Manager Data Engineering

Socket.dev; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Generous leave

Wellness program

Job summary

Publicis Sapient in Arlington, VA seeks a Manager-Level Data Architect to lead a team of data engineers and to drive the evolution of a modern data platform. You will blend hands-on SQL Server DBA expertise with data engineering best practices while migrating to cloud-managed services.

The role emphasizes leadership of 3–5 engineers, collaboration with PMs, and governance across data pipelines, with a focus on DataOps, CI/CD, and security in a fast-paced enterprise environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data architecture, database administration, or data engineering roles.
• Strong hands-on experience as a SQL Server DBA (current or prior role), including performance tuning, HA/DR, and operational support.
• Proven experience leading small engineering teams (5–7 members).
• Experience designing and managing self-hosted database environments (IaaS).
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing database migrations to PaaS/cloud-managed services.
• Strong understanding of DataOps practices, including monitoring, reliability, and performance management.
• Experience building and maintaining data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes (SSIS, Glue, Python).
• Experience with CI/CD tools for data platforms (Liquibase, Python-based automation).
• Familiarity with BI tools such as SSRS and Tableau.
• Strong collaboration skills with PM/Prod Management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of 3–5 data engineers across platform and integration tracks.
• Collaborate with Program Managers to plan, prioritize, and execute data initiatives.
• Drive accountability for project delivery, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical guidance and architectural oversight across all data-related workstreams.
• Oversee setup, configuration, and maintenance of data platforms and environments.
• Lead database administration activities including performance tuning, high availability, backup/recovery, and upgrades.
• Define and implement access control, governance, and security best practices.
• Drive DataOps practices including monitoring, reliability, and performance optimization.
• Implement and manage CI/CD pipelines for database and platform deployments (Python, Liquibase).
• Lead security remediation efforts and compliance initiatives.
• Oversee design and development of scalable data pipelines and integration workflows.
• Guide implementation of ETL/ELT processes using SSIS, AWS Glue, and Python.
• Support development and optimization of data marts and analytical data models.
• Ensure strong DataOps practices including data quality, observability, and freshness monitoring.
• Lead and support data migration efforts, particularly SQL Server to PaaS transitions.
• Optimize performance and scalability of data pipelines and integration processes.
• Plan and execute migration strategies from SQL Server (IaaS) to managed PaaS database services.
• Evaluate target architectures and recommend cloud-native solutions.

Skills

SQL Server DBA

Data Architecture

DataOps

CI/CD for data

ETL/ELT (SSIS/Glue)

Python

Tableau/SSRS

Cloud migration

Leadership

Tools

Liquibase

Terraform

CloudFormation

AWS Glue

Python automation

Job description

Company Description

Publicis Sapient is a digital transformation partner helping established organizations get to their future, digitally enabled state, both in the way they work and the way they serve their customers. We help unlock value through a start-up mindset and modern methods, fusing strategy, consulting, and customer experience with agile engineering and problem-solving creativity. United by our core values and our purpose of helping people thrive in the brave pursuit of next, our 20,000+ people in 53 offices around the world combine experience across technology, data sciences, consulting, and customer obsession to accelerate our clients’ businesses through designing the products and services their customers truly value.

Overview

Manager Data Engineering

We are seeking a Manager-Level Data Architect to lead and support a team of data engineers while driving the evolution of our enterprise data platform. This role combines deep technical expertise in SQL Server database administration with modern data engineering practices, and plays a key role in our transition from self-managed IaaS-based database platforms to fully managed PaaS solutions.

The ideal candidate brings strong hands-on DBA experience, proven leadership of small engineering teams, and a track record of planning and executing database migrations to cloud-managed services. This individual will partner closely with Program Management (PM) to ensure effective planning, execution, and delivery of data platform initiatives.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Delivery

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of 3–5 data engineers across platform and integration tracks
• Collaborate with Program Managers to plan, prioritize, and execute data initiatives
• Drive accountability for project delivery, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
• Provide technical guidance and architectural oversight across all data-related workstreams

Data Platform Engineering

• Oversee setup, configuration, and maintenance of data platforms and environments
• SQL Server clusters (IaaS, self-managed)
• Aurora PostgreSQL and other cloud-native databases
• BI platforms (SSRS, Tableau, PowerBI)
• Lead database administration activities including performance tuning, high availability, backup/recovery, and upgrades
• Define and implement access control, governance, and security best practices
• Drive DataOps practices including monitoring, reliability, and performance optimization
• Implement and manage CI/CD pipelines for database and platform deployments (Python, Liquibase)
• Lead security remediation efforts and compliance initiatives

Data Integration Engineering

• Oversee design and development of scalable data pipelines and integration workflows
• Guide implementation of ETL/ELT processes using SSIS, AWS Glue, and Python
• Support development and optimization of data marts and analytical data models
• Ensure strong DataOps practices including data quality, observability, and freshness monitoring
• Lead and support data migration efforts, particularly SQL Server to PaaS transitions
• Optimize performance and scalability of data pipelines and integration processes

Cloud Migration & Modernization

• Plan and execute migration strategies from SQL Server (IaaS) to managed PaaS database services
• Evaluate target architectures and recommend best-fit cloud-native solutions
• Ensure minimal disruption and high data integrity during migration processes

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in data architecture, database administration, or data engineering roles
• Strong hands-on experience as a SQL Server DBA (current or prior role), including performance tuning, HA/DR, and operational support
• Proven experience leading small engineering teams (5–7 members)
• Experience designing and managing self-hosted database environments (IaaS)
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing database migrations to PaaS/cloud-managed services
• Strong understanding of DataOps practices, including monitoring, reliability, and performance management
• Experience building and maintaining data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes (SSIS, Glue, Python)
• Experience with CI/CD tools and practices for data platforms (e.g., Liquibase, Python-based automation)
• Familiarity with BI tools such as SSRS and Tableau
• Strong collaboration skills and experience working closely with Program/Product Management
• Solid understanding of data security, governance, and access control

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AWS data services (e.g., Aurora PostgreSQL, Glue, S3, RDS) or equivalent cloud platforms
• Experience with PostgreSQL or other open-source databases
• Familiarity with stream processing technologies (e.g., Apache Flink)
• Knowledge of infrastructure-as-code and automation tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Experience implementing enterprise-grade data observability and data quality frameworks
• Background in supporting large-scale, highly available production data systems
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders

Additional Information

• An inclusive workplace that promotes diversity and collaboration.
• Access to ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Flexibility to support work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health benefits for you and your family.
• Generous paid leave and holidays.
• Wellness program and employee assistance.

Pay Range: $140,000-$190,000

The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Publicis Sapient. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work.

As part of our dedication to an inclusive and diverse workforce, Publicis Sapient is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail]