Principal Data Engineering Lead

Principal Data Engineering Lead Greater Chicago Area REMOTE 6+ Month Contract to Start GlobalSource IT is working with a direct client that is looking for a Principal Data Engineering Lead to take their growing data engineering organization to the next level. This isn’t a “hands-on coding” role — it’s about leadership, structure, and impact. You’ll guide a distributed team of engineers and leads, bring clarity and accountability, and build processes that actually work. If you love turning vision into execution, shaping culture, and building high-performing teams, this role is for you. Roles & Responsibilities: • Lead and mentor engineers and team leads — build a team that thrives on clarity, accountability, and collaboration. • Set direction, delegate effectively, and keep delivery moving at pace. • Bring strong technical judgment: know what great looks like, enforce standards, and help unblock issues without being the “fixer.” • Design practical processes (reviews, delivery cadences, onboarding) that increase speed and quality. • Translate big-picture goals into clear roadmaps that teams can actually execute. • Manage vendor/nearshore/offshore partnerships — ensuring real fixes, not just “restart the pipeline.” • Raise the bar on culture: move from reactive/blame to proactive/ownership. What We’re Looking For • Proven experience leading managers or leads within engineering or data engineering. • Strong grasp of modern data engineering practices — enough to challenge assumptions and enforce standards. • Skilled in building and scaling processes for distributed teams. • Comfortable setting KPIs, creating accountability, and driving execution. • Experience managing offshore/nearshore/vendor models. • A natural culture builder who lifts performance while keeping people engaged. If this opportunity piques some interest to you, feel free to apply. I look forward to speaking with you! Thanks!