How to apply for Lead Data Engineer

About Atticus

Atticus connects sick and injured Americans to government benefits and legal aid. It has helped hundreds of thousands of people access over $10 billion in aid and has over 20,000 five-star reviews. It has raised more than $100 million from investors including Forerunner, Google Ventures, and True Ventures.

About the role

This is Atticus's first in-house data engineer role. You will own and evolve the core data infrastructure and help shape the data engineering function as it grows under Engineering. You will work between Engineering and Business Operations, building reliable systems and translating business needs into well-designed data solutions.

A typical day

You might start by reviewing data pipeline issues or requests from the Business Operations team. Later you could design or build a new data model, then meet with engineers or operations staff to align on requirements. As the first data engineer, you would also spend time documenting processes and setting standards for the function as it grows.

Who Atticus is looking for

• Has experience building and owning data infrastructure, ideally as an early or founding data engineer.
• Can design scalable data pipelines and models that serve both engineering and business operations users.
• Is comfortable working directly with business stakeholders to turn requirements into technical solutions.
• Has worked in a remote, full-time role and can operate with autonomy in a small team.

Tips for this application

• Read Atticus's public materials about its disability benefits and insurance compensation products before writing anything. Reference how data supports those specific services.
• In your resume, highlight roles where you were the first data engineer or built infrastructure from scratch. Atticus explicitly calls this an early and high-impact role.
• Show examples of working with business operations teams, not just engineering. The job description names that intersection directly.
• Apply through the company's careers page or the listed application link. Avoid sending generic recruiter emails without the specific job title.
• If you have experience in legal tech, health tech, or government benefits, mention it. It connects your background to Atticus's domain.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain why you want to be the first in-house data engineer at Atticus and how you have built data infrastructure from scratch before. Describe a time you translated a business operations need into a data system. Connect your work to Atticus's mission of helping people access legal and government aid. State that you understand the role sits between Engineering and Business Operations.

Research before applying

• Read Atticus's website and any public blog posts about how it connects people to disability benefits and insurance compensation.
• Look up the investors listed (Forerunner, Google Ventures, True Ventures) to understand the company's stage and backing.
• Check the backgrounds of Atticus's engineering and business operations leaders on LinkedIn to understand who you would work with.
• Search for any public interviews or talks by Atticus founders about the company's data needs or technical direction.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would design Atticus's core data infrastructure as the first in-house data engineer.
• A time you worked directly with business operations to define data requirements.
• How you choose between building custom pipelines and using off-the-shelf tools.
• How you would set standards and processes for a data engineering function that will grow.
• Why you want to work at a company focused on connecting people to government benefits and legal aid.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without mentioning the first in-house data engineer aspect. This role is not a standard data engineering job at a large team.
• Focusing only on technical pipeline skills and ignoring the business operations side of the role.
• Sending a generic cover letter that does not mention Atticus's mission or its specific products.