Lead Data Platform Engineer

Job Location: hybrid in Bucharest

Recruitment process:

• HR screening
  
• 2 X Technical Discussion

Role description:

Our client is modernizing its complete application landscape - moving from classic fat clients toward containerized web, mobile, and event-driven integration workloads, running on a new GCP-based DevOps Platform with a central managed GitLab at its core.

Requierments:

• Several years of experience as a Data Platform Engineering Manager, Lead Data Platform Engineer, or in a comparable leadership role, with end-to-end responsibility for the development, operation, and continuous evolution of modern enterprise data platforms.
• Deep technical expertise in the Google Cloud Data Stack (BigQuery, Dataflow, Managed Airflow, Dataplex, Pub/Sub, Cloud DLP) or comparable solid experience with modern data platforms on AWS/Azure.
• Proven track record in designing and operating scalable Lakehouse architectures with consistent use of Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform), modern data transformation frameworks (e.g., dbt Core), and CI/CD practices.
• Solid knowledge of integrating hybrid data landscapes and diverse source systems, including SAP systems (S/4HANA, CDC, ODP/CDS) as well as high-volume streaming workloads.
• Experience in implementing Data-as-a-Product and self-service concepts using modern governance solutions (e.g., Collibra), as well as implementing robust security and compliance standards (e.g., VPC Service Controls, Policy Tags, GoBD).
• Proven experience leading complex platform initiatives and balancing productivity, operational stability, scalability, and cost efficiency in a large-scale platform environment.
• Experience in the functional and disciplinary leadership of Data Engineering teams, including coaching, mentoring, and developing Data Engineers across all levels of experience. Demonstrated ability to build an environment with clear quality standards, continuous improvement, and a strong engineering culture.
• Excellent stakeholder communication across engineering, security, business, and external partners – confidently moving between C-level presentations and code reviews with developers on the same day. 
• Business-fluent English and very good German or Romanian language skills.

Responsabilities:

• Own the development, operation, and continuous evolution of our new GCP-based Enterprise Data Platform, ensuring it is operated reliably, securely, and at scale.
• Provide both disciplinary and functional leadership for the Data Platform Engineering team in Bucharest and Ulm, continuously developing team members while fostering a culture of technological excellence, ownership, and collaboration.
• Partner with the Data Architect to implement the technical and architectural direction of the platform and ensure its successful execution within the engineering team.
• Lead the implementation of scalable integration solutions for SAP, e-commerce, and enterprise systems, ensuring the reliable delivery of high-quality data products.
• Establish efficient engineering processes, delivery standards, CI/CD practices, and operating and support models, ensuring high quality and execution speed across the platform landscape.
• Support the Head of Data & AI in strategic prioritization, resource planning, and the evolution of the platform organization, translating platform strategy into actionable delivery roadmaps.
• Together with colleagues from the business departments, you ensure that our data products solve real business problems.
• You drive cultural change – from traditional DWH structures to agile, domain-oriented data product teams built on a strong, centrally provided platform.

What We Offer

• A greenfield opportunity to shape a new GCP Data & Analytics Platform from day one, for a major European retailer
• High visibility, short decision-making paths, and direct impact on the data and technology landscape of the entire organization
• The chance to build, grow, and shape an international data platform team
• Modern technologies, challenging architectural work, and an environment where technical excellence is genuinely valued
• Flexible working model (desk sharing and mobile working)