Lead Data Engineer

Walker Sands•Boston, MA

2d•$155,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Walker Sands is seeking a Lead Data Engineer for its DATA (Data, Analytics, Technology and AI) practice. The role leads key technical parts of the data stack supporting client reporting, measurement, internal operations, and AI-driven work. It combines hands-on engineering with strategic partnership, including shaping the platform roadmap and advising on what to build, buy, fix, or prioritize. The position reports to the SVP, DATA and requires comfort with ambiguity and minimal direction. Initially, the Lead Data Engineer will work alongside the team and external partners to strengthen and extend the platform. Over time, the role will assume greater technical ownership and help shape the platform's future. As the practice scales, the Lead Data Engineer will build and lead a small data support team for tier 1 and tier 2 triage, with the possibility of expanding the team to support additional business functions.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in data or analytics engineering, including experience in lean environments with substantial ownership and limited direction.
Experience as the lead or senior technical owner of a production data platform.
Deep, hands-on experience with Snowflake.
Strong dbt skills, advanced SQL, and working knowledge of Python.
Experience integrating SaaS and marketing APIs, including ad platforms, GA4, Salesforce, and HubSpot, through ELT tools and custom pipelines.
A track record of shaping technical direction, not only executing tickets.
Clear communication with technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to find, fix, document, and explain problems in a straightforward way.
Ability to understand needs beyond the technical, communicate with empathy, and explain what is possible.

Nice To Haves

Agency or B2B marketing data background.
Data governance and privacy experience, including role-based access, masking, and consent data.
Experience making data usable for AI- and LLM-driven tools.
Experience leading or mentoring others.
Comfort using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini while working within business data and privacy guardrails.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain tested, documented, and trusted pipelines and dbt models in Snowflake.
Integrate data from paid media, web analytics, SEO, CRM, and business systems using ELT tools such as Fivetran or Airbyte and direct APIs.
Identify and fix data issues at their root before they affect account teams or clients.
Maintain data governance, including access controls, privacy, and consent requirements.
Structure and document data for reliable AI-agent use, including semantic layers, consistent definitions, and metadata explaining tables and metrics.
Build governed access patterns for agentic tools that are scoped, read-only, permission-aware, and traceable to source data.
Partner with the SVP, DATA on architecture, roadmap, and build-versus-buy-versus-partner decisions.
Translate business and client needs into robust data designs and push back when requests are not viable.
Make data usable for analysts, reporting, and AI-driven tools through well-modeled and well-governed layers.
Build and lead a small data support team responsible for tier 1 and tier 2 triage, including its playbooks and escalation paths.
Expand the team as needed to improve accuracy, performance, and data tools for the business.

Benefits

Bonus eligibility based on company performance.
Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events.
Flexible PTO, 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
Hybrid work.
Medical, dental, and vision plans, mental health resources, and pet insurance.
Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
Life insurance and disability coverage.
Employee Assistance Program with confidential support for employees and their households.
Paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies supporting fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, and adoption challenges.
Regular performance reviews, clear goal-setting, and ongoing coaching.
A two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift after five years.
Employee resource groups, volunteer opportunities, and programs designed to build connection across the agency.