Director Data Engineering Job Details | Ascend Learning, LLC

Ascend Learning is a healthcare and learning technology company providing outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the learning lifecycle. The Director of Data Engineering leads technical teams in designing, building, and maintaining scalable data infrastructure, pipelines, and quality measures. This role drives data engineering strategy, oversees enterprise projects, promotes data governance, and aligns data initiatives with business goals.

Responsibilities:

• Data Engineering Team Development and Management: Build, mentor, and oversee specialized team(s) of data engineering professionals, including data engineers, specialized senior data engineers, and data architects. Define clear roles, establish performance metrics, and promote ongoing learning to cultivate a team that is proficient in state-of-the-art data engineering technologies and methodologies
• Technical Research and Technological Advancement: Maintain cutting-edge knowledge of data engineering trends and advancements, leading the exploration and integration of new technologies and practices. Evaluate their potential benefits and risks to the organization and drive the adoption of transformative data solutions that can revolutionize platform and infrastructure capabilities
• Data Engineering Project Direction and Implementation: Manage the end-to-end execution of data engineering projects, ensuring they adhere to high standards of quality, meet established timelines, and stay within budget. Oversee project lifecycles, from conception through to deployment, while continuously monitoring progress and making strategic adjustments as necessary
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Data Advocacy: Encourage cross-departmental collaboration and serve as the data engineering advocate within the organization. Communicate complex technical concepts and insights to stakeholders at all levels, ensuring a cohesive understanding and integration of data capabilities across various business units to drive informed decision-making and policy development. This involves identifying data-driven opportunities, setting objectives, and creating a roadmap for implementation to ensure the organization capitalizes on data engineering innovations for competitive advantage
• Data Governance and Quality Standards: Establish and enforce robust data governance frameworks to ensure secure, reliable, and accountable management of data assets within the organization. This includes developing policies for data privacy, data quality, and lineage, as well as setting up oversight mechanisms to monitor data systems for compliance with legal and regulatory standards. The goal is to promote trust and integrity in the organization's data, safeguarding the interests of the company and its stakeholders while fostering responsible innovation

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED Required
• A minimum of 7-10 years of relevant professional experience in data engineering, data architecture, software engineering, or a related area
• Proven experience in leading and managing technical teams
• Strong executive presence with the ability to represent the Data Engineering function to internal and external stakeholders, including cross-functional Senior Leadership
• A track record of successful implementation of enterprise data engineering projects and strategies within an organization
• Experience with data infrastructure in a business context, demonstrating a strong understanding of how data platforms and pipelines can solve real-world problems and drive value
• Experience working collaboratively between data engineering and business intelligence teams
• Prior experience in a senior role, such as a Lead Data Architect, Data Engineering Manager, or similar leadership position in the field of data engineering
• Strong expertise in data architecture, modeling (ERDs, dimensional modeling), and data integration across systems
• Proficiency with data pipelines and transformation tools (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Coalesce, Snowpipe) and version control (e.g., GitLab)
• Knowledge of cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) that offer data and analytics services
• Experience with BI and analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Python, R) and advanced analytics techniques
• Familiarity with DataOps/DevOps practices and automation tools (e.g., Terraform, ARM)
• Understanding of data governance, security, and best practices
• Knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies and tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively lead teams and interact with stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Strategic thinking and business acumen to align data engineering initiatives with organizational goals
• Continuous learning mindset to keep up with the rapidly evolving field of data engineering
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a related technical field preferred
• Experience with AI/ML and familiarity with modern AI platforms (e.g., Azure ML, Copilot, Claude, OpenAI) is preferred