Lead Data Engineer

Description:

Job Summary:

The Lead Data Engineer is a hands-on Data Engineer that will own the design, development, and governance of our data platforms. Leveraging Azure, with primary focus on Microsoft SQL Server, Power BI reporting, and cloud-based data services. This role partners with analytics, product, and engineering teams to deliver scalable data solutions that offer best-in-class reporting to our customers while enabling data-driven decision making across the organization

Supervisory/Functional Leadership Responsibilities:

• Foster high-performing and supportive team environment.

Essential Responsibilities:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Data architecture and governance

• Design and maintain scalable data models on Microsoft SQL Server and Azure data services, ensuring data quality, lineage, security, and compliance.
• Define and implement data governance standards, metadata management, and data retention policies.
• Champion data quality initiatives, profiling, and automated validation across the data pipeline.

Data engineering and platform development

• Build, optimize, and maintain ETL pipelines, preferably using SQL Server SSIS
• Lead migration and modernization efforts from on-premises SQL Server to cloud-native architectures, including data lake patterns where appropriate.
• Implement scalable data ingestion from multiple sources, ensuring low-latency, reliable data delivery to analytics consumers.

BI and analytics enablement

• Architect and govern data models, datasets, security, and performance optimizations; partner with analysts to deliver self-serve analytics capabilities, preferably leveraging Power BI
• Create reusable data services and dashboards that enable senior leadership to monitor KPIs and metrics with accuracy and speed.

Cloud engineering and operations

• Own Azure environment design, cost optimization, security controls (RBAC, data encryption, threat detection), and disaster recovery planning as it relates to the data domain
• Establish CI/CD pipelines for data assets and analytics artifacts; promote best practices for versioning, testing, and deployment.

Leadership and collaboration

• Mentor data engineers, establish coding standards, code reviews, and best-practice documentation.
• Collaborate with product managers and business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable data solutions.
• Manage project timelines, risk, and stakeholder communication, balance delivery speed with data quality and reliability.
• Work with the data or engineering teams to perform root cause analysis of field reported defects
• Report defects in defect tracking system by providing detailed documentation as proof of test failures for repeatability.
• Compare testing metrics to exit criteria to provide QA advice on product release.

Other duties:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements:

Education and Experience:

• 6+ years of experience in data engineering or a closely related role, with a track record delivering enterprise-grade data platforms
• Deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server (design, tuning, indexing, query optimization) and Azure data services (Azure SQL, Data Factory, Synapse, Data Lake, storage, identity and security features).
• Strong Power BI proficiency (data modeling, DAX, performance optimization, security roles, and report deployment).
• Experience migrating or modernizing data architectures to cloud environments; ability to design scalable, robust, and cost-conscious solutions.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams, mentor engineers, and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of data governance, data quality frameworks, and data security/compliance considerations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Client-facing interactions both virtual and in-person.
• Ability to travel to client engagement sessions/conferences.
• Must be able to lift to 10 pounds at times.

Work Environment:

Office environment

• Hybrid schedule- Monday and Fridays are remote; we are in the office Tuesday- Thursday.
• Business casual office environment with computer workstation and standard office equipment
• Controlled indoor climate with standard office lighting and noise levels.
• Access to reliable internet connection for remote workdays
• We will consider candidates outside of Charlotte however you must be located in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia.

Travel Required:

• Travel is not required for this position.