Lead Data Engineer – Snowflake

Grey Parrot Systems LLC; Naperville (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Grey Parrot Systems is hiring a Lead Data Engineer to own data platform architecture, set engineering standards, and lead a team building production-grade data pipelines for enterprise client engagements.

Based in Naperville, IL, the firm delivers AI-first, governance-driven digital transformation — and we’re growing. The role requires 8+ years of data engineering experience and deep Snowflake/dbt proficiency to deliver scalable data solutions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of data engineering experience with proven technical leadership or lead engineer experience.
• Expert-level Snowflake — architecture, schema design, query optimization, cost governance, and access controls
• Expert-level dbt — modeling, transformations, testing, documentation, incremental models, and deployment governance
• Strong Dagster — asset-based pipelines, scheduling, sensors, and alerting
• Strong Python — production-grade ETL/ELT automation and pipeline development
• Expert-level SQL — complex queries, window functions, CTEs, and performance optimization
• Deep data modeling — Medallion Architecture, star schema, and dimensional modeling
• Experience defining data engineering standards — coding practices, naming conventions, and documentation
• Ability to mentor and guide junior and mid-level data engineers
• Must be local to Naperville, IL — on-site / hybrid availability required

Responsibilities

• Own data engineering architecture and delivery — setting technical direction and governing standards
• Design and build production‑grade ELT pipelines — Python, Dagster, dbt, and Snowflake
• Govern dbt data models across Bronze / Silver / Gold layers — transformations, tests, and documentation
• Architect and optimize Snowflake environments — schema design, clustering, materialized views, and cost governance
• Define and enforce data engineering standards across the team
• Lead data platform observability — monitoring, alerting, lineage, incident resolution
• Mentor junior and mid-level data engineers — raising the technical bar
• Use Claude and AI tools to accelerate SQL generation, dbt modeling, and pipeline documentation

Skills

Data engineering leadership

Snowflake

dbt

Dagster

Python

SQL

Data modeling

Data governance

Mentoring

Tools

dbt Cloud

Airflow

DuckDB

MotherDuck

Job description

Grey Parrot Systems is hiring a Lead Data Engineer to own data platform architecture, set engineering standards, and lead a team building production-grade data pipelines for enterprise client engagements.

About Grey Parrot Systems

Grey Parrot Systems is a women-owned, BEP-certified IT services firm headquartered in Naperville, IL. We deliver AI-first, governance-driven digital transformation — and we're growing.

Must-Have Skills

• 8+ years of data engineering experience — proven technical leadership or lead engineer experience
• Expert-level Snowflake — architecture, schema design, query optimization, cost governance, and access controls
• Expert-level dbt — modeling, transformations, testing, documentation, incremental models, and deployment governance
• Strong Dagster — asset-based pipelines, scheduling, sensors, and alerting
• Strong Python — production-grade ETL/ELT automation and pipeline development
• Expert-level SQL — complex queries, window functions, CTEs, and performance optimization
• Deep data modeling — Medallion Architecture, star schema, and dimensional modeling
• Experience defining data engineering standards — coding practices, naming conventions, and documentation
• Ability to mentor and guide junior and mid-level data engineers
• Must be local to Naperville, IL — on-site / hybrid availability required

What You'll Do

• Own data engineering architecture and delivery — setting technical direction and governing standards
• Design and build production‑grade ELT pipelines — Python, Dagster, dbt, and Snowflake
• Govern dbt data models across Bronze / Silver / Gold layers — transformations, tests, and documentation
• Architect and optimize Snowflake environments — schema design, clustering, materialized views, and cost governance
• Define and enforce data engineering standards across the team
• Lead data platform observability — monitoring, alerting, lineage, incident resolution
• Mentor junior and mid-level data engineers — raising the technical bar
• Use Claude and AI tools to accelerate SQL generation, dbt modeling, and pipeline documentation

Nice to Have

• dbt Cloud, Airflow, or MotherDuck / DuckDB experience
• Snowflake SnowPro or dbt certification
• AI-powered data engineering and LLM-integrated pipeline experience

What Sets You Apart

• You built the modern data stack — not just contributed to someone else's
• You set the dbt standards your team follows and enforce them in code review
• You mentor engineers who become better because of working with you
• You use Claude daily to accelerate data engineering work — and teach others to do the same

Details

• Location: Naperville, IL — Local candidates only
• On-Site / Hybrid required
• Experience: 8+ years
• Type: Full-Time
• Start: Immediate