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Founding Data Engineer Jobs in Dearborn, MI (NOW HIRING)

Chroneme

Backend / Data Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$170 - $215/hr

The founding team spans medicine, public health, biomedical design, law, engineering, and AI ... You will own the data layer end-to-end: ingestion from EHR systems, normalization across ...

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Blue Bird

Senior Vehicle Applications Engineer

Troy, MI · On-site

BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927 ... Product Data & Configuration Validation: Verify engineering documentation, configuration rules ...

Blue Bird

Senior Vehicle Applications Engineer

Troy, MI · On-site

BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927 ... Product Data & Configuration Validation: Verify engineering documentation, configuration rules ...

CTC USA, LLC

ADAS Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

Since its founding in 1996, CTC has grown into a trusted global partner in AI & ML, Enterprise ... Integrate system software and Hardware Platform, Analyze CAN data and validate vehicle performance.

May Mobility

Robotics Engineer II

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

Since our founding in 2017, we've given more than 500,000 autonomous rides to real people around ... Design and oversee data collection strategies to address ML model deficiencies * Develop tools and ...

Blue Bird

Sr. Controls & Calibration Engineer

Troy, MI · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927 ... Data Acquisition & Analysis: Utilize advanced data acquisition and calibration tools to diagnose ...

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All JobsFounding Data Engineer JobsFounding Data Engineer Jobs in Dearborn, MI

Founding Data Engineer information

See Dearborn, MI salary details

$40.9K

$119.2K

$163.1K

How much do founding data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding data engineer in Dearborn, MI is $119,172.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,200.00 and $126,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a founding data engineer?

Founding Data Engineers are among the first technical hires at a startup, responsible for designing, building, and scaling the company's data infrastructure from the ground up. They work closely with founders and early team members to define data architecture, set up data pipelines, and ensure data quality and accessibility for product development and business insights. This role often requires a blend of software engineering, data modeling, and strategic decision-making skills, as well as the flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing priorities in a startup environment.

What are the unique challenges and opportunities of being a founding data engineer at an early-stage startup?

As a Founding Data Engineer, you'll face the challenge of building data infrastructure from scratch, often with limited resources and evolving requirements. You’ll work closely with founders and cross-functional teams to define data strategies, implement pipelines, and ensure data quality. This role offers significant influence over technical decisions and architecture, and you'll likely wear multiple hats, contributing to both backend engineering and data analytics. The fast-paced environment fosters rapid skill development and provides substantial opportunities for career growth as the company scales.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding data engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Data Engineer, you need strong expertise in data architecture, database design, and software engineering, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS or GCP), ETL frameworks, programming languages (such as Python or Scala), and data warehousing tools is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, adaptability, and collaboration skills set standout candidates apart in this role. These abilities are crucial for building scalable data systems and shaping the technical foundation of an early-stage company.

What is the difference between Founding Data Engineer vs Data Engineer?

AspectFounding Data EngineerData Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS, experience in startup environmentsBachelor's or higher in CS, relevant data tools experience
Work EnvironmentEarly-stage startups, high flexibility, broad responsibilitiesEstablished companies, specialized roles, structured teams
Employer & Industry UsageFounding teams, startups, tech companiesTech firms, finance, healthcare, large organizations
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding startup data roles, early-stage responsibilitiesStandard data engineering roles, career progression

The main difference between a Founding Data Engineer and a Data Engineer lies in their work environment and responsibilities. Founding Data Engineers typically work in startups, handling broad tasks and building data infrastructure from scratch, while Data Engineers in established companies focus on specific data pipelines within structured teams. Both roles require similar technical skills and educational backgrounds, but their scope and context differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Founding Data Engineer jobs in Dearborn, MI?

For Founding Data Engineer jobs in Dearborn, MI, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Founding Data Engineer jobs in Dearborn, MI look for?

The top searched job categories for Founding Data Engineer jobs in Dearborn, MI are:

Founding Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Data Engineer job openings in Dearborn, MI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,172 per year, or $57.3 per hour.

Senior Data Engineer

PRIORITY WASTE RESOURCES LLC

Clinton Township, MI • On-site

$96K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Own and operate the enterprise data platform end to end, from source ingestion through report-ready data.

  • Build and maintain data pipelines on Azure and Microsoft Fabric, integrating data from core business systems.

  • Build and maintain Power BI semantic models and dashboards.

Job description

Company Summary

Priority, headquartered in Clinton Township, MI, is a pioneering technology company transforming the logistics industry with our innovative solutions & commitment to exceptional customer service. We are seeking Team Players who excel in a collaborative environment, embrace change, & understand the impact their quality of work has on others. Our company has experienced rapid growth since its founding in 2018. This growth has allowed us to continually expand our workforce. Priority operates out of several facilities across 3 states. Priority maintains a diversified business model providing service to both municipal solid-waste, construction & demolition customers. Our biggest priority is providing outstanding customer service & revolutionizing the industry through the use of the latest technology.

Job Purpose

Priority Waste is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to own the enterprise data platform that powers our reporting, dashboards, and AI-driven automation. This is a hands-on senior role reporting directly to the CTO, based on-site at our headquarters in Clinton Township, MI. You will take over an early-stage platform built on Azure and Microsoft Fabric and grow it with the company's data needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Own and operate the enterprise data platform end to end, from source ingestion through report-ready data.
  • Build and maintain data pipelines (medallion architecture) on Azure and Microsoft Fabric.
  • Integrate data from core business systems: operations, payroll, fleet management, telematics, and others.
  • Model and maintain the warehouse layer that company dashboards and analytics are built on.
  • Build and maintain Power BI semantic models and dashboards.
  • Own platform operations: monitoring, alerting, and data quality.
  • Establish and maintain data governance: shared definitions, quality standards, and access.
  • Own and grow our existing AI automations for reporting and reconciliation.
  • Additional duties as required.
Qualifications
  • 8+ years of data engineering experience, including owning production data platforms and establishing data governance.
  • Fluency with AI agents and AI-assisted development.
  • Deep experience on a major cloud data stack; Azure and Microsoft Fabric preferred.
  • Experience integrating data from APIs and file-based sources.
  • Comfort operating as the sole data engineer: you scope, build, ship, and operate.
  • Expert-level SQL and Python.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Power BI semantic modeling and dashboard development.
  • Experience in waste, logistics, or another operations-heavy industry.
At Priority Waste, there are fundamental qualities that we look for in all our employees
  • People who excel in a collaborative environment (team players).
  • A willingness to do whatever the situation calls for.
  • An excitement to be part of a growing organization.
  • A genuine understanding that the quality of your work has a direct impact on the company's success.

Apply