W2 Contract role_Lead Azure Data Engineer_ Houston, TX (Onsite Role)

Role: Lead Azure Data Engineer

Location: Houston, TX (Onsite Role)

Duration: Long term contract

Position Type: W2 Contract Only

Visa: USCEAD

Job Summary: We are seeking a visionary Principal Data Engineer to lead the delivery of innovative data analytics solutions, with a focus on technical excellence, governance, and operational performance in a high-volume data environment. This role involves strategic and technical leadership in building Azure-based data lake solutions, driving maturity in data management, and engaging with cross-functional teams to leverage data for organizational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect, design, and implement scalable Azure-based data lake solutions.
• Establish roadmaps for capability-building across technologies such as Qlik Replicate, Databricks Delta Live Tables, and Unity Catalog.
• Provide technical leadership, ensuring adherence to best practices and quality standards.
• Lead the development of data transformation pipelines using Databricks Delta Live Tables and Structured Streaming.
• Optimize Databricks resources for high-volume data processing without exceeding budget.
• Oversee the use of Databricks Unity Catalog for data governance, lineage, and metadata management.
• Develop and enforce robust data governance policies, ensuring compliance, security, and data quality.
• Monitor data pipeline performance and proactively resolve production issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align project objectives with business goals.
• Translate technical challenges into actionable insights for executive teams.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team skilled in Azure, Databricks, and data streaming technologies.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer sessions to empower internal teams with cutting-edge methodologies.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in the IT industry with expertise in delivering cost-effective cloud-based data analytics solutions.
• Proven track record in building data lake architectures and optimizing performance in big data environments.
• Certification in Azure Data Engineering or Databricks (preferred).

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Azure technologies, including ADF, ADLS, Databricks, Stream Analytics, Delta Live Tables, and Synapse Analytics.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and programming languages such as Python, Scala, or Spark-SQL.
• Experience in designing and developing scalable ETL pipelines and optimizing data workflows.
• Deep understanding of data migration from on-premises to cloud, cloud to cloud.

Leadership and Soft Skills:

• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage end-to-end analytics projects.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills for engaging executives and stakeholders.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, adaptability, and commitment to results.
• Expertise in identifying risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies.

Nice to Have:

• Familiarity with big data tools like Hadoop, Kafka, and Spark.
• Experience with visualization tools such as PowerBI or QlikSense.
• Knowledge of AI/ML, NLP, and GenAI concepts.
• Familiarity with AGILE and KANBAN methodologies.