Lead Data Engineer

Job description:

Job Description

We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer who thrives at the intersection of deep technical builds and high-level strategic consulting. You aren't just a behind-the-scenes architect; you are a Data Management Expert and a trusted advisor who can sit across from a client, understand their business pain points, and then lead a team to build the solution.

In this role, you will manage a team of up to 10 engineers while remaining hands-on. You will be the technical face of our professional services, guiding customers through complex cloud migrations, data governance frameworks, and scalable data architecture.

Job Responsibilities & Duties

Customer Advisory & Consulting

• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) during the onboarding phase to define project scope and technical roadmaps.

• Translate business requirements into robust data architectures.

• Provide strategic advice on Data Management best practices, including AI, lake house,  data sharing, data quality, and security.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of up to 10 Data Engineers.

• Oversee resource allocation, conduct deliverable reviews, and foster a culture of technical excellence.

• Manage project timelines and deliverables within a professional services framework.

Hands-on Technical Execution

• Design and deploy scalable data pipelines using Denodo data management platform along with cloud ecosystems.

• Build and optimize data products ensuring high performance and cost-efficiency.

• Maintain a player-coach mentality—willing to jump into the studios to solve complex bugs or architect core components.

Professional Services & Support

• Ensure successful project delivery and provide post-implementation support strategies.

• Manage client expectations and maintain long-term relationships through technical reliability.

Customer Management

• Personalize the interaction - Remember key details about the customer (business priorities, past issues, preferences) and tailor your approach accordingly.

• Turn problems into opportunities - Handle complaints calmly, take ownership, and use feedback to fix processes and strengthen trust.

• Add value beyond the product- Offer helpful insights, recommendations, or small extras that make their life easier.

Desired Skills & Experience

The candidate should have a good foundation of technical knowledge, as well as project and scope management expertise, as you will establish the technical and non-technical enablement needs for the Customer Services team.

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in SQL/ ETL / Data warehousing / Data Integration / Data Management technologies.
• Solid understanding of SQL and good grasp of relational and analytical database management theory and practice.
• Knowledge and experience with systems and services hosted in the main cloud vendors (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• 4+ years of experience in mentoring a team of junior engineers and support specialists.
• Experience in customer-facing positions as a professional services consultant or engineer.
• University Degree relating to information systems or computer science (Bachelor or Master).

Required skills:

• Good knowledge of JDBC, XML, JMS, Web technologies and Cloud environments.
• Excellent verbal, presentation and written communication skills to be able to interact with technical and business counterparts.
• Willingness to travel.
• Being available for working outside of normal business hours, holidays, and some weekends when needed for escalations during on-call periods.