Lead Data Engineer

Kinsale Management • Richmond, VA

2d

About The Position

Kinsale is seeking a Lead Data Engineer who is passionate about building scalable, future-focused data solutions. As we continue our modernization and cloud journey, this role will not only design and implement technical solutions but also recommend strategic direction for how our data platforms evolve to meet long-term business goals. The Lead Data Engineer will partner closely with the Enterprise and Application Architects, Data Architects, Data Director, and business leaders to define enterprise-wide data engineering standards, ensure process consistency, and influence technology adoption.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Proven expertise designing and leading cloud-native data platforms at scale (AWS preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to set strategic direction for data platforms, balancing innovation, governance, and cost efficiency.
• Advanced SQL and deep knowledge of relational (Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL) and non-relational databases (DynamoDB, MongoDB).
• Strong proficiency in programming/scripting (Python, SQL, Java, etc.) and automation frameworks.
• Expertise in data security, privacy, and governance.
• Hands-on experience with Agile practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills with a track record of influencing cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, drive strategic initiatives, and mentor team members.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading distributed data systems (Kafka, Spark, or similar) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Architecture & Strategy Lead the design and evolution of cloud-native database and data access architectures to support both transactional and analytical workloads.
• Recommend the strategic direction for Kinsale’s data access layer, ensuring scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency.
• Evaluate and drive adoption of data technologies to maintain competitive advantage.
• Data Engineering Leadership Serve as the primary technical leader for databases and data integration services.
• Establish and enforce best practices for data engineering, including standards for CI/CD, data security, resilience, and disaster recovery as well as working with Enterprise Architecture to develop and ensure the data team meets enterprise standards.
• Lead cross-functional projects to integrate new data sources and expand data capabilities across underwriting, actuarial, and analytics teams.
• Provide oversight and mentoring to data engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing.
• Operational Excellence Direct the development, testing, and maintenance of scalable database and ETL architectures.
• Monitor system performance and lead initiatives to improve data reliability, quality, and efficiency.
• Drive the implementation of automated monitoring, alerting, and self-healing systems to ensure platform resiliency.
• Analyze and resolve complex issues related to database platforms, integrations, or performance bottlenecks.
• Innovation & Generative AI Champion the responsible adoption of Generative AI tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude Code, etc.) to accelerate development, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance productivity.
• Develop and teach prompting strategies for data engineering use cases (SQL generation, data profiling, data validation).
• Lead adoption of GenAI-assisted scripting and playbook generation, ensuring secure and compliant usage across the team.
• Cross-functional Collaboration Collaborate with IT, Security, and Compliance teams to ensure regulatory alignment in data handling and access.
• Partner with business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable, efficient data solutions.
• Act as a trusted advisor across multiple disciplines, influencing architectural decisions across engineering teams.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay & Bonus Opportunities – Rewarding performance and initiative.
• Comprehensive Benefits – Health, dental, and vision insurance with up to $3,600 (individual) or $7,000 (family) in HSA contributions per year.
• Work-Life Balance – Generous paid time off including 22 days of PTO and 10 paid company holidays.
• Career Growth – Clear promotion paths, mentorship, and ongoing professional development.
• Retirement & Security – Up to 6% matching 401(k) contributions on base salary and bonus, standard life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Continuous Learning – Annual $3,000 reimbursement for educational training and certifications.

What This Job Offers

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