Principal Data Engineering Lead

Visa • Bellevue, WA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal Data Engineering Lead is a senior technical leader responsible for guiding the design, development, and optimization of Visa’s large‑scale data platforms and cloud-based analytics environments. This role provides architectural direction, leads complex engineering initiatives, and mentors teams while remaining deeply hands-on with modern data technologies. The Lead Data Engineer drives technical best practices, ensures platform scalability, and influences data engineering strategy for key products and business domains.

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 7 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 4 years of work experience with a PhD, OR 13+ years of relevant work experience.

Nice To Haves

• 12 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 7 or more years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 4 years of work experience with a PhD, OR 13 or more years of relevant work experience.
• Advanced expertise in building and optimizing large-scale distributed data systems using Hadoop, Spark, and modern lakehouse architectures.
• Strong programming proficiency in PySpark, Scala, and Python with experience implementing scalable, production-grade data applications.
• Deep experience designing and tuning RDBMS, NoSQL, and distributed SQL systems.
• Mastery of SQL and distributed query engines such as Presto, Trino, Hive, and SparkSQL.
• Strong knowledge of data modeling, ETL/ELT design, and data warehousing methodologies.
• Proven experience architecting and operating data solutions on AWS, GCP, and Azure, including cloud data lakes, orchestration tools, and cost-effective storage/compute designs.
• Advanced proficiency in Databricks, including: Expert in building and optimizing notebooks and production jobs Expert in Delta Lake design and optimization Expert in Cluster configuration and workspace administration Expert in CI/CD integration for data workloads Expert in performance tuning for large distributed jobs
• Expert in demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives, communicate architectural decisions, and influence engineering direction across multiple teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex data and performance issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and delivery of large-scale, high-performance data pipelines and processing frameworks across Hadoop and multi-cloud environments.
• Design scalable data models, lakehouse structures, and distributed data processing solutions that support analytics, machine learning, and real-time data needs.
• Provide technical leadership to Senior and Staff Data Engineers, conducting design reviews, guiding implementation decisions, and ensuring engineering excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business and product requirements into robust technical designs and data solutions.
• Develop and improve engineering best practices for data governance, quality, observability, testing, and cloud resource optimization.
• Drive adoption of cloud-native data technologies, automation frameworks, and reusable components that improve development velocity and system reliability.
• Lead complex data modernization efforts, including cloud migration, data lake/lakehouse consolidation, and performance optimization of critical pipelines.
• Evaluate new tools and technologies, influencing platform evolution within the scope of assigned domains or product areas.
• Collaborate with product, analytics, and platform teams to ensure alignment on data strategy and architectural roadmaps.
• Mentor engineers at all levels, providing technical coaching and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401 (k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees