Data Analyst, Principal

Principal Data Analyst As a Principal Data Analyst, you are a highly analytical, technically strong, forward-thinking problem solver who thrives on turning data into strategic insight and building modern decision products. You will play a pivotal role within the Decision Intelligence team, combining deep analytical expertise with hands-on technical skills to solve complex business problems using enterprise data, business intelligence, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation. This is a hands-on technical role with significant visibility across the organization. You will work directly with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders while personally designing and building analytical solutions - ranging from enterprise semantic models and Power BI experiences to AI-powered applications and agents. Your work will directly influence strategic decisions and help evolve how the enterprise consumes data, insights, and AI. Skills and experience we value: Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, Economics, Business Analytics, or a related analytical field; Master's degree preferred. 10+ years of progressive experience in data analytics, business intelligence, analytical engineering, data science, decision science, or related technical roles, preferably in an enterprise SaaS, technology, consulting, or complex business environment. Strong SQL, data modeling, and analytical engineering skills, with hands-on experience building enterprise analytics solutions using platforms such as Power BI. Strong hands-on Python skills and comfort working with APIs, Git, JSON, testing and debugging, notebooks, and modern development workflows used to build analytical and AI-enabled solutions. Demonstrated hands-on experience building AI/LLM applications beyond the use of AI productivity tools or commercial chat applications. Strong understanding of semantic modeling, metric design, KPI frameworks, business definitions, data quality, lineage, and governance practices needed to provide trusted context to both enterprise reporting and AI-enabled analytical experiences. Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous business questions into structured analytical and technical approaches, identify root causes, quantify business impact, and determine when a problem is best solved with SQL or deterministic software, traditional analytics or machine learning, a BI experience, or an LLM/agentic solution. Experience evaluating AI systems for accuracy, grounding, reliability, and business usefulness, including approaches such as test datasets, hallucination testing, regression testing, observability, human review, and appropriate controls for enterprise use. Proven experience leading complex analytical or AI initiatives from concept through implementation with minimal oversight, including requirements definition, stakeholder alignment, hands-on development, testing, delivery, adoption, and ongoing optimization. Exceptional communication, analytical reasoning, and business acumen, with the ability to synthesize complex data and technical concepts into clear narratives, evaluate tradeoffs, prioritize work based on business value, and influence decisions at senior levels. High degree of intellectual curiosity, ownership, technical judgment, and attention to detail. We value demonstrated building experience over theoretical familiarity; candidates should be prepared to discuss systems they personally designed and implemented. Experience working in the Human Capital Management industry is preferred. What's in it for you: Dayforce is fueled by the diversity of our talented employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider and embrace ALL individuals and what makes them unique. We believe our employees should be happy and healthy, with peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment. We encourage individuals to apply based on their passions. Dayforce employees and their families are eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Dayforce employees are also eligible to participate in a 401k plan (plus match) and a Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Employees also receive unlimited Time Away From Work (in lieu of accrued vacation time), 10 paid US holidays, up to 80 hours of paid sick time and 17 weeks of paid parental leave, subject to the terms of the applicable policy or program. With a commitment to community impact, including volunteer days and our charity, Dayforce Cares we provide opportunities for you to thrive both in your career and personal life. Our focus is not just on your job but on supporting you to be the best version of yourself. Dayforce