Lead Data Systems Engineer

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is a nonprofit organization focused on accelerating therapeutic advances and a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The Lead Data Systems Engineer will architect, build, administer, and maintain data platforms, cloud infrastructure, and business-critical applications, with primary ownership of AWS-based databases, automated data pipelines, and enterprise integrations. The role will lead complex technical delivery, support stakeholders and vendors, and establish secure, reliable, and cost-conscious data and infrastructure practices.

Responsibilities:

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to gather technical requirements, translate business needs into implementation plans, and manage delivery
• Independently prioritize and lead complex work from planning through implementation. Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and knowledge sharing to help other team members strengthen their skills and successfully deliver their work
• Architect, administer, and optimize AWS-based data and application infrastructure, including databases, storage, compute, networking, monitoring, and access controls
• Build and operate automated data pipelines, database backup and restore processes, and production workflows with strong validation, logging, alerting, rollback, and recovery practices
• Lead complex data migrations, integrations, and production cutovers. Develop and troubleshoot Python, SQL, REST API, SFTP, and bulk data solutions connecting Salesforce, SmartSimple, and other enterprise platforms
• Administer and support business-critical applications and legacy systems. Implement least-privilege access, PII protections, retention policies, and cost-conscious architecture
• Enable analysts and staff through governed database access, troubleshooting, and clear documentation
• Partner with vendors and consultants on architecture, implementation, validation, and handoff
• Provide technical direction and oversight while advancing infrastructure such as code, automation, and reliable version-controlled deployment practices

Requirements:

• Proven experience in data engineering, cloud engineering, systems integration, or related technical roles, including supporting production systems in enterprise environments
• Proven experience with AWS services, including RDS, EC2, S3, Lambda, Glue, IAM, CloudWatch, and VPC networking
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL for data pipelines, automation, database development, and troubleshooting
• Experience designing, integrating, and operating production data workflows, including APIs, file-based ingestion, high-volume data loads, monitoring, validation, alerting, and recovery
• Strong knowledge of Salesforce data models, APIs, integration patterns, sandboxes, and bulk-data tools
• Strong understanding of cloud and database security, including access controls, credential management, network security, PII protection, and data retention
• Experience with infrastructure as code, version control, and automated deployment practices
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to work independently, make sound technical and architectural decisions, and provide technical guidance to engineers and vendors
• Terraform, CloudFormation, and GitHub
• Experience with platforms such as SmartSimple, Redshift, Athena, AppFlow, Domo, or comparable data and business systems
• nonprofit experience