Sr. Director Data Engineering & Analytics - Virtual

Alight•Virtual, IL

2d•$170,000 - $250,000•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Director, Data Engineering & Analytics to lead and evolve our enterprise data engineering, analytics engineering, and data quality functions. This leadership role blends strategic vision, technical expertise, and people leadership to drive scalable, high-quality data solutions across a global organization. Reporting to the VP of Data, AI & Analytics, this leader will shape technical strategy, establish engineering standards, and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across teams in the U.S. and India.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in data engineering, analytics engineering, data architecture, or related disciplines.
5+ years of leadership experience managing multiple teams across global organizations.
Deep expertise in modern data platforms, cloud data lakes, data warehouses, and distributed data systems.
Strong proficiency in SQL, Python/PySpark, AWS data services, and workflow orchestration tools.
Experience leading large-scale data platform modernization or migration initiatives.
Proven success building and scaling enterprise data quality programs.
Experience managing complex technical roadmaps and diverse stakeholder groups.
Demonstrated adoption of AI-enabled engineering tools and automation practices.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence executive and business leaders.
Experience working with geographically distributed teams.
Experience in HR technology, benefits, healthcare, payroll, or similar enterprise environments.
Knowledge of Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, and cloud migration strategies.
Experience with data governance, metadata management, and data catalog solutions.
AWS or equivalent cloud certifications.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, Mathematics, or a related field.
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and relevant experience will also be considered.

Responsibilities

Defining and executing the data engineering and analytics roadmap aligned with business and product priorities.
Leading modernization initiatives across cloud platforms, data lakes, and enterprise data quality programs.
Balancing near-term delivery needs with long-term architectural sustainability.
Managing budgets, vendor partnerships, and technology investment decisions.
Providing hands-on guidance in data architecture, pipeline design, data modeling, and data quality practices.
Leading architecture reviews and key technical decisions for complex data solutions.
Establishing engineering standards, best practices, and quality expectations across teams.
Evaluating and implement emerging technologies, including AI-driven engineering capabilities.
Driving adoption of AI and automation across engineering workflows.
Establishing governance and standards for AI-assisted development and testing.
Partnering across Data & AI teams to ensure platforms effectively support AI/ML initiatives.
Building trusted partnerships across technology, product, operations, and business teams.
Communicating strategy, priorities, risks, and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Aligning stakeholders around shared goals and delivery outcomes.
Collaborating closely with global Data & AI leaders to drive execution and accountability.
Leading, mentor, and develop teams of data engineers, analytics engineers, technical leads, and data product professionals.
Fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture that values growth, innovation, and diverse perspectives.
Supporting career development, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
Partnering globally on workforce planning, capability development, and talent strategy.