands-on data engineering experience, including significant leadership in technical projects.
Expert-level proficiency in AWS services including S3, Redshift, Glue, Athena, EMR, Step Functions, and MWAA.
Mastery of Python, SQL, and data processing frameworks such as Apache Spark.
Proven experience with Dimensional Modeling, Data Partitioning, and Infrastructure as Code using Terraform.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical direction, guide architectural decisions, and mentor cross-functional teams.
Excellent skills in bridging the gap between business needs and technical implementation for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Fluent written and spoken English communication skills. Spanish is a plus.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in the Healthcare Laboratory domain and familiarity with regulations like HIPAA, HL7, and FHIR is a significant plus.
Hands-on experience implementing GenAI and Machine Learning technologies within a SaaS or Cloud application environment.
Experience in designing and implementing large-scale Data Lakes and Data Warehouses with a focus on long-term scalability.
WHY JOIN US?
Collaborative Culture: Engage with a diverse team of talented professionals.
Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge SaaS products and define the future of diagnostic data.
Growth Opportunities: Take on challenging projects that offer continuous learning and career development.
At Roche, we embrace emerging innovations, like AI, to enhance the patient journey. If you’re passionate about new technology and thinking ahead, join us in building a healthier future together.
* Our recruitment radius is limited to candidates residing in Spain. This is a hybrid position and no relocation assistance is provided.
Who we are
A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.
Let’s build a healthier future, together.
Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Data & Digital role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 89 comparable Principal Data & Digital roles across 23 biopharma companies.
Salary context
25 of 89 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 89 comparable roles
+ 5 more countries
Seniority mix
89 of 89 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
2 of 89 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.
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How we calculate "similar"
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Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.