Director, Data Modernization

Qualified Health PBC; United States; Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Qualified Health PBC is looking for a Director of Data Modernization to lead data architecture and engineering efforts across health systems. This role focuses on transforming legacy data environments into modern data platforms.

The ideal candidate should possess strong technical leadership skills, experience in data engineering, and deep knowledge of Azure Databricks among other tools. Commitment to diversity is a key aspect of our company culture.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in data engineering or data platform roles!
• Experience with data sharing protocols like Delta Share.
• Familiar with EHR data sources and clinical data models.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical architecture for modernization engagements.
• Lead and develop a team of data engineers and cloud/infrastructure engineers.
• Set engineering quality standards and drive architectural decisions.

Skills

Technical leadership

Deep Azure expertise

Data platform design

Client-facing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Azure Databricks

Terraform/Bicep

GitHub Actions

Python

Job description

Job Summary:

The Director of Data Modernization is the technical architect and engineering leader across all of Qualified Health's data modernization engagements. You'll walk into a health system's data environment — which might be anything from a well-maintained EHR reporting database to a tangle of flat files and manual SFTP processes — and design the modern cloud data platform that will replace it.

This is the highest-leverage work on the team. Every health system you modernize from legacy connectivity to a modern data sharing pattern reduces their ongoing integration effort dramatically. You're not just building infrastructure — you're removing the single biggest bottleneck to AI deployment across our entire partner base.

You'll own the technical architecture playbook, make design decisions across concurrent engagements, lead a team of data engineers and cloud/infrastructure engineers, review all engineering output, and personally drive the most complex builds. The Engagement Manager handles the partner relationship and project management — you handle the engineering. Together, you run the engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the technical architecture for modernization engagements: Azure Databricks design, data landing zones, networking, security controls
• Lead and develop a team of data engineers and cloud/infrastructure engineers
• Lead technical discovery and source data assessments for new engagements
• Review and approve all engineering deliverables across concurrent engagements
• Personally drive architecture and build for the most complex engagements
• Set engineering quality standards and drive architectural decisions across the modernization practice
• Maintain and evolve the technical engagement playbook
• Ensure environments meet handoff criteria for the Client Integration team
• Collaborate with Data Mapping Analysts on source data assessment and validation
• This role requires travel to healthcare client sites for engagement kickoffs, technical discovery sessions, and key milestones. Candidates should be prepared for 15-25% travel, depending on active engagements.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred.
• Required Experience:
  • 6+ years in data engineering or data platform roles, with demonstrated technical leadership
  • Deep Azure expertise: Databricks, ADLS2, Azure networking, managed identities, Terraform/Bicep
  • Experience with data platform design and deployment (greenfield builds)
  • Client-facing experience — comfortable leading technical conversations with health system IT teams

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with EHR data sources and clinical data models (Epic Clarity/Caboodle preferred)
• Experience with data sharing protocols (Delta Share, Fabric External Sharing, or similar)
• Background in consulting, professional services, or data platform implementation
• Experience designing data architectures for HIPAA-regulated environments
• Track record of managing technical quality across concurrent engagements

• Architectural Judgment: You can walk into an unfamiliar data environment, assess what exists, identify what's missing, and design a target state architecture that is both technically sound and achievable within a time-boxed engagement
• Hands-On Leadership: You lead by example — reviewing code, pairing with engineers on tough problems, and shipping your own work alongside the team
• Pragmatism: You know the difference between "architecturally ideal" and "what we can actually deliver in the engagement window" — and you optimize for the latter without creating technical debt
• Client Presence: You're comfortable in a room with a health system CIO or VP of IT, explaining technical decisions in business terms

Documentation:

You maintain engagement playbooks and architecture patterns so the next engagement benefits from what you learned in the last one.

Technical Environment:

• Azure Databricks + Data Factory (plus Fabric and Snowflake integrations)
• PySpark for distributed data processing
• GitHub Actions + Terraform for CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code
• Python with type-safe patterns and modern frameworks
• Healthcare data formats including FHIR, Epic Clarity, and other EHR schemas

Pay & Benefits: The pay range for this role is between $165,000 and $200,000, and will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. This role is also eligible for equity and benefits.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Qualified Health is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential to our success, and we are committed to building a team that reflects the world we live in. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status.