Senior Data Engineer, (Team Lead)

Fearless•Baltimore, MD

42d•$120,588 - $195,955•Remote

About The Position

Fearless is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to serve as the Fearless Team Lead on a large federal agency's enterprise data modernization initiative. The program is building and operating a secure, cloud-native data platform and provides platform engineering, cloud infrastructure, data engineering, governance, AI/ML capabilities, and customer enablement. The work establishes shared technology foundations for secure, scalable, data-driven decision-making across the agency rather than supporting a single application. The role combines hands-on technical work in Databricks and cloud data platforms with team leadership and consulting responsibilities. The Team Lead provides delivery leadership for one large or up to three small teams within a project, coaches and mentors team members, coordinates work across workstreams, and serves as the primary liaison between the Fearless team and customer leadership. The successful candidate is expected to work independently in day-to-day tasks and decisions, deliver strong customer service, support account growth, and help ensure high-quality project outcomes. This is a fully remote role, with occasional travel to client sites or company meetings.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or related technical roles.
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Ability to obtain and maintain Public Trust clearance.
Hands-on experience with Databricks for data engineering, ETL/ELT development, and data pipeline orchestration.
Experience designing and implementing scalable data solutions on cloud data platforms, preferably Azure.
Proficiency with SQL, Delta Lake, and data transformation tools such as Azure Data Factory or equivalent.
Experience designing enterprise data models and optimizing large-scale data pipelines for performance, scalability, and reliability.
Experience partnering directly with customers or business stakeholders to translate technical and business requirements into scalable data solutions.
Experience directly managing technical team members and providing coaching and performance feedback in a consulting or client-facing environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional delivery teams and build trusted customer relationships in complex technical programs.
Ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer or during meetings.
Ability to communicate effectively by phone, email, and in person, including clear speech, listening, and written communication.
Ability to move within an office environment, reach for files, use office equipment, and occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting federal government, healthcare, or other highly regulated environments with complex data governance, security, and compliance requirements.
Experience leading enterprise cloud modernization or large-scale data migration initiatives.
Experience leading enterprise data engineering initiatives using modern cloud-native architectures and distributed data platforms.
Occasional travel to client sites or company meetings, which may involve driving or flying.

Responsibilities

Design and implement ingestion architectures that support scalable, reliable data flows into the enterprise data platform.
Design and implement data models that balance performance, scalability, and governance requirements.
Lead ETL/ELT development using Databricks, Azure Data Factory, and related tools to transform and deliver data for downstream use.
Support migration of legacy Corporate Data Warehouse workloads to the cloud-native platform while ensuring data integrity and continuity.
Partner with governance and data quality teams to align solutions with quality, security, and governance standards.
Lead technical design discussions and provide architectural guidance on data engineering solutions, platform standards, and performance optimization.
Lead and mentor Fearless team members and coordinate delivery across workstreams.
Act as the primary liaison between the Fearless team and customer leadership, building trusted relationships and aligning priorities.
Facilitate communication between the Fearless team and Fearless leadership, proactively surfacing risks, needs, and opportunities.
Deliver exceptional service, identify business opportunities, and maintain customer satisfaction.
Lead teams to meet project milestones and ensure compliance, quality, and successful solution implementation.
Promote accountability, continuous improvement, and skill development within the team.
Advise customers and stakeholders on decisions aligned with organizational mission and long-term goals.
Deliver products and services on time in support of customer missions.

Benefits

Flexible, life-friendly schedules.
Medical HSA plan covered at 100%, plus HSA contributions.
Dental and vision coverage at 100% for the employee and dependents.
Competitive premiums for HMO/PPO plans and dependent coverage.
401(k) with 4% match and immediate vesting.
Paid parental leave and 12 weeks of paid FMLA.
Generous PTO, 11 federal holidays, a birthday holiday, and sick leave.
Up to 15 days for jury duty and bereavement leave.
Education, wellness, and technology allowances.
Referral bonus of $6,000–$12,000 for each successful referral.
Pet insurance and discount plans.
Employee Assistance Program.
Legal support, life insurance, and disability coverage.
Discretionary, performance-based bonuses based on individual and company performance criteria.