Lead Data Engineer

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO); Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 164,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Open Leave Policy

Paid Family Leave

401(k): 7.5% Employer Contribution

Employee Assistance Program

Fertility and Family Forming

Healthcare Concierge

Flexible Spending Account(s)

Healthcare Savings Account

Disability and Life Insurance

Job summary

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) seeks a Lead Data Engineer to architect and implement scalable data pipelines for AI, analytics, and operations in a hybrid, 1–2 days onsite weekly model at our Alexandria, VA headquarters.

The role requires 9+ years building enterprise-grade data pipelines, 2+ years AI/ML production deployments, and deep Python/cloud experience. You will mentor engineers, establish standards, and drive cost-efficient, reliable data solutions across cloud platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 9+ years hands-on experience architecting, building, and maintaining enterprise-grade batch and streaming data pipelines in modern cloud environments.
• 2+ years hands-on experience building and deploying production-grade AI/ML solutions, including RAG architectures, vector databases, LLM integrations, and agentic workflows.
• Deep mastery of Python and modern data/software engineering practices.
• Proven expertise with cloud-native data architectures (GCP/BigQuery, AWS, or Azure), distributed computing, enterprise data modeling, and visualizing end-to-end integration flows.
• Direct experience establishing MLOps/LLMOps pipelines, containerization (Docker), real-time evaluation frameworks, and automated CI/CD deployments.
• Demonstrated ability to tune physical data models and compute workloads to increase system performance while controlling cloud OpEx.
• Proven ability to drive technical strategy, establish coding standards, and mentor engineering teams through direct code contribution.

Responsibilities

• Architect, deploy scalable data pipelines and products in a multi-cloud ecosystem to unify enterprise data assets for AI, analytics, and operations.
• Design and optimize batch and streaming data ingestion pipelines for structured and unstructured data.
• Ensure security, quality, reliability, explainability, and maintainability of solutions.
• Build and operationalize AI capabilities including RAG, semantic search, vector databases, and autonomous multi-agent workflows.
• Establish MLOps and LLMOps rigor with CI/CD, containerization, and observability frameworks.
• Write production-grade Python code and microservices that integrate data products into AI agents and business applications.
• Optimize platform cost and performance by refining data models, storage tiers, and compute workloads.
• Translate strategy into scalable technical solutions in collaboration with product leads and stakeholders.
• Lead through code and mentorship, set engineering standards, and perform rigorous code reviews.
• Ensure operational reliability and incident health with root-cause analysis and rapid remediation.

Skills

Python

Data pipelines

MLOps

Cloud architecture

Mentoring

Code reviews

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Docker

BigQuery

LLM integrations

Vector databases

CI/CD

Job description

Are you interested in making a world of difference in cancer care?

Cancer strikes more than 10 million people worldwide each year. As the leading medical society representing doctors who care for people with cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is committed to conquering cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality care.

Who we are:

ASCO is a flexible, high-performance membership organization where employees collaborate to support our mission through evidence, care, and impact. Together with Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, we foster a culture that prioritizes customer-centricity, emphasizes teamwork, and commits to quality. Our culture, ASCO Works – Our Way of Working, has long enabled workplace flexibility and embraced technology to help us achieve balance. To learn what it’s like to work at ASCO, click here.

Total Rewards:

At ASCO, we offer a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. Our compensation philosophy and structure ensure that pay remains market-based, tied to performance, and aligned with our core values. The hiring salary range displayed accounts for a broad spectrum of factors, and the final offer will depend on an evaluation of the selected candidate's experience, training, and specialized skill sets.

In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for our robust total rewards package, which includes health, vision, and dental insurance, a 401(k) with generous contribution, health and wellness benefits, family forming benefits, education support program, generous leave, and much more!

Who we are looking for:

ASCO is in search of a high-performing Lead Data Engineer to play a vital role as a hands-on architect and engineer turning complex data into strategic business value. This role is responsible for actively writing code, building scalable data pipelines, pioneering responsible AI practices, and deploying production-grade solutions for AI/ML, BI, and operations. The position will solve data engineering challenges, elevate technical standards, and lead through code.

