Lead Data Engineer

Walker Sands • Chicago, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Walker Sands is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to join its DATA practice (Data, Analytics, Technology and AI) and lead technical work on the data infrastructure supporting client reporting, measurement, internal operations, and AI-driven work. This is a hands-on role that also involves strategic partnership with the SVP, DATA on the direction of the data stack, including decisions about what to build, buy, fix, or prioritize. The role initially focuses on working with the team and external partners to extend and strengthen the platform, with increasing technical ownership over time. As the practice scales, the Lead Data Engineer will build and lead a small data support team for tier 1 and tier 2 triage, and may expand the team to support additional functions.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience in data or analytics engineering, including experience in lean environments with independent ownership of significant work.
• Experience as a lead or senior technical owner on 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 just executing tickets.
• Clear communication with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to understand needs beyond the technical with empathy and a practical, possibility-oriented mindset.
• Ability to find, fix, document, and explain problems clearly.
• Ability to work through ambiguity and operate with limited direction.

Nice To Haves

• Agency or B2B marketing data experience.
• Experience with data governance and privacy, 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 operating within business data and privacy guardrails.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain tested, documented, and trusted data pipelines and dbt models in Snowflake.
• Integrate data from paid media, web analytics, SEO, CRM, and business systems using tools such as Fivetran or Airbyte and direct APIs.
• Find and resolve data breaks 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 use by AI agents, including semantic layers, consistent definitions, and metadata that explains 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, the roadmap, and build-versus-buy-versus-partner decisions.
• Translate business and client needs into durable data designs, and push back when requested solutions are not appropriate.
• Make data usable for analysts, reporting, and AI-driven tools through well-modeled and well-governed data layers.
• Build and lead a small data support team handling tier 1 and tier 2 triage, including creating playbooks and escalation paths.
• Build out 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, including vacation, mental health, and personal days.
• Eight paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Mental health resources.
• 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 household, including counseling and help navigating everyday challenges.
• Paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for 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 and volunteer opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed