Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer / Delivery Lead Location is in LA. The start date is ASAP for this contract position. Job Title: Lead Data Engineer / Delivery Lead Location-Type: LA Start Date Is: ASAP Duration: Contract Compensation Range: $130-150K Benefits: Eligible for Health, Dental, Vision, 401K, PTO Must be authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for sponsorship. Job Description Lead end-to-end data engineering delivery while serving as the primary client-facing program owner, ensuring scalable data solutions and successful project execution. Day-to-Day Responsibilities Lead development and optimization of data pipelines using Databricks, SQL, Python, and PySpark Design and maintain data models, Lakehouse architecture, and data marts Orchestrate and monitor ETL/ELT workflows, ensuring performance and reliability Act as primary point of contact for stakeholders, running meetings and providing updates Manage timelines, deliverables, and overall workstream execution Coordinate across onshore/offshore teams and unblock technical challenges Conduct code reviews, enforce best practices, and mentor engineering team members Oversee data quality, monitoring, alerting, and production issue resolution Translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions Requirements Must-Haves: 8–12 years of experience in data engineering or analytics roles Strong hands-on experience with Databricks (critical requirement) Proficiency in SQL, Python, and PySpark Experience building and maintaining scalable ETL/ELT pipelines Strong understanding of data warehousing and dimensional modeling Experience with workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow) Cloud experience (AWS preferred; any cloud acceptable with Databricks) Proven experience in client/stakeholder management and communication Experience owning projects, managing timelines, and delivering end-to-end solutions Leadership experience guiding teams and coordinating across multiple workstreams Nice-to-Haves: Media or entertainment industry experience Experience leading offshore teams Prior experience in a tech lead, delivery lead, or solutions role AWS-specific expertise Master's degree in a relevant field