AVP, Data Engineering – SonyLIV

Drive the Future of Data-Driven Entertainment

Are you passionate about working with big data? Do you want to shape the direction of products that impact millions of users daily? If so, we want to connect with you. We’re seeking a leader for our Data Engineering team who will collaborate with Product Managers, Data Scientists, Software Engineers, and ML Engineers to support our AI infrastructure roadmap. In this role, you’ll design and implement the data architecture that guides decision-making and drives insights, directly impacting our platform’s growth and enriching user experiences.

As a part of SonyLIV, you’ll work with some of the brightest minds in the industry, access one of the most comprehensive data sets in the world and leverage cutting-edge technology. Your contributions will have a tangible effect on the products we deliver and the viewers we engage.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in data infrastructure and data architecture, a proven record of leading and scaling data teams, operational excellence to enhance efficiency and speed, and a visionary approach to how Data Engineering can drive company success. If you’re ready to make a significant impact in the world of OTT and entertainment, let’s talk.

AVP, Data Engineering – SonyLIV

Location: Bangalore

Responsibilities:

• Define the Technical Vision for Scalable Data Infrastructure:

  Establish a robust technical strategy for SonyLIV’s data and analytics platform, architecting a scalable, high-performance data ecosystem using modern technologies like Spark, Kafka, Snowflake, and cloud services (AWS/GCP).

• Lead Innovation in Data Processing and Architecture:

  Advance SonyLIV’s data engineering practices by implementing real-time data processing, optimized ETL pipelines, and streaming analytics through tools like Apache Airflow, Spark, and Kubernetes. Enable high-speed data processing to support real-time insights for content and user engagement.

• Ensure Operational Excellence in Data Systems:

  Set and enforce standards for data reliability, privacy, and performance. Define SLAs for production data processes, using monitoring tools (Grafana, Prometheus) to maintain system health and quickly resolve issues.

• Build and Mentor a High-Caliber Data Engineering Team:

  Recruit and lead a skilled team with strengths in distributed computing, cloud infrastructure, and data security. Foster a collaborative and innovative culture, focused on technical excellence and efficiency.

• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams:

  Partner closely with Data Scientists, Software Engineers, and Product Managers to deliver scalable data solutions for personalization algorithms, recommendation engines, and content analytics.

• Architect and Manage Production Data Models and Pipelines:

  Design and launch production-ready data models and pipelines capable of supporting millions of users. Utilize advanced storage and retrieval solutions like Hive, Presto, and BigQuery to ensure efficient data access.

• Drive Data Quality and Business Insights:

  Implement automated quality frameworks to maintain data accuracy and reliability. Oversee the creation of BI dashboards and data visualizations using tools like Tableau and Looker, providing actionable insights into user engagement and content performance.

This role offers the opportunity to lead SonyLIV’s data engineering strategy, driving technological innovation and operational excellence while enabling data-driven decisions that shape the future of OTT entertainment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, business intelligence, and data warehousing, including significant expertise in high-volume, real-time data environments.
• Proven track record in building, scaling, and managing large data engineering teams (10+ members), including experience managing managers and guiding teams through complex data challenges.
• Demonstrated success in designing and implementing scalable data architectures, with hands-on experience using modern data technologies (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Redshift, Snowflake, BigQuery) for data ingestion, transformation, and storage.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and experience with at least one object-oriented programming language (Python, Java, or similar) for custom data solutions and pipeline optimization.
• Strong experience in establishing and enforcing SLAs for data availability, accuracy, and latency, with a focus on data reliability and operational excellence.
• Extensive knowledge of A/B testing methodologies and statistical analysis, including a solid understanding of the application of these techniques for user engagement and content analytics in OTT environments.
• Skilled in data governance, data privacy, and compliance, with hands-on experience implementing security protocols and controls within large data ecosystems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field.
• Experience managing the end-to-end data engineering lifecycle, from model design and data ingestion through to visualization and reporting.
• Experience working with large-scale infrastructure, including cloud data warehousing, distributed computing, and advanced storage solutions.
• Familiarity with automated data lineage and data auditing tools to streamline data governance and improve transparency.
• Expertise with BI and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker) and advanced processing frameworks (e.g., Hive, Presto) for managing high-volume data sets and delivering insights across the organization.

Why join us? CulverMax Entertainment Pvt Ltd (Formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India) is home to some of India’s leading entertainment channels such as SET, SAB, MAX, PAL, PIX, Sony BBC Earth, Yay!, Sony Marathi, Sony SIX, Sony TEN, SONY TEN1, SONY Ten2, SONY TEN3, SONY TEN4, to name a few! Our foray into the OTT space with one of the most promising streaming platforms, Sony LIV brings us one step closer to being a progressive digitally led content powerhouse.

Our independent production venture- Studio Next has already made its mark with original content and IPs for TV and Digital Media.

But our quest to Go Beyond doesn’t end there. Neither does our search to find people who can take us there. We focus on creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where we celebrate diversity with our Bring Your Own Self Philosophy.

We strive to remain an ‘Employer of Choice’ and have been recognized as: - India’s Best Companies to Work For 2021 by the Great Place to Work® Institute. - 100 Best Companies for Women in India by AVTAR & Seramount for 6 years in a row - UN Women Empowerment Principles Award 2022 for Gender Responsive Marketplace and Community Engagement & Partnership - ET Human Capital Awards 2023 for Excellence in HR Business Partnership & Team Building Engagement - ET Future Skills Awards 2022 for Best Learning Culture in an Organization and Best D&I Learning Initiative.

The biggest award of course is the thrill our employees feel when they can Tell Stories Beyond the Ordinary!