Director, Data Engineering - Databricks

Risepoint

About The Position

Risepoint is an education technology company that provides world-class support and trusted expertise to more than 100 universities and colleges, focusing on developing and growing high-ROI, workforce-focused online degree programs. The company is dedicated to increasing access to affordable education for working adults. As Director Data Engineering, you will be responsible for the execution, delivery, and technical implementation of Risepoint's modern data platform on Databricks. This role requires a hands-on technical leader who can guide architecture, validate design decisions, and address complex engineering challenges. You will work closely with leadership to ensure data pipelines, models, and frameworks are built for performance, reliability, and extensibility, bridging architecture and delivery to enable high-quality data products that power advanced analytics and AI at scale.

Requirements

8–12 years of experience in data engineering, architecture, or software engineering, with strong hands-on expertise in Databricks, Apache Spark, and modern lakehouse architectures, as well as experience building scalable data pipelines in cloud environments (AWS and/or Azure)
3–5 years of experience leading data engineering teams and delivering complex, cross-functional data initiatives, with a proven ability to translate strategy into execution, manage priorities, and drive high-quality outcomes
Strong foundation in data modeling (including dimensional modeling and semantic layers), along with experience in modern data practices such as CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and AI/ML data enablement
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

Nice To Haves

Experience leading teams through periods of change or transformation, including evolving business processes and leveraging modern technologies (such as AI-enabled tools) to improve efficiency, scalability, and business outcomes
Familiarity with advanced Databricks capabilities and modern data ecosystem tools (e.g., Unity Catalog, Delta Live Tables, dbt, streaming technologies, or MLOps frameworks)
Experience working closely with business stakeholders to define and deliver data products, particularly in environments that support analytics, reporting, or AI-driven decision-making

Responsibilities

Lead, monitor and improve the end-to-end delivery of scalable data products and platform capabilities that enable high-quality insights, supporting Risepoint’s mission to expand access to affordable, workforce-relevant education
Translate data platform priorities into actionable roadmaps, technical designs, and execution plans that drive measurable business value for university partners and learners
Oversee the development of robust, efficient, and reliable data pipelines and lakehouse solutions on Databricks, ensuring performance, scalability, and cost optimization
Guide and enforce enterprise data architecture standards, including data modeling, semantic layers, and reusable design patterns that support analytics, reporting, and AI/ML use cases
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of data engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation aligned to Risepoint’s values
Provide hands-on technical leadership by reviewing designs, validating approaches, and supporting the team through complex engineering challenges
Partner cross-functionally with product, analytics, and business teams to define, prioritize, and deliver data solutions that improve decision-making and enhance the student and partner experience
Drive adoption of modern data engineering practices, including AI-assisted development, CI/CD, and infrastructure as code, to increase delivery speed and quality
Enable AI and advanced analytics by ensuring data is well-structured, accessible, and model-ready, supporting initiatives that improve outcomes for students and institutions
Manage multiple concurrent initiatives, balancing priorities, timelines, and resources while proactively communicating progress, risks, and dependencies to stakeholders