Senior Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Job type: Full time, permanent

Working arrangement: Hybrid

This position offers a hybrid work model, allowing flexibility between working from home and our office. Typically, employees are expected to work 2 days in the office per week.

At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That's why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst thriving personally and professionally. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.

It's our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives.

Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.

At QS, you'll be responsible for implementing real change in the international higher education landscape. You'll take on meaningful challenges that see a positive impact across the business and the wider sector.

QS was named as one of Newsweek's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023), recognising the respect, trust and appreciation that drive our culture every day. And as a gold-accredited Investors in People organisation – putting us among the top 28% of workplaces globally – it's official: QS is a place where everyone can thrive.

As a Senior Data Engineer, this is what you'll be doing:

At QS, we believe that empowering people through data drives meaningful impact in higher education worldwide. As a Senior Data Engineer, you will take a leading role in designing, building, and delivering scalable data pipelines, APIs, and services at the core of QS Cerebrum, and our enterprise analytics and AI platforms. You will establish engineering standards, embed robust governance and data quality measures into all pipelines, and actively mentor fellow engineers to elevate team performance. In this position, you will work closely with data science and business intelligence teams to develop effective, data-driven solutions that address complex business needs and support our global mission. Your strong leadership and communication skills will be essential in collaborating with stakeholders, guiding team members, and contributing to QS's long-term strategic objectives.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of education by joining a dynamic Data Engineering team. If you are passionate about growing, innovating, and making a tangible difference in a diverse and supportive environment, we invite you to envision yourself in this impactful role at QS.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and creation of robust data models and structures that lay the foundation for reliable analytics and insights, enabling teams to make informed decisions and drive progress.
• Develop and maintain efficient data pipelines that integrate both real-time and streaming data, ensuring the business can respond quickly to evolving needs and opportunities.
• Launch and optimize data delivery solutions, providing secure, scalable access to information for colleagues and partners, and supporting innovation across the organization.
• Improve data quality and transparency by embedding rigorous validation and documentation throughout all workflows, building trust and clarity for every stakeholder.
• Support the enrichment of knowledge graphs by modeling relationships and resolving entities, enhancing data connectivity and unlocking deeper insights for teams and the wider mission.
• Apply business acumen to interpret complex data needs, ensuring every technical solution directly contributes measurable value to both the team and the organization's goals.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to uphold data integrity, manage schemas, and ensure compliance with best practices, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
• Mentor and guide team members, sharing expertise and encouraging skill development to support individual growth and collective achievement.
• Document processes and workflows thoroughly to promote transparency, consistency, and ongoing improvement, empowering others to build on your work.
• Take ownership of any additional responsibilities within the role's purpose and scope, including tasks that may arise outside standard business hours, contributing to the team's adaptability and success.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Proven ability to lead teams and deliver results through professional, educational, or volunteer experience in technology or related fields.
• Resourceful problem-solver who thrives in dynamic, evolving environments.
• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, fostering collaboration and inclusivity.
• Demonstrates sound business judgment, balancing technical solutions with practical business needs.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python, with hands-on experience in cloud data platforms (such as Snowflake or equivalent).
• Experience with orchestration tools (e.g., Glue, Airflow, dbt) supporting reliable data workflows.
• Knowledge of streaming frameworks (such as Kafka, Snowpipe) and understanding of real-time data delivery.
• Awareness of machine learning and artificial intelligence workflows, including feature stores and platforms like Sagemaker.
• Understanding of data modeling concepts, including graph-based design.
• Familiarity with REST/GraphQL APIs and approaches to optimize data delivery and performance.

Experience in higher education technology is appreciated but not required. We welcome applicants who bring fresh perspectives and transferable skills from other industries or disciplines. Join us in shaping the future of data engineering within an inclusive and supportive team environment.

QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. From consultancy to student mobility, academic partnerships to branding solutions, our services power both institutional and individual success.

We're behind the world's most widely read university rankings (Meltwater 2023). Our QS World University Rankings® reach hundreds of millions, shaping decisions and guiding futures.

Since launching in 1990, our impact and influence have only grown. Today, we work with more than 2,000 of the world's leading higher education institutions, over 12,000 employers, and governments seeking change and socioeconomic development through higher education.

Join QS and you'll join an 800-strong community of problem-solvers, creators, collaborators and change-makers based in 40+ countries and 11 international offices, including Australia, Malaysia, India, Romania, Singapore, France, Germany, the USA and our headquarters in London.

With every talented new hire, business acquisition and bold initiative, we're strengthening our reach and delivering even greater value to institutions and learners worldwide. Are you ready to shape the future of higher education?

We take investing in our people very seriously.

As standard you will have:

• Competitive base salary
• Access to an annual bonus scheme (for qualifying roles only)
• 20 days annual leave, plus public holidays
• Generous maternity and paternity leave
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and MiCare health
• A vibrant social environment and multicultural and multinational culture

But that's not all. Outside of these standard benefits we also offer resources to allow professional growth and wellness initiatives to nurture a healthy mindset:

• Free subscription to the Calm App – the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
• A focus on welfare which is led by our global wellness team, with mental health first aiders globally
• Access to a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives and groups
• Strong recognition and reward programs – including a peer-to-peer recognition platform, quarterly and annual QS Applaud Awards, Connect with your Career annual PD event
• Support for volunteering and study leave
• Free subscription to LinkedIn learning – with over 5000 courses and programmes at your fingertips
• Options to join our outstanding global Mentorship programme
• Brand new breakout and relaxing spaces in office

Like what you've heard? Great, apply now! As a candidate, we know the application and interview process can be daunting and so it's important that you have a great experience with us. Our dedicated Talent Team will work hard to ensure you are fully informed at all stages and you are really excited by this opportunity to do meaningful work in the education space.

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is proud to be a fair and equal organisation where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background or personal attributes. We celebrate our diversity and believe through sharing our experiences we can learn from one another, be stronger together, and enable our business to thrive.