LEAD DATA ENGINEER(17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED)

Title :  Lead Data Engineer

Duration-  5+  months

Location:    100% Remote -  located in Chicagoland area with ability to come into Downtown office

Overview:

·      Build the Future of Data at GATX! We are investing in the next evolution of our data, analytics, and artificial intelligence ecosystem. We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer who’s ready to do more than just build pipelines on Databricks and AWS.

·      You will help shape enterprise analytics strategy, influence architecture, and partner directly with the business to drive smarter decisions.

Why This Role?

This is a high-impact, highly visible role where you’ll:

·      Lead the design and implementation of a modern AWS + Databricks Lakehouse platform;

·      Partner across IT, analytics, and business teams to turn data into decisions;

·      Drive scalable, governed, high-performance data solutions; and

·      Influence how data powers analytics, reporting, and AI across the company

What You’ll Be Doing

·      Design and lead enterprise-grade pipelines, supporting both batch and streaming data processing;

·      Own the full ETL/ELT lifecycle, from design through production support;

·      Drive data engineering standards, best practices, and architecture across the data ecosystem;

·      Translate business requirements into scalable, high-performance data solutions;

·      Mentor a small team while remaining hands-on; and

·      Ensure data reliability, performance, governance, and cost optimization.

Qualifications:

·      10+ years of IT experience, including deep expertise in data engineering & ETL;

·      4-6+ years of recent hands-on experience in designing, building, and scaling data pipelines;

·      Strong hands-on experience with Databricks (Spark, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog) and AWS (S3, IAM, networking);

·      A passion for continued learning and an interest in staying current with the rapidly evolving data and analytics space;

·      Experience working in an Agile analytics environment where close collaboration with key stakeholders to address evolving requirements is the norm;

·      Expertise in SQL, Python, data modeling, and distributed processing;

·      Experience with CI/CD, DevOps, and modern data architecture (lakehouse, medallion, etc.); and

·      Strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into solutions that deliver business outcomes.

What Sets You Apart

·      You’re analytical, curious, and solutions-oriented;

·      You thrive in environments where you balance priorities and drive outcomes;

·      You’re comfortable with ambiguity and can quickly learn the business; and

·      You build strong partnerships and bring a “get things done” mindset.

Interview Process:

·      30 minute technical interview with Manager

·      30 minute interview with Director