Lead Data Engineer

Lead. Build. Deliver. Influence.

Our US client portfolio is growing fast — and getting more complex by the day.

We’re partnering with large, enterprise retailers alongside a strong mix of mid‑market organisations. These clients expect robust, scalable, and insight‑driven data platforms delivered at pace — with senior technical leadership they can trust.

To support this growth, we’re hiring a US‑based Lead Data Engineer: a hybrid role that blends hands‑on technical leadership, delivery ownership, and senior stakeholder engagement. You’ll sit close to our clients — geographically and culturally — enabling faster decisions, stronger relationships, and exceptional delivery.

This is a critical role in shaping how we build, scale, and evolve our data platform as we move deeper into AI‑enabled data solutions.

What you’ll be doing

• You’ll take ownership of the technical direction and delivery of our data platform, combining strategic oversight with hands‑on engineering leadership.
• Lead and shape the evolution of our cloud‑native data platform, ensuring it’s scalable, resilient, and AI‑ready
• Design, build, and evolve large‑scale data pipelines supporting analytics and next‑generation AI use cases
• Act as a senior technical partner to US‑based client stakeholders, navigating complex organisations and competing priorities
• Own delivery across complex, multi‑stakeholder projects — balancing speed, quality, and long‑term platform health
• Drive best practices in data quality, security, governance, and reliability
• Identify risks early and proactively resolve them before they impact delivery
• Evaluate and introduce new technologies to improve performance, scalability, and time‑to‑market

Engineering leadership & collaboration

• This role isn’t just about building systems — it’s about building teams and setting standards.
• Eventually, you will lead, mentor, and develop a team of data engineers, fostering a high‑performance and collaborative culture
• Partner closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, Delivery, and Customer Success to define scope and execute effectively
• Set and maintain high engineering standards across architecture, coding, and ways of working
• Support hiring and the ongoing development of engineering talent as we scale

Our ideal candidate

• Proven experience with MSSQL, Azure, and Snowflake
• Demonstrable delivery of large‑scale data engineering projects with complex timelines and stakeholders
• Advanced proficiency in T‑SQL and Python
• Hands‑on experience with Databricks and modern cloud data ecosystems
• Deep understanding of designing production‑grade, scalable data architectures
• Confident stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior levels
• Thrives in fast‑paced, delivery‑focused environments with ambiguity

These will make you stand out from the crowd...

• Experience building or supporting data platforms that enable AI / ML use cases
• Exposure to additional languages, frameworks, or tools that support next‑generation data solutions

Some of our extras;

We believe in flexibility, growth, and taking care of our people—both in and out of the office.

Competitive Compensation: We're offering the right candidate between $110,000 - $140,000 per annum depending on your experience and performance during interviews.

Hybrid & Flexible Working: Work from anywhere benefits, plus summer hours and extra days off for life’s big moments (including your birthday and wedding).
Generous Time Off: 26 days PTO (accrued with service), paid volunteer days, and full support for your wellbeing, including mental health resources.
Career & Learning: Access to a top-tier learning platform, career progression plans, and support to create your ideal home workspace.
Health & Financial Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus a 6% matched retirement plan.
Personal Perks: Annual phone reimbursement, onsite gym access, and customizable benefits via our online platform.

Plus much more!

Our interview process typically involves 4 stages:

Initial Call with the Recruiter
Hiring Manager Introduction
Skills Assessment
Final Stage interview

Our average process takes around 3-4 weeks' but we will always work around your availability. You will have the chance to speak to our recruiter at various points during your process but if you do have any specific questions ahead of this please contact us.

*Be your authentic self* *- Retail Insight is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All employees and any job applicants will receive equal treatment. We actively seek to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and encouraged to contribute their best work.*