This position is hybrid with a primary location at our headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The hire must reside within 75 miles of our headquarters. We anticipate the hire to be onsite approximately 1-2 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Architect & Deploy Scalable Data Pipelines/Products: Design, build, and optimize production-grade batch and streaming data pipelines in a multi-cloud (GCP, AWS, Azure) ecosystem to unify enterprise data assets into a high-performance AI, analytics, and operational foundation.
• Simple to Complex Data Pipelines: Design, build, and optimize scalable batch and streaming data ingestion pipelines for both structured and unstructured data.
• Trusted Context Foundation: Ensure all developed solutions meet high standards for security, quality, reliability, explainability, and maintainability.
• Engineer Agentic AI & RAG Workflows: Build and operationalize modern AI capabilities—including RAG, semantic search, vector databases, and autonomous multi-agent workflows, grounded in clean enterprise context.
• Establish MLOps & LLMOps Rigor: Build CI/CD, containerization, and observability frameworks to streamline LLM service integrations for fast, reliable, and cost-effective application delivery.
• Write Production-Grade Code & APIs: Deliver clean, maintainable Python code and microservices that integrate data products directly into AI agents, business applications, and operational workflows.
• Optimize Platform Cost & Performance: Continually refine database designs, storage tiers, and compute workloads to maximize query speed while actively optimizing cloud operating costs (OpEx).
• Translate Strategy into Execution: Partner with product leads and business stakeholders to translate mission goals into scalable technical solutions that accelerate the digital roadmap.
• Lead Through Code & Technical Mentorship: Set engineering standards, drive rigorous code reviews, and elevate team capability by actively building alongside junior and mid-level data engineers.
• Ensure Operational Reliability & Incident Health: Perform root-cause analysis and rapid remediation for complex data platform incidents to maintain continuous system availability and data integrity.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 9+ years of hands-on experience architecting, building, and maintaining enterprise-grade batch and streaming data pipelines in modern cloud environments.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying production-grade AI/ML solutions, including RAG architectures, vector databases, LLM integrations, and agentic workflows.
• Deep mastery of Python and modern data/software engineering practices.
• Proven expertise with cloud-native data architectures (GCP/BigQuery, AWS, or Azure), distributed computing, enterprise data modeling, and visualizing end-to-end integration flows.
• Direct experience establishing MLOps/LLMOps pipelines, containerization (Docker), real-time evaluation frameworks, and automated CI/CD deployments.
• Demonstrated ability to tune physical data models and compute workloads to increase system performance while controlling cloud operating costs (OpEx).
• Proven ability to drive technical strategy, establish coding standards, and mentor engineering teams through direct, active code contribution.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Hands-on exposure to specialized AI orchestration tooling (e.g., Google Vertex AI Agent Builder).
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence.
• Ability to design, build, and evolve multi-cloud data architectures that balance high performance with operational cost efficiency (OpEx optimization), ensuring data platforms scale seamlessly with enterprise growth.
• Hands-on expertise in moving modern AI concepts (agentic workflows, RAG, and LLM integrations) from experimental concepts into reliable, secure, high-availability operational environments.
• A "lead from the code" mindset that elevates team capability, enforces modern data engineering practices, and establishes high standards for code quality, documentation, and maintainability.
• Strategic ability to connect complex data architectures directly to measurable enterprise value, translating business objectives into high value technical initiatives.
• Deep commitment to building a system of interconnected data sources with built-in observability and improvement mechanisms by embedding data quality, automated governance, security, and real-time observability across all pipeline workflows.
• Strong collaborative approach that bridges the gap between raw data infrastructure, product leads, software engineers, and business stakeholders to accelerate the digital product roadmap.

ADA/Physical Requirements

Extended periods seated or standing at a desk.

High use of computer and other office technology equipment.

Travel

1-5 days/yr

Compensation

This is an exempt position. The hiring salary range for this position is $164,000-$200,000 annualized.

The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum annualized salary ASCO expects to provide for a new hire for the position across the U.S. We thoughtfully determine and design offers based on the selected candidate’s relevant experience and qualifications.

• Open Leave Policy
• Paid Family Leave
• 401(k): 7.5% Employer Contribution
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fertility and Family Forming
• Healthcare Concierge
• Flexible Spending Account(s)
• Healthcare Savings Account
• Disability and Life Insurance

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The job posting will remain active throughout the candidate application evaluation process.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.