Job Description

Senior Data Engineer Lead
Location: Markham
Salary: 125-150K base, benefits, pension, 4 weeks vacation
This role will be reporting into AVP, Data Engineering.
What you'll do
As a Senior Data Engineer Lead, you will be instrumental in shaping and delivering enterprise-scale data solutions. You'll define the technical roadmap, drive data strategy, and lead the design and implementation of robust, scalable data pipelines. This role requires a strong blend of technical leadership, hands-on engineering, and cross-functional collaboration.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership: Define and drive the data engineering strategy, standards, and best practices across the organization.
Solution Design: Develop high-level and low-level solution architectures, ensuring alignment with business and technical goals.
Data Pipeline Development: Lead the design and implementation of high-performance data pipelines using tools like dbt Core/Cloud, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
Data Modeling: Design and review conceptual, logical, and physical data models to support business needs.
Code Ownership: Write and maintain clean, reusable code in SQL, Python, Shell, and Terraform.
Quality & Governance: Champion data quality, governance, and cataloging practices; create and review test plans to validate data solutions.
Issue Resolution: Perform root cause analysis and implement effective solutions for complex data issues.
Agile Delivery: Lead agile ceremonies, foster a delivery-focused mindset, and ensure timely execution of data initiatives.
Mentorship: Guide and mentor Data Engineers and project team members, elevating team capabilities and engineering excellence.
Collaboration: Work closely with architects, designers, QA engineers, and delivery teams to ensure cohesive and customer-centric data products.
Documentation: Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation to support implementation and knowledge sharing.
Talent Development: Contribute to hiring by designing technical challenges, conducting interviews, and supporting onboarding.
What you'll bring
Extensive Experience:
15+ years of professional experience delivering over 10 high-impact data projects from inception through warranty.
5+ years of Snowflake, dbtCore/Cloud, and AWS Cloud Technologies.
7+ years of experience with coding in multiple programming languages such as Python, Java, etc.
Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of relational databases (Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Amazon Aurora), big data platforms (Hadoop), and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB).
Data Visualization Proficiency: Skilled in tools such as Snowsight, Streamlit, Qlik, and SAP BusinessObjects to communicate insights effectively.
Advanced Coding Skills: Expert-level proficiency in SQL, Python, Shell, and Terraform, with a strong focus on performance, reusability, and maintainability.
Presentation & Communication: Strong technical and business presentation skills; able to identify and address gaps in data designs and processes with both internal and external stakeholders.
Pipeline & Orchestration Tools: Hands-on experience with orchestration tools like Zena and AWS Managed Airflow.
Resilience & Adaptability: Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-pressure environments.
Mentorship & Leadership: A track record of mentoring Data Engineers at all levels, fostering a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement.
Customer-Centric Mindset: Passion for solving real-world problems using data-driven insights to deliver impactful business outcomes.
Collaborative Approach: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to lead teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with insurance industry processes and systems is a strong asset.
AI/ML & GenAI Exposure: Experience in operationalizing AI/ML & GenAI models is a plus.
Required Certifications (having 2 or more is an asset):
SnowPRO Core,
SnowPRO Advanced Data Engineer (DEA-C01, DEA-C02),
SnowPro Advanced: Architect (ARA-C01),
dbt Developer,
AWS Cloud Practitioner

Skills Required