Lead Data Systems Engineer

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Lead Data Systems Engineer based in the United States.

This is an opportunity for an experienced data and cloud engineering professional to lead the design, development, and reliability of critical data platforms and enterprise applications within a mission-driven organization focused on advancing medical research. In this role, you will own key AWS infrastructure, automated data pipelines, database systems, and integrations across business-critical platforms. You will combine hands-on technical expertise with architectural leadership to deliver secure, scalable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions. Working closely with stakeholders across the organization, you will translate business needs into technical roadmaps while guiding complex integrations, migrations, and production deployments. You will also strengthen automation, infrastructure management, data governance, and operational resilience. This role offers the opportunity to influence technology strategy, mentor colleagues, and enable teams with dependable data systems that support meaningful organizational impact.

Accountabilities

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, gather technical requirements, translate business needs into implementation plans, and manage delivery from planning through deployment.

• Independently prioritize and lead complex technical initiatives while providing guidance, mentorship, and knowledge sharing to colleagues.

• Architect, administer, and optimize AWS-based data and application infrastructure, including databases, storage, compute, networking, monitoring, and access controls.

• Develop and operate automated data pipelines, database backup and recovery processes, and production workflows with robust validation, logging, alerting, rollback, and recovery mechanisms.

• Lead complex data migrations, system integrations, and production cutovers across enterprise platforms.

• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot Python, SQL, REST API, SFTP, and bulk-data workflows connecting Salesforce, SmartSimple, and other business systems.

• Administer business-critical applications and legacy platforms while implementing least-privilege access, personally identifiable information (PII) protections, data retention policies, and cost-conscious architecture.

• Enable analysts and other employees to access and use data appropriately through governed database access, technical support, troubleshooting, and clear documentation.

• Collaborate with vendors and consultants on architecture, implementation, testing, validation, and knowledge transfer.

• Establish and advance infrastructure-as-code practices, automation, version control, and reliable deployment processes.

• Monitor production systems, identify performance and reliability issues, and implement improvements that strengthen security, resilience, and operational efficiency.

• Make sound architectural decisions, balance competing priorities, and provide technical direction across systems engineering and data infrastructure initiatives.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience in data engineering, cloud engineering, systems integration, or a related technical field, including responsibility for production systems in enterprise environments.

• Strong hands-on 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 involving 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.

• Solid 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; familiarity with Terraform, CloudFormation, and GitHub is preferred.

• Ability to lead complex technical projects independently, make informed architectural trade-offs, and manage implementation through completion.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate business requirements into practical technical solutions and collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance, mentor colleagues, and coordinate effectively with external vendors and consultants.

• Experience with SmartSimple, Amazon Redshift, Athena, AppFlow, Domo, or comparable data and business platforms is preferred.

• Previous experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization is a plus.

• A proactive, analytical, and cost-conscious approach to solving technical problems and improving system reliability.

Benefits:

• Annual salary: $150,000–$170,000 USD, with individual compensation determined by qualifications, skills, experience, and applicable laws.

• Eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus.

• More than 15 medical insurance plan options, with the organization covering 90% of premiums.

• Competitive dental and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% employer contribution.

• Flexible spending accounts.

• Employer-paid life and disability insurance.

• 18 vacation days annually.

• 12 well-being and sick days and two personal days.

• Summer Fridays, with office closure at 2 p.m., plus a summer holiday week around July 4.

• Flexible working environment, with employees and managers collaborating to determine when, where, and how projects are completed.

• Access to ongoing professional development, training courses, and staff and leadership development opportunities.

• The opportunity to contribute technical expertise to an organization working to accelerate meaningful medical research and therapeutic advances.