Data Engineer Lead

The University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) is seeking a Data Engineer Lead to guide and scale the organization’s Data and Business Intelligence function. This hybrid role focuses on building enterprise-ready data architecture, strengthening governance and compliance, and overseeing ELT, warehousing, and cloud platform capabilities while leading and mentoring a team of data engineers.

In this position, you will help translate complex academic and business needs into cohesive data strategies, ensure consistent delivery across projects, and support campus-wide data literacy through partnerships and community initiatives.

Role overview

• Lead the evolution of CAI’s data architecture strategy to support reporting, analytics, and AI/ML
• Architect and oversee end-to-end data warehousing solutions integrating diverse institutional and platform data sources
• Establish engineering standards for dimensional modeling, pipeline design, documentation, and best practices
• Optimize cloud data platforms such as Snowflake and Databricks for scalability, reliability, cost efficiency, and long-term sustainability
• Design and maintain complex ELT frameworks and scalable pipeline patterns

Team leadership and delivery

• Directly manage and mentor Data Engineers and Senior Data Engineers, including performance management, coaching, hiring, and career development
• Provide technical guidance and architectural oversight to ensure high-quality delivery and consistency
• Plan for team growth and capability development aligned to CAI’s long-term data vision
• Align team priorities with CAI strategic objectives and contribute to roadmap planning within the data domain
• Oversee service delivery and stakeholder engagement to support responsive, high-impact data work
• Evaluate and incorporate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, into team workflows and engineering practices

Data governance, compliance, and stewardship

• Establish and operationalize scalable data governance practices, including data quality, metadata, lineage, and access controls
• Ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory data privacy requirements such as FERPA and GDPR in a higher education environment
• Promote strong data stewardship and responsible use of institutional and learner data

Collaboration and stakeholder engagement

• Partner with Engineering, Online Learning, XR, and campus stakeholders to turn business and academic needs into data strategies and solutions
• Lead discovery sessions and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Co-lead or sponsor initiatives such as the BI + AI Community of Practice and Data Hours to strengthen campus-wide data literacy and collaboration

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field preferred
• 7+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, data architecture, or related technical roles
• 1+ year of direct supervision of professional staff experience, with demonstrable servant leadership of technical teams
• Expert-level knowledge of dimensional modeling (Star and Snowflake schemas) and enterprise data warehousing best practices
• Deep experience with modern ELT frameworks and cloud-based data platforms such as Snowflake
• Proven ability to design and scale complex data ecosystems integrating numerous source and target systems
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing technical teams
• Experience aligning technical roadmaps with organizational strategy
• Ability to independently manage large, cross-functional initiatives from concept through delivery
• Strong project management discipline and experience using enterprise collaboration tools such as Asana
• Experience establishing data governance frameworks and ensuring regulatory compliance
• Proven ability to lead stakeholder discovery sessions and communicate effectively with non-technical audiences
• Strong collaboration skills in a matrixed, mission-driven organization

Technologies

• Snowflake
• Databricks
• Kimball methodology
• Star and Snowflake schemas
• ELT
• AI/ML
• FERPA
• GDPR
• Asana
• BI + AI Community of Practice
• Data Hours

Work mode and location

• Location: Ann Arbor Campus, Ann Arbor, MI
• Work mode: Hybrid with a minimum of 4 days in the office per week, Monday through Thursday, with an option of remote work on Fridays
• Occasional onsite work on Fridays may be required based on center policy and domain leadership or job requirements

Compensation and employment details

• Salary range: USD 115,000 - 125,000 per year (based on education and experience)
• Full-Time, Regular, Exempt
• Organizational group: Vp Acad Innovation
• Department: Center for Academic Innovation
• Job Opening ID: 284556
• Career interest: Information Technology

Application and screening

• Posting dates: 10/19/2026 - 11/18/2026
• Applications are reviewed as received throughout the posting period until the position is filled
• Background checks are conducted upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator, in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States

Benefits

Excellent benefits are available. For details, see http://benefits.umich.edu/.