Lead Data Engineer

First Citizens Bank; Austin (TX); Remote; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

First Citizens Bank is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to guide the design, development, and modernization of enterprise data platforms supporting analytics, BI, and operations. You will mentor engineers, collaborate with product partners, and drive engineering excellence using AWS, Snowflake, dbt, Python, and SQL.

Ideal candidates combine hands-on data engineering leadership with strong communication skills and a track record of delivering scalable data solutions in cloud-native environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years in data engineering or related fields.
• Or high school diploma/GED with 10+ years in data engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and implementation of data solutions using AWS, Snowflake, dbt, Python, SQL.
• Develop and support data warehouses, ODS, and ETL/ELT pipelines for analytics.
• Design batch and real-time data processing with streaming architectures.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable data solutions.
• Define data quality strategies, testing standards, and governance across the lifecycle.
• Establish enterprise testing, data validation, and dbt testing standards.
• Define monitoring and reliability standards with dashboards and SLAs.
• Plan deployment strategies and release governance for data platforms.
• Contribute to technical discussions, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Leverage AI-powered tools to accelerate delivery and improve code quality.

Skills

Cloud data platforms

Data engineering leadership

ETL/ELT development

Batch & real-time processing

Python

SQL

AWS

Snowflake

dbt

Apache Airflow

Data modeling

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

High School Diploma or GED + 10 years of experience

Tools

Snowflake

dbt

Python

SQL

Apache Airflow

Spark

AWS Services

Job description

Overview

This is a remote role that may only be hired in the following location(s): North Carolina, Arizona, Texas and Florida.

We are seeking an experienced Lead Data Engineer to join our Data Platform Engineering Organization and lead the design, development, and modernization of enterprise data platforms that power analytics, reporting, business intelligence, and operational decision-making across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on data engineering leader with expertise in cloud-based data platforms, data warehousing, ETL/ELT development, and modern data engineering practices. This individual will be responsible for delivering scalable data solutions utilizing AWS Services, Snowflake, dbt, Python, SQL, and related technologies while mentoring team members and driving engineering excellence.

As part of our growing Cloud Data and AI Platform organization, you will lead and collaborate with a talented team of engineers, product partners, and business stakeholders to deliver enterprise data products and cloud-based data solutions. This role offers the opportunity to mentor engineering talent, drive engineering best practices, and support the adoption of modern data engineering capabilities across the organization.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of enterprise data solutions utilizing AWS Services, Snowflake, dbt, Python, SQL, and related cloud technologies.


• Develop and support data warehouses, Operational Data Stores (ODS), and ETL/ELT pipelines that enable analytics, reporting, and operational data capabilities.


• Design and implement batch and real-time data processing solutions using modern streaming and event-driven architectures.


• Partner with business stakeholders, analysts, and technology teams to translate business requirements into scalable data solutions.


• Define and promote data quality strategies, testing standards, governance practices, and compliance controls across the data platform lifecycle.


• Establish enterprise testing practices, including data validation frameworks, dbt testing standards, and quality controls to support trusted data products.


• Define monitoring, observability, and operational reliability standards, including dashboards, alerts, service-level objectives (SLOs), and service-level agreements (SLAs) for enterprise data platforms.


• Establish deployment strategies, environment promotion standards, and release governance practices that support secure and reliable delivery across enterprise data platforms.


• Contribute to technical discussions, peer reviews, and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the data engineering team.


• Leverage AI-powered development and productivity tools to accelerate solution delivery, improve code quality, and enhance engineering productivity

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree and 6 years of experience in Data Engineering, Data Warehousing, Cloud Data Platforms, or related technology disciplines.

OR

High School Diploma or GED and 10 years of experience in the same areas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.


• Advanced experience with modern data warehousing and large-scale data processing technologies such as Snowflake, Spark, or equivalent platforms.


• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL.


• Advanced experience designing, developing, orchestrating, and supporting ETL/ELT pipelines and data integration solutions using tools such as dbt, Apache Airflow, Astronomer, or equivalent cloud-native data engineering technologies.


• Advanced experience with data modeling, data warehousing, and data engineering best practices.


• Experience designing, developing, and supporting scalable, reliable, and high-performing data engineering solutions in enterprise environments.


• Experience collaborating with business and technology stakeholders to deliver data-driven solutions.


• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Following qualifications are a plus

• Advanced experience with enterprise ETL/ELT tools such as DataStage, SAP BODS, SSIS, Informatica, or equivalent technologies.


• Experience developing and supporting Operational Data Stores (ODS), analytics platforms, and data products.


• Experience with Snowflake Cortex, Change Data Capture (CDC), streaming, and real-time data ingestion technologies including Kafka, Amazon Kinesis, Qlik Replicate, Snow pipe Streaming, or equivalent platforms.


• Experience integrating data across AWS, on-premises, and Snowflake environments, with exposure to enterprise security, governance, and compliance frameworks.


• Experience with Data Vault modeling and modern data warehousing methodologies.


• Experience leading technical initiatives, mentoring team members, and promoting engineering best practices.


• Experience within Financial Services, Banking, or other highly regulated industries.


• Familiarity with Tableau, Power BI, or other analytics and visualization platforms.


• Experience using AI-powered development and productivity tools to improve engineering efficiency and delivery outcomes.


• AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional, SnowPro Core Certification, SnowPro Advanced Data Engineer Certification, or equivalent cloud and data platform certifications.

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Additional Information

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.