Director, Engineering - Data

Job Description

The Role

We are seeking an execution-focused Director to join our dynamic team and spearhead our data-driven initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in shaping and executing our data strategy, driving innovation, and enhancing our products and services through data assets.

As the Director of Engineering - Data, you will lead high-performing teams responsible for developing and implementing advanced analytics solutions that provide actionable insights and support our business objectives. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of our data and AI platforms, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and secure. You will oversee the creation of robust data pipelines, advanced analytics, and machine learning models, cutting-edge reporting systems, and scalable GenAI capabilities. You will champion the adoption of the latest data techniques and tools, including AI and machine learning, to keep our company at the forefront of data technology. Your disciplined engineering experience will be vital to delivering robust and reliable data and AI initiatives.

Collaborating closely with cross-functional team leadership—including Product, Engineering, Marketing, Finance, Customer Success, Sales, and Executive Leadership—you will emphasize the importance of quality data and identify key business opportunities to integrate our data and AI capabilities to benefit our customers and internal stakeholders. By understanding the unique challenges of each team, you will provide strategic recommendations to leverage ZenBusiness's data and AI advantages. Your leadership will foster a culture of data excellence, empowering us to deliver exceptional value to our customers and stay ahead in the industry.

Your strategic vision and technical expertise—including knowledge of modern data architecture and familiarity with the evolving space of data science and Generative AI (GenAI)—will drive the innovation and optimization of our data and AI platforms, supporting business growth and operational efficiency.

Join us in this exciting role and be part of a forward-thinking company that values data as a strategic asset and is committed to empowering small businesses with the best tools and insights for success.

This role reports to the VP, Data and is a remote role.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive data strategy aligned with company goals, driving data-driven decision-making across the organization and delivering data products and services to our internal stakeholders and customers.
• Agile Team Management: Manage agile pods comprising data analysts and other data team resources such as data engineers, platform engineers, data scientists, and machine learning engineers, ensuring collaborative and efficient delivery of analytics solutions.
• Center of Excellence in Engineering: Build an engineering-focused organization in the data space, balancing performance, scalability, maintainability, and cost.
• Cross-Functional Analytics Expertise: Gain a deep understanding of the analytics needs of each cross-functional team—including Finance, Customer Success, Sales, Product, Engineering, and Marketing—and provide tailored data solutions that address their specific challenges and objectives.
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of data professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous development.
• Technical Oversight: Oversee the architecture, development, and deployment of scalable, reliable, and secure data and AI platforms and solutions, utilizing modern data architecture and cloud-based databases like Snowflake.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with executive leadership and all cross-functional teams to integrate analytics insights into business strategies and operations.
• Data Governance: Establish and maintain data governance frameworks to ensure data quality, integrity, and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Performance Optimization: Continuously enhance data systems and processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and performance.
• Innovation and Adoption: Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies in analytics and data science, promoting the adoption of innovative solutions, including AI and machine learning.
• Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with other engineering teams to integrate and deliver data and AI features into products and internal tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field; a Master's degree or MBA is highly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in analytics or data engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role directing high-performing teams.
• Proven track record of developing and executing data strategies that drive business growth and competitive advantage.
• Experience managing agile teams or pods comprising data analysts, data engineers, platform engineers, data scientists, and machine learning engineers.
• Broad understanding of the analytics needs of various cross-functional teams and the ability to develop solutions that meet those needs.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with experience influencing executive stakeholders and driving organizational change.
• Deep expertise in advanced analytics techniques, data modeling, and data visualization tools.
• Strong knowledge of modern data architecture and familiarity with cloud-based database solutions like Snowflake.
• Experience with AI and machine learning applications in analytics.
• Strong understanding of emerging GenAI technologies, with production experience.
• Strong understanding of data governance, compliance, and security best practices.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Skills

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term analytics strategies that align with business objectives and address the specific needs of different departments.
• Engineering Discipline: Exceptional focus on product engineering, delivering industry-grade data products within time constraints.
• Agile Methodologies: Experience in managing teams using agile methodologies to deliver analytics solutions efficiently.
• Communication: Outstanding presentation skills with the ability to effectively convey complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and mentor diverse teams, fostering professional growth and high performance.
• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and programming languages (e.g., SQL, Python, R).
• Modern Data Architecture: Experience with cloud-based databases and data warehousing solutions, particularly Snowflake.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational abilities focusing on process improvement and efficiency.
• Innovation: Passion for leveraging the latest technologies and methodologies in analytics to drive business innovation.