Manager, Azure Data Engineering & Modeling

Manager, Azure Data Engineering & Modeling

Chicago, IL

Hybrid work from home, 3 days onsite in the loop, 2 days WFH

Summary

We're looking for HANDS ON Azure Data Engineering Manager to own the Data Engineering AND Data Modeling functions, to support growing AI and BI initiatives. You'll have about 5 direct reports, and are expected to be hands on taking strategy to execution.

We are a Microsoft/Azure shop primarily, so for Data Engineering you'd be owning the ETL/ELT processes in a primarily Azure and Databricks environment, so looking for candidates strong in this area.

And then separately for Data Modeling, you must be capable of personally developing and reviewing conceptual and logical data models, establishing best practices, and guiding engineers and architects.

If you are a hands on manager, with strong Data Engineering and Modeling experience, and experience managing these sorts of teams, this is the role for you!

What you'll be doing

• Translate data strategy into execution, delivering initiatives that hold data quality, security, and performance to a high standard and keep them aligned with business objectives.
• Decompose high-level data strategy and roadmap into clearly scoped epics, user stories, and sprint-ready deliverables, driving execution and prioritization through the team's Jira backlog.
• Own the implementation and ongoing enhancement of scalable data architectures that power analytics, machine learning, and AI capabilities.
• Shape conceptual and logical data models, contributing hands-on while providing technical direction and mentorship to data architects on modeling standards and best practices.
• Lead the development and continuous evolution of robust, business-aligned data platforms and pipelines, championing modern tooling such as cloud-native services, distributed computing, orchestration, and real-time streaming.
• Drive the consolidation of fragmented, siloed data into a single, trusted source of truth that powers enterprise analytics and reporting.
• Partner with teams across AI, BI, Product, Operations, and support to align on priorities and deliver integrated, dependable execution.
• Design and implement the processes and tooling that give clear data visibility and observability, turning raw data into actionable, trusted insight.
• Strengthen data governance practices that safeguard data integrity, accessibility, and compliance with applicable regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.
• Communicate technical concepts and progress clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, keeping work aligned with broader data and technology goals.
• Evaluate third-party tools, services, and vendors, recommending choices that fit technical direction and budget.
• undefined
• Hire, develop, coach, and supervise direct reports, and conduct annual performance reviews.

Skills we're seeking

• 10+ years of experience with Data Engineering and/or Data Modeling
• 2+ years of Management experience, managing direct reports with data-focused skill sets
• Must have strong Azure Data Engineering experience

o Python, Spark and/or Kafka experience are big nice to haves

o Databricks also a big nice to have

• Must have strong Logical Data Modeling experience, with the ability to set modeling standards and guide architect-level staff
• Strong experience with SQL

Nice to haves

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in an IT or Data related field
• Databricks experience
• Experience with big-data architecture and distributed processing, including tools such as Spark and Kafka
• Python experience to build data pipelines
• Workflow orchestration experience with tools like Airflow
• Experience with CI/CD, Azure DevOps and/or IaC with Bicep templates
• Experience working in an Agile delivery model undefined