Data Engineering ManagerJob Description
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Job Description Sample
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Job Title: Data Engineering Manager
Location: Hybrid/Remote (with occasional office visits)
Type: Full-time
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Data Engineering Manager to lead our growing data engineering team and drive technical innovation in our data infrastructure. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic thinking to build scalable data solutions. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of managing data engineering teams and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and mentor a team of data engineers while setting technical direction and best practices
- Design and oversee implementation of data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL processes
- Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions
- Establish data governance frameworks and ensure data quality standards
- Drive architectural decisions for data infrastructure and tooling selection
- Manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables across multiple initiatives
- Implement monitoring and optimization strategies for data systems
- Foster a culture of innovation, learning, and engineering excellence
- Partner with other engineering teams to integrate data solutions
- Ensure compliance with data security and privacy requirements
Perks:
- Competitive salary and equity package
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
- Flexible work arrangements (hybrid/remote)
- Professional development budget
- 401(k) matching
Data Engineering Manager Responsibilities
Hiring a data engineering manager? Here's what you can expect them to handle:
- Build and lead high-performing data engineering teams
- Architect scalable data infrastructure and pipelines
- Define technical standards and best practices
- Drive data strategy and roadmap planning
- Manage stakeholder relationships and expectations
- Ensure data quality and system reliability
- Optimize team processes and workflows
- Oversee technical documentation and knowledge sharing
Qualifications to Be a Data Engineering Manager
Here's what a solid candidate typically brings to the table:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field7+ years of data engineering experience3+ years of people management experienceExpert knowledge of data warehousing conceptsStrong programming skills in Python and SQLData Engineering Manager Prerequisites
Before you even think of hiring, make sure your candidates have:
Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)Proven track record of leading technical teamsUnderstanding of data governance and securityExcellence in stakeholder communicationAgile project management expertiseData Engineering Manager Hard Skills
The “must-haves” on every recruiter's checklist:
Data Architecture: Data warehouse design, data modelingProgramming: Python, Java, SQLBig Data: Spark, Hadoop ecosystemCloud Platforms: AWS Redshift, Azure SynapseETL/ELT: Airflow, dbt, InformaticaData Quality: Great Expectations, dbt testsPerformance Optimization: Query tuning, pipeline optimizationInfrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormationData Engineering Manager Soft Skills
Tech skills get them in the door—soft skills help them stick around.
Leadership and team managementStrategic thinking and planningStakeholder communicationProblem-solving and decision-makingConflict resolutionTime management and prioritizationMentoring and coachingChange managementData Engineering Manager Salary by Experience Level
Entry Level (0-2 Years)
$120k – $150k
Common Titles
Junior Data Engineering Manager, Associate Data Engineering Manager
Mid Level (2-5 Years)
$150k – $185k
Common Titles
Data Engineering Manager, Data Engineering Manager II
Senior Level (5+ Years)
$185k – $250k
Common Titles
Senior Data Engineering Manager, Lead Data Engineering Manager
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Data Engineering Manager Hiring
A Data Engineering Manager focuses on team leadership and project delivery, while a Data Architect primarily designs data systems and structures. The manager role requires people management skills and operational oversight, whereas the architect role is more technically specialized.
Use scenario-based interviews focusing on team challenges, conflict resolution, and strategic decision-making. Request specific examples of how they've built and scaled teams, handled technical disagreements, and managed complex projects.
While both are important, prioritize management experience and leadership skills. Technical knowledge can be supplemented by team members, but the ability to lead, mentor, and drive strategic initiatives is crucial for success in this role.
Watch for candidates who focus solely on technical details while ignoring people management aspects, lack experience in stakeholder communication, or show resistance to modern data practices and tools.
The optimal team size is typically 6-8 direct reports. This allows the manager to provide adequate attention to each team member while maintaining strategic oversight of projects and initiatives.
Tools and Programs Data Engineering Manager Use
Here's what their digital toolbox might look like:
Data Warehouses
Snowflake•Redshift
ETL Platforms
Airflow•dbt
Cloud Services
AWS•Azure
Monitoring
Datadog•NewRelic
Version Control
Git•GitHub
Project Management
Jira•Confluence
Collaboration
Slack•Teams
BI Tools
Tableau•Looker
Job Description Examples
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