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Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Principal Data Engineer Dallas or Chicago - hybrid WFH This role will focus on owning both the architecture and engineering for a new enterprise-grade analytics platform. The goal of the system is to ...

Principal Data Engineer Dallas or Chicago - hybrid WFH This role will focus on owning both the architecture and engineering for a new enterprise-grade analytics platform. The goal of the system is to ...

IAA - Principal Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$171K - $256K/yr

About the Role IAA is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to serve as the most senior individual contributor and technical authority across our data engineering function. This is a hands-on, deeply ...

Principal Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Fitch Group is currently seeking a Lead/Principal Data Engineer based out of our Chicago office. As a leading, global financial information services provider, Fitch Group delivers vital credit and ...

Principal Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Fitch Group is currently seeking a Lead/Principal Data Engineer based out of our Chicago office. As a leading, global financial information services provider, Fitch Group delivers vital credit and ...

About the Role IAA is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to serve as the most senior individual contributor and technical authority across our data engineering function. This is a hands-on, deeply ...

Hands-on principal engineer and distinguished technology leader responsible for the strategic ... Defines and advances modernization roadmaps that simplify legacy ecosystems, improve data quality ...

Principal Software Engineer

Westchester, IL · On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

About the Role IAA is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to serve as the most senior individual contributor and technical authority across our data engineering function. This is a hands-on, deeply ...

Principal Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$97 - $189/hr

Hands-on principal engineer and distinguished technology leader responsible for the strategic ... Defines and advances modernization roadmaps that simplify legacy ecosystems, improve data quality ...

Hands-on principal engineer and distinguished technology leader responsible for the strategic ... Defines and advances modernization roadmaps that simplify legacy ecosystems, improve data quality ...

Principal Data Engineer (New York)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Fitch Group is currently seeking a Lead/Principal Data Engineer based out of our New York office. As a leading, global financial information services provider, Fitch Group delivers vital credit and ...

Principal Data Architect Location: Job location -Rosemont, IL- The position is based in Rosemont ... Implement DevOps Best practices for all data integrations, participate in all types of testing ...

Principal Data Architect Location: Job location -Rosemont, IL- The position is based in Rosemont ... Implement DevOps Best practices for all data integrations, participate in all types of testing ...

The Principal Data Scientist is the technical lead for a portfolio of advanced analytics products ... Partner with engineering and platform teams to productionalize AI/ML solutions, including ...

The Principal Data Scientist is the technical lead for a portfolio of advanced analytics products ... Partner with engineering and platform teams to productionalize AI/ML solutions, including ...

Principal Data Scientist

Mettawa, IL · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Partner with engineering and platform teams to productionalize AI/ML solutions, including ... The Principal Data Scientist may lead technical workstreams with external analytics vendors and ...

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Principal Data Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$76.2K

$151.7K

$218.9K

How much do principal data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal data engineer in Chicago, IL is $151,658.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,100.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal data engineer?

A Principal Data Engineer is a senior-level technical role responsible for designing, building, and maintaining large-scale data infrastructure. They lead data engineering teams, establish best practices, and ensure efficient data pipelines to support analytics and machine learning. This role involves working with cloud platforms, big data technologies, and distributed systems to optimize data processing. Principal Data Engineers collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to drive data-driven decision-making. Their work is critical in enabling organizations to leverage data effectively for insights and innovation.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a principal data engineer?

As a Principal Data Engineer, your day-to-day responsibilities generally include designing and optimizing large-scale data pipelines, developing architectural strategies, and overseeing the implementation of robust data solutions. You'll collaborate closely with data scientists, analysts, and software engineers to ensure the organization's data infrastructure is efficient, scalable, and secure. You may also mentor junior team members, review code, and set data engineering best practices. This role frequently requires balancing hands-on technical work with strategic planning and stakeholder communication to align data initiatives with business goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal data engineer?

To thrive as a Principal Data Engineer, you need a deep understanding of data architecture, data modeling, ETL development, and distributed computing, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, Python, SQL, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), as well as certifications in relevant tools or data engineering, is highly valuable. Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and effective cross-functional communication are essential soft skills for this role. These combined abilities enable Principal Data Engineers to design scalable data solutions, drive engineering best practices, and lead complex projects to successful completion.

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Data Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Principal Data Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Data Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Principal Data Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Data Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Data Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Infographic showing various Principal Data Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,658 per year, or $72.9 per hour.

Principal Data Engineer

1872 Consulting

Chicago, IL • Hybrid

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Principal Data Engineer

Dallas or Chicago – hybrid WFH

This role will focus on owning both the architecture and engineering for a new enterprise-grade analytics platform. The goal of the system is to provide better insights as it relates to real estate investments and asset management, for both internal and external customers. You'll work with key stakeholders to understand the business goals, and then spend approximately 20% of your time designing a solution, and approximately the other 80% of your time engineering the solution. As a Principal, you'll have the autonomy to make key technology decisions, and have significant influence over the product roadmap. You'll have the ability to make an impact on a highly visible project, and get the opportunity to work with other talented Data, Software and DevOps engineers. To summarize our tech environment at a high level, we primarily run Snowflake on Azure, and use Python and Spark extensively.

Work on a range of product initiatives on a rotational basis, which require special engineering and architectural guidance

Provide architectural guidance on the most important technical projects within the organization

Actively mentor and positively influence the teams you'll be working with, in particular junior engineers

Actively contribute to the code bases and software development activities for the initiatives you will oversee

Own and develop the architectural standards and collaborate on technical vision-setting in conjunction with the VP, Engineering, Tech Leads, and Product Managers

Work in close collaboration with product management to ensure software is developed that anticipates future needs and maintains option value

10+ years of experience with Data and/or Software Engineering

Must have strong experience with data engineering in cloud-environments

Must have strong experience with cloud-based DWs, ideally Snowflake

Must have experience using modern data engineering tools and techniques, ideally with Python and Spark/PySpark in your stack

Experience with data modeling

Azure experience

Experience building out "data platforms" or "data products"

DevOps experience


1872 Consulting logo

About 1872 Consulting

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

1872 Consulting, based in Chicago, IL, USA, operates within the IT consulting industry. Armed with a diverse team of experts, the company offers specialized IT consulting services, focusing on modernizing business technologies and driving innovative business strategies. Established in 1872, the company has a rich history marked by its commitment to bridging the gap between businesses and technology. Its mission is to empower organizations to surpass their business goals by providing state-of-the-art IT solutions and service. The company prides itself on its core values of integrity, excellence, and innovation, instilling these principles in every project they undertake.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2014