Director, Data Engineering and Platform

CarMax • Richmond, TX

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Data Engineering and Platform leads the teams and strategy responsible for the data foundation, frameworks, standards, and platforms that enable data and analytics engineering to scale and adapt to business priorities. The role leads product managers, solution architects, managers, data engineers, and database administrators in delivering data engineering solutions (EDL/EDW), enterprise database systems, cloud platforms, DevOps, CI/CD, QA automation, and ML Ops solutions for business operations, sales strategy, logistics, and other business lines. The position supports scalable, reliable, and real-time data to improve customer and associate experiences.

The Director develops strategic plans, stakeholder partnerships, and roadmaps; drives engineering excellence; and grows and motivates associates. The role leads large teams of employees and contractors, scales cloud solutions, and oversees 24x7 data and analytics operations. It also includes creating stakeholder and leadership documentation and presentations, leading data training, facilitating data-sharing agreements with third-party vendors, and managing consulting partners. The position calls for accountability, leadership development, analytical and financial skills, clear communication, and the ability to influence cross-functional partners and advise senior management on complex business issues.

The role is based at the CarMax Midtown office in Richmond, Virginia, or CarMax Technology Hub in Plano, Texas, with a hybrid arrangement. Richmond associates work onsite four days per week; Plano associates work onsite two days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, management information systems, or a related discipline.
• 10 or more years of experience in Technology leadership.
• 7 or more years managing direct reports while architecting, building, and deploying data engineering solutions and platforms.
• Extensive experience with data and analytics technologies, ETL, big data processing, reporting, database scaling and performance optimization, and CI/CD solutions or methodology.
• 3 or more years of experience in cloud computing, migrating and building new data solutions using cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Snowflake, or Databricks.
• 5 or more years of experience with Agile/Scrum ways of working and delivering high-quality end solutions to stakeholders.
• Experience leading large teams of employees and contractors and running 24x7 data and analytics operations.
• Currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; sponsorship is not available for this role.

Responsibilities

• Set direction and identify team goals that support enterprise objectives, using broad knowledge, experience, and critical thinking.
• Prioritize objectives and develop holistic cross-functional recommendations that address ROI, implementation plans, scalability, and alternatives.
• Direct cross-functional partnerships across Technology to deliver data engineering, DevOps, ML Ops, database services, and automated QA solutions.
• Deliver commitments and use team talent efficiently.
• Ensure 24x7 operations and meet SLAs for data, analytics, and reporting workloads.
• Manage cloud and Azure spending for database, data, and analytics workloads, and continuously optimize costs through automation, monitoring, process improvements, and communication.
• Develop a vision with business stakeholders, peer groups, and Technology leadership, and influence partners across the organization.
• Ensure timely communication about critical outages to impacted teams.
• Present and communicate the team vision and strategic direction to leadership and other stakeholders.
• Partner with third-party vendors to facilitate data-sharing agreements and manage consulting partners.
• Assess talent needs and create development and selection plans for future requirements.
• Attract, recruit, and retain skilled and engaged associates.
• Promote development and continuous learning, empower teams to surface solutions and execute independently, and support succession planning and leadership development.
• Mentor others and contribute to development outside the data organization.
• Maintain current knowledge of cloud data solutions, data engineering, database performance, data and analytics platforms, DevOps, and ML Ops.
• Formulate technology strategy for the EDL/EDW and data and analytics platform based on current needs, CarMax technology direction, and the technology roadmap.
• Direct the definition, direction, and maintenance of data platforms, databases, and solutions to meet business insight and analyst needs.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend software products, productivity tools, and external services.
• Direct development of standards, procedures, and processes for data engineering, cloud automation, Data DevOps, ML Ops, and QA.
• Ensure the program and strategy are implemented and technical and operational teams meet requirements.
• Perform other duties as needed to meet business needs and support company values.

Benefits

• Paid sick time for eligible full-time hourly or commission/incentive-eligible associates: up to 48 hours per year, accrued each pay period.
• Vacation time for eligible full-time hourly or commission/incentive-eligible associates: 80 to 200 hours per year after a 90-day waiting period, based on years of continuous service.
• Six paid scheduled holidays per year and one floating holiday for eligible full-time hourly or commission/incentive-eligible associates.
• Holiday Premium Pay for eligible associates who work on a scheduled holiday due to business need.
• Full-time salaried associates receive paid time away, without a specified limit, as needed for sick time, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays, and floating holidays, subject to manager approval.
• May be eligible for bonus and equity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director