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Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

Role Summary

The Director of Data Engineering is accountable for the strategy, delivery, and reliability of the enterprise data engineering platform, with direct leadership responsibility for the Data Streaming Engineering team. This role owns real-time and near–real-time data pipelines, CDC architectures, and event-driven integration patterns that power analytics, operational use cases, and downstream platforms.

You will lead managers and senior engineers responsible for Kafka, Striim and DMS based streaming solutions, while partnering with Architecture, Data Platform, Analytics, and Security leaders to ensure scalable, governed, and production-ready data flows. The role balances people leadership, technical direction, and architectural influence, with selective hands-on engagement for the most complex initiatives.

What you will do:

Data Streaming Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and scale the Data Streaming Engineering organization, including Senior and Lead Data Streaming Engineers
• Own the technical vision and roadmap for real-time and CDC pipelines using Kafka and Striim
• Define standards for streaming architecture, schema evolution, replayability, observability, and operational readiness
• Ensure streaming solutions integrate reliably with Oracle, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, and Snowflake

Platform & Architecture Influence

• Partner with Enterprise and Data Architects to influence event-driven and hybrid (batch + streaming) platform designs
• Establish approved patterns for:
  • CDC ingestion
  • Event modeling and contracts
  • Topic design and retention
  • Downstream consumption (analytics, APIs, operational systems)
• Guide technology selection and evolution across streaming, orchestration, and cloud-native services

Engineering Management & Delivery

• Hire, develop, and manage high-performing data streaming and data engineering teams (including distributed and offshore teams where applicable)
• Set clear expectations for delivery, quality, reliability, and on-call ownership
• Translate business priorities into executable engineering plans and delivery milestones
• Provide escalation leadership for complex production incidents related to streaming latency, data correctness, or pipeline failures

Quality, Reliability & Operations

• Ensure data streaming SLAs/SLOs are defined and met (freshness, latency, completeness)
• Oversee integration of testing, monitoring, and alerting into CI/CD and runtime operations
• Drive continuous improvement in resiliency, scalability, and cost efficiency of streaming platforms

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Analytics, Data Science, Product, and Business stakeholders to align streaming capabilities with business outcomes
• Partner with Security, Governance, and Risk teams to ensure data protection, auditability, and compliance
• Communicate clearly with senior leadership on roadmap progress, risks, and trade-offs

What you will bring:

Experience & Leadership

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of post-degree professional experience in data engineering or software engineering
• 5+ years in engineering leadership roles, including managing senior engineers and technical leads
• Proven experience building and operating data streaming platforms at scale

Streaming & Data Platform Expertise

• Strong experience with Kafka and/or Striim, including CDC and event-driven architectures
• Experience integrating streaming pipelines with Oracle, PostgreSQL, Redshift, and Snowflake
• Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts: ordering, fault tolerance, backpressure, and replay
• Hands-on familiarity with cloud-based streaming and data services, especially on AWS

Technical Breadth

• Strong Python and SQL skills; ability to review and guide complex code and pipeline designs
• Experience with orchestration tools such as Airflow or Argo
• Experience with API-based data integrations and vendor data exchange.
• Knowledge of analytics enablement for BI and downstream consumers
• Understanding of core data stewardship processes and data contracts

Leadership & Communication

• Demonstrated success hiring, mentoring, and retaining high-performing engineering teams
• Strong communication skills to influence architecture and delivery across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience operating in fast-paced, Agile delivery environments

What will set you apart:

• Prior ownership of a Data Streaming or Event Platform
• Experience in financial services or other regulated industries
• Experience operating globally distributed engineering teams
• Track record of improving platform reliability, observability, and incident response maturity

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description. You may be required perform other duties that are not included on this job description. The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

What we offer you

We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) – BRGs facilitate inclusion and collaboration across our business internally and throughout the communities where we live, work and play. BRGs are open to all.

Base Salary Range

$138,000.00 - $200,100.00

The salary range above shows the typical minimum to maximum base salary range for this position in the location listed. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation offered may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Equal opportunity employer • Drug-free workplace

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.

***For remote and hybrid positions you will be required to provide reliable high-speed internet with a wired connection as well as a place in your home to work with limited disruption. You must have reliable connectivity from an internet service provider that is fiber, cable or DSL internet. Other necessary computer equipment, will be provided. You may be required to work in the office if you do not have an adequate home work environment and the required internet connection.***

Job Posting End Date at 12:01 am on:

01-24-2026