Lead Data Engineer (Python, AWS, Spark, Kafka, SQL, Snowflake, Databricks, GenAI)

Capital One; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 197,300 - 225,100; Full time

Job summary

Capital One is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to design and build scalable data pipelines and platforms in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. You will lead a team of engineers, work across Agile teams, and drive data quality, governance, and advanced analytics using Python, SQL, Spark, Kafka, and cloud services.

The role emphasizes building real-time and batch data workflows, mentoring engineers, and delivering robust cloud-based solutions that empower marketing and customer experiences

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 4+ years of application development experience (Internship experience does not apply).
• At least 2 years of experience in big data technologies.
• At least 1 year experience with cloud computing (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with and across Agile teams to design, develop, test, implement, and support technical solutions using data movement tools and technologies.
• As a lead developer, work with a team of developers who have deep experience in data movement, distributed computing, and full-stack systems.
• Utilize programming languages like Python, SQL, and Open Source RDBMS and NoSQL databases and cloud-based data warehousing services such as Snowflake and Databricks.
• Optimize information systems for end-users and downstream application consumers by using sound data design practices.
• Share your passion for staying on top of tech trends, experimenting with and learning new technologies, participating in internal & external technology communities, and mentoring other members of the engineering community.
• Collaborate with digital product managers, and deliver robust cloud-based solutions that drive powerful experiences to help millions of Americans achieve financial empowerment
• Perform unit tests and conduct reviews with other team members to make sure your code is rigorously designed, elegantly coded, and effectively tuned for performance

Skills

Python

SQL

Spark

Kafka

GenAI

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

AWS

Job description

Lead Data Engineer (Python, AWS, Spark, Kafka, SQL, Snowflake, Databricks, GenAI) Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative delivery environment? At Capital One, you'll be part of a big group of makers, breakers, doers and disruptors, who solve real problems and meet real customer needs. We are seeking Data Engineers who are passionate about data, data modeling, data quality, governance and permissible use, and building data pipelines with emerging technologies. As a Capital One Lead Data Engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to be on the forefront of driving a major transformation within Capital One. The Marketing and Messaging team is responsible for delivering hyper-personalized messages and experiences that will delight the customer, attract prospects and drive increasing business value. The team builds scalable platforms that deliver omnichannel messages in owned and paid Adtech channels.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with and across Agile teams to design, develop, test, implement, and support technical solutions using data movement tools and technologies
• As a lead developer, work with a team of developers who have deep experience in data movement, distributed computing, and full-stack systems
• Utilize programming languages like Python, SQL, and Open Source RDBMS and NoSQL databases and cloud-based data warehousing services such as Snowflake and Databricks
• Optimize information systems for end-users and downstream application consumers by using sound data design practices
• Share your passion for staying on top of tech trends, experimenting with and learning new technologies, participating in internal & external technology communities, and mentoring other members of the engineering community
• Collaborate with digital product managers, and deliver robust cloud-based solutions that drive powerful experiences to help millions of Americans achieve financial empowerment
• Perform unit tests and conduct reviews with other team members to make sure your code is rigorously designed, elegantly coded, and effectively tuned for performance

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 4 years of experience in application development (Internship experience does not apply)
• At least 2 years of experience in big data technologies
• At least 1 year experience with cloud computing (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree
• 7+ years of experience in application development including Python, SQL, Spark, ETL tools, or AWS Glue
• 4+ years of experience with a public cloud (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)
• 4+ years experience with Distributed data/computing tools (MapReduce, Hadoop, Hive, EMR, Kafka, Spark, or MySQL)
• 4+ year experience working on real-time data and streaming applications
• 4+ years of experience with NoSQL implementation (Mongo, Cassandra)
• 4+ years of data warehousing experience (Redshift or Snowflake)
• 4+ years of experience with UNIX/Linux including basic commands and shell scripting
• 4+ years of experience with data modeling for data warehousing
• 2+ years of experience with Agile engineering practices
• Experience leveraging interactive AI tooling (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate the software delivery

Salary

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

• McLean, VA: $197,300 - $225,100 for Lead Data Engineer
• New York, NY: $215,200 - $245,600 for Lead Data Engineer
• Richmond, VA: $179,400 - $204,700 for Lead Data Engineer

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level. This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace.

Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at [e-mail]. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

At Capital One, we’re building a leading information-based technology company. Still founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit.