Lead Data Engineer

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace that connects businesses with highly skilled, AI-enabled independent talent from across the globe. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies rely on Upwork’s trusted platform and its mindful AI companion, Uma, to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With on-demand access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, Upwork enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams for the age of AI and beyond.

Upwork’s platform has facilitated more than $25 billion in economic opportunity for talent around the world. Learn more at Upwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

As a Lead AI Data Engineer on our Data Platform & Services (DPS) team, you’ll combine advanced data engineering expertise with cutting-edge AI practices to deliver production-grade systems that transform how Upwork uses data. You’ll design and deploy agentic frameworks, natural language querying (NLQ) solutions, and LLM evaluation strategies that make insights accessible at scale. This is a chance to deliver visible impact—accelerating decision-making, enabling self-service analytics, and empowering stakeholders across the company.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable agentic frameworks that coordinate multiple AI agents to deliver accurate and reliable outcomes.
• Build and optimize natural language query systems that provide intuitive, compliant, and self-service access to enterprise data.
• Develop and maintain frameworks for evaluating prompts and LLMs, driving measurable improvements in accuracy, resilience, and scalability.
• Partner with data engineering peers to integrate AI orchestration with existing pipelines using Python, SQL, and Snowflake.
• Contribute to AI-powered summarization and explanation tools that enhance reporting, insights, and executive decision-making.
• Collaborate with product, analytics, and business teams to ensure AI solutions align with measurable business goals.

What it takes to catch our eye

• Proven success delivering AI-powered data systems in production, including hands-on experience with LLMs and prompt engineering.
• Strong foundation in modern data engineering with expertise in Python, SQL, and platforms such as Snowflake.
• Ability to design agentic orchestration frameworks that scale across diverse business scenarios.
• Collaborative problem-solver with excellent communication skills, able to align stakeholders and create clarity across teams.
• Growth mindset—eager to learn, iterate, and deliver measurable outcomes through applied AI.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 34 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page to learn more about opportunities at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.