Data Engineering Lead

Data Engineering Lead Location: Oakland, CA (hybrid) Duration: 6+months Contract to Hire Role Overview The Data Analytics and Insights team is seeking a Data Engineering Lead to drive the design, development, and delivery of scalable data solutions across the enterprise. This role combines hands-on data engineering expertise with technical leadership, guiding a team of engineers while partnering with business, analytics, and architecture stakeholders. You will play a critical role in shaping data platform, enabling advanced analytics and supporting initiatives across the smart grid and sustainability programs. • Owns architecture and technical strategy, not just implementation • Leads team delivery and mentoring • Drives cross-functional alignment and roadmap execution • Accountable for end-to-end data platform success Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Strategy • Lead the design and architecture of enterprise data platforms using Snowflake and cloud technologies. • Define and enforce data engineering standards, best practices, and governance frameworks. • Provide technical direction on data modeling, pipeline design, and performance optimization. Team Leadership & Delivery • Lead and mentor a team of data engineers, ensuring high-quality delivery and professional growth. • Drive end-to-end delivery of data initiatives, from requirements through deployment and support. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prioritize and execute data roadmap initiatives. Data Engineering & Development • Design, build, and optimize scalable ETL/ELT pipelines using Snowflake and tools like Informatica. • Develop and maintain modular, reusable data processing frameworks and stored procedures. • Ensure high performance, reliability, and scalability of data pipelines. Stakeholder Collaboration • Partner with business stakeholders, analysts, and data scientists to translate requirements into technical solutions. • Work with enterprise architecture and governance teams to ensure alignment with organizational standards. Data Governance & Quality • Establish and enforce data quality, metadata management, and governance practices. • Ensure data integrity, security, and compliance across all data platforms. Operations & Reliability • Oversee monitoring and troubleshooting of data pipelines. • Implement CI/CD and DevOps practices for data engineering workflows. Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. • 7–10+ years of experience in data engineering or related roles. • Proven experience with Snowflake, Github, and Jenkins and cloud-based data platforms. • Strong experience with ETL/ELT tools (Informatica, dbt, etc.). • Deep understanding of data warehousing, dimensional modeling, and performance tuning. • Strong proficiency in SQL and database technologies. • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP). • Experience leading or mentoring engineering teams. • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. Preferred Qualifications • Experience with Python or scripting languages. • Familiarity with big data technologies (Spark, Kafka, Hadoop). • Experience with data orchestration tools (Airflow, etc.). • Exposure to data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI). • Experience in utilities or energy sector is a plus