Entry Level Data Engineer

Company
Cox Automotive - USA

Job Family Group
Engineering / Product Development

Job Profile
Data Engineer I

Management Level
Individual Contributor

Flexible Work Option
Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Travel %
Yes, 5% of the time

Work Shift
Day

Compensation
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $67,100.00 - $100,700.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Job Description

Enterprise Platforms – Data & Analytics, Data Engineer I

Cox Automotive is seeking a motivated Data Engineer I to join our Data & Analytics team. This entry-level role is ideal for recent graduates or early-career professionals who are eager to build, maintain, and improve data solutions that impact all of Cox Automotive. You will work alongside experienced engineers who will mentor you as you grow your skills in data pipeline development, data discovery, definition alignment, mapping, profiling, and auditing. A key differentiator for this role is hands-on comfort with AI-powered engineering tools; you should already be using tools like Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar AI assistants to write, review, and ship code faster.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with data architects, data analysts, visualization developers, other data engineers, and business stakeholders to build and maintain data assets in a cloud-computing environment

• Learn and apply techniques to improve data dependability and quality, and reduce manual effort through automation

• Help investigate, communicate, and resolve data integrity issues that may impact business performance

• Assist in developing and maintaining data assets by analyzing data from internal and external sources and making newly created data assets available across Cox Automotive

• Participate in team activities within an Agile environment, including design discussions, code reviews, implementation, delivery estimates, and production support

• Ensure data follows all information privacy and protection policies

• Use AI-powered coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot and Claude Code daily to accelerate development, improve code quality, and streamline peer review workflows

• Apply spec-driven development practices, using AI tools to translate specifications into well-structured, testable code

• Gain exposure to cloud-native AI Services (e.g., Snowflake Cortex, AWS Bedrock/AgentCore) and contribute to efforts that enhance data pipelines and enable intelligent data processing

• Follow responsible AI practices within the team, including prompt engineering, AI output validation, and governance of AI-generated code

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, statistics, or a related analytical field

• Up to one year of professional, contract, or internship experience in data engineering (new graduates welcome)

• Solid SQL skills with an understanding of relational database concepts and the ability to write and troubleshoot queries

• Foundational Python programming skills, whether gained through coursework, personal projects, or early professional experience

• Demonstrated experience using AI-powered developer tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, ChatGPT, or similar) for code generation, completion, or review in any setting—full-time role, internship, or college coursework

• Familiarity with cloud-computing concepts; exposure to Snowflake and/or AWS environments is a plus

• General awareness of data platform and data warehouse concepts

• Strong critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills

• Eagerness to learn from and be mentored by a collaborative, experienced engineering team

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Exposure to or interest in spec-driven development workflows where AI tools are used to translate requirements into code

• Familiarity with Snowflake Cortex for AI-powered data enrichment, text analytics, or anomaly detection

• Awareness of AWS Bedrock, AWS AgentCore, or other cloud-based AI services

• Entry-level cloud or data certifications such as AWS Cloud Practitioner, Snowflake SnowPro Core, or equivalent

• Any AI-related certifications from Snowflake, AWS, or other recognized providers

• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git/GitHub) and CI/CD fundamentals

• Experience working in or familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies

Drug Testing
To be employed in this role, you'll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.

Benefits
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.

About Us
Through groundbreaking technology and a commitment to stellar experiences for drivers and dealers alike, Cox Automotive employees are transforming the way the world buys, owns, sells – or simply uses – cars. Cox Automotive employees get to work on iconic consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim, all while enjoying the people-centered atmosphere that is central to our life at Cox. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.

EOE, including disability/vets

Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future.