Data & AI Technical Lead

Vaco by Highspring; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Part time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is hiring a Data & AI Technical Lead in Nashville. The role blends hands-on development with solution architecture and leadership to drive modern data and analytics initiatives.

Responsibilities include designing scalable data platforms, establishing standards, and coaching engineers and data scientists, with a focus on governance, security, and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in Data Engineering, Data Science, Analytics Engineering, ML/AI, or related fields.
• Hands-on Snowflake experience including data modeling, schema design, roles & access control, warehouse management, data governance.
• Advanced Python development experience.
• Strong SQL development and optimization skills.
• Experience building enterprise data, analytics, ML/AI solutions.
• Experience designing scalable data pipelines and data platforms.
• Strong understanding of Git, code reviews, testing, and deployment practices.
• Experience with data governance, security, and enterprise best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of data, analytics, ML, and AI solutions
• Architect scalable and maintainable Snowflake environments
• Develop and support Python applications, data pipelines, and automation solutions
• Write, optimize, and review complex SQL code
• Evaluate business requirements and propose technical approaches
• Build reusable frameworks, templates, and solution patterns
• Establish coding standards and review technical deliverables
• Mentor engineers, analysts, and data scientists
• Drive best practices around data governance, security, and access management
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Help prioritize technical initiatives and identify delivery risks
• Support team growth through coaching and knowledge sharing

Skills

Snowflake

Python

SQL

Data Modeling

Data Governance

Leadership

Mentoring

Git workflows

Cloud platforms

Job description

Data & AI Technical Lead

Location: Nashville, TN (Hybrid)

Type: Contract-to-Hire

Compensation: $85/hour during contract period

Conversion Salary: $155,000 plus bonus eligibility

Schedule: 35-hour work week

About the Role

We're seeking a Data & AI Technical Lead to provide technical leadership across data, analytics, machine learning, and AI initiatives. This role combines hands-on development, solution architecture, technical governance, code review, mentoring, and team leadership.

The position will play a key role in designing scalable data solutions, establishing technical standards, and helping drive the growth of a modern data and analytics organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of data, analytics, machine learning, and AI solutions
• Architect scalable and maintainable Snowflake environments
• Develop and support Python applications, data pipelines, and automation solutions
• Write, optimize, and review complex SQL code
• Evaluate business requirements and recommend technical approaches
• Build reusable frameworks, templates, and solution patterns
• Establish coding standards and review technical deliverables
• Mentor engineers, analysts, and data scientists
• Drive best practices around data governance, security, and access management
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Help prioritize technical initiatives and identify delivery risks
• Support team growth through coaching and knowledge sharing

Required Experience

• 7+ years of experience in Data Engineering, Data Science, Analytics Engineering, Machine Learning, AI, or related fields
• Strong hands-on Snowflake experience, including:
  • Data Modeling
  • Schema Design
  • Roles & Access Control
  • Warehouse Management
  • Data Governance
• Advanced Python development experience
• Strong SQL development and optimization skills
• Experience developing enterprise data, analytics, machine learning, or AI solutions
• Experience building scalable data pipelines and data platforms
• Strong understanding of Git, code reviews, testing, and deployment practices
• Experience with data governance, security, and enterprise best practices

Leadership Experience

• 2+ years of technical leadership, management, team lead, or supervisory experience
• Experience mentoring technical teams and conducting code reviews
• Ability to establish technical standards and best practices
• Strong communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience leading multiple projects and balancing competing priorities

Preferred Experience

• Generative AI, LLMs, and AI Agents
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Streamlit
• Sigma Analytics
• ETL and data integration tools
• Cloud-based data platforms
• Data architecture and framework development
• Global or distributed team environments

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (\"we,\" \"our,\" or \"Vaco by Highspring\") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

· licensure and certification requirements;

· office location and other geographic considerations; and

· other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).