Sr. Data Visualization Engineer (Looker)

Job Description
We are seeking a Sr. Data Visualization Engineer to own the Looker semantic layer and dashboard experience on GCP BigQuery. The role centers on LookML modeling: designing views, explores and models that give the business one governed definition of every metric.
Candidates should know Looker architecture end to end, from Git-based LookML development and PDT/aggregate strategy to content governance and access control. They also need a strong eye for dashboard UI design, turning business requirements into clean, fast and intuitive analytical experiences.
Key Responsibilities
Semantic Modeling in LookML
Design and maintain the LookML semantic layer (views, explores, models) as the single governed source of business metrics.
Model dimensions, measures, dimension groups and derived fields with clear naming, labels, descriptions and drill paths.
Build explores with correct join logic (relationships, fanout and symmetric aggregates) so totals stay accurate across many-to-many data.
Use refinements, extends and a clean .lkml file structure to keep models DRY, layered and reusable across business domains.
Develop native and SQL-based derived tables, PDTs and aggregate tables (aggregate awareness) with sound datagroup and caching strategy.
Apply Liquid templating, templated filters and parameters for dynamic, user-driven analysis.
Define certified metrics and curated explores that business users can trust for self-service.
Looker Architecture and Governance
Shape the Looker project architecture: project and model boundaries, hub-and-spoke or multi-project imports, and environment promotion (dev → QA → prod).
Run LookML development through Git: branching, pull requests, code review, LookML Validator, Content Validator and data tests in CI (for example Spectacles).
Implement access control: model sets, permission sets, roles, user attributes, access_filter row-level security and required_access_grants for field-level security.
Organize content governance: folder structure, shared vs personal spaces, board curation, and clean-up of stale or duplicate content.
Optimize performance and BigQuery cost through PDT design, partition- and cluster-aware SQL, query caching and System Activity monitoring.
Partner with data engineering to define BigQuery data requirements and shape datasets for efficient semantic modeling.
Support integrations such as Looker API/SDK, scheduled deliveries, embedding and Looker Studio / BI connectors where needed.
Dashboard UI Design and Best Practices
Design intuitive, fast dashboards following UI best practices: clear visual hierarchy (KPIs → trends → detail), fit-for-purpose charts, consistent layout and color, accessible design, and drill paths from summary to detail.
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in data visualization, BI engineering or analytics roles, with 2+ years building production LookML.
Deep expertise in LookML semantic modeling: views, explores, joins and relationships, symmetric aggregates, derived tables/PDTs, aggregate awareness, refinements and extends.
Strong grasp of Looker architecture: multi-project setups, environment promotion, Git workflow, caching and datagroups, and the admin and permission model.
Hands-on with Looker security: user attributes, access filters, access grants, model and permission sets.
Strong SQL skills and solid data warehousing fundamentals (dimensional modeling, star schemas, slowly changing dimensions, grain).
Hands-on experience with GCP BigQuery, including partitioning, clustering and cost-aware query design.
Proven dashboard UI/UX skills, shown through a portfolio of clean, purposeful and well-adopted dashboards.
Experience enabling governed self-service analytics and standardizing metric definitions.
Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication and stakeholder management skills.
Good to Have
Looker LookML Developer certification, or Google Cloud Professional Data Analyst / Data Engineer.
Experience with Looker API/SDK, embedded analytics, Looker Actions and the Looker Marketplace.
Exposure to dbt or other transformation tools upstream of the semantic layer.
Familiarity with Looker's Gemini / conversational analytics features and with Looker Studio.
Exposure to Tableau or Power BI, including migrating reports into Looker.
Basic UX design tools (Figma or similar) for wireframes and dashboard mockups.

Work arrangement
No