Data Tech Lead
Data Tech Lead6-Month ContractVisa : USC and GCLocation : Houston, TX (hybrid, local or at 50 miles distance)UPS (United Parcel services)Note : Updated LinkedIn and recent short projectsAre you ready to take ownership of building cutting-edge data ecosystems and leading high-performing teams? We're looking for a Data Tech Lead to drive end-to-end delivery across architecture, engineering, governance, and capability development.This is a strategic leadership role where you'll shape the future of data platforms and enable data-driven innovation at scale.What You'll DoLead the architecture, design, and delivery of modern data platforms across cloud and on-prem environmentsBuild scalable, high-performance data solutions that unlock business valueDrive data governance, metadata management, and data modelling best practicesPartner with cross-functional teams to deliver end-to-end data initiativesChampion cost optimisation, performance tuning, and agile deliveryEngage senior stakeholders, influence decisions, and represent data strategy with clarityKey ResponsibilitiesLeadership & StrategyDefine and deliver data product roadmaps aligned to business goalsProvide technical leadership, ensuring adherence to best practices and standardsDrive long-term data engineering and architecture strategyTechnical OversightLead data architecture and modelling (e.g. SAP PowerDesigner, BiZ Design)Build and optimise AI-augmented data pipelines using:Azure Data Factory (ADF), ADLS, Databricks, Delta Live Tables, Structured StreamingDesign robust OLTP systems (schema design, indexing, performance tuning)Work across PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL ServerImplement governance, security, and lineage using Unity CatalogTroubleshoot pipelines and enforce data quality and SLAsGovernance & QualityEstablish frameworks for data security, privacy, and lifecycle managementDrive CI/CD and automated deployment practicesMonitor and optimise pipeline performanceStakeholder ManagementCollaborate with Product Managers, Business Analysts, Data Scientists, and ArchitectsTranslate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomesBuild alignment and resolve challenges across stakeholdersSkills & ExperienceTechnical Expertise12–17 years in data engineering, architecture, or analytics platformsDeep experience with:Azure (ADF, ADLS, Databricks, DLT, Azure Functions, Logic Apps)SQL, Python, Spark / ScalaREST APIs / FastAPIStrong background in data modelling and architecture frameworksExperience with CI/CD (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions)Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes basics, API gateways, and load balancingAI & Future-Ready SkillsExposure to AI/ML, GenAI, Agentic AIPassion for building future-ready, scalable data ecosystemsLeadership & Soft SkillsProven experience leading medium to large technical teamsStrong decision-making and problem-solving abilityExcellent communication and stakeholder management skillsAbility to operate independently with high ownership and accountabilityAdaptable, with a continuous learning mindsetNice to HaveExperience with Kafka, Hadoop, Spark StreamingWorkflow orchestration tools (Airflow, Luigi, Azkaban)BI tools like Power BI or Qlik SenseCertifications in Azure, Databricks, or AI/MLExposure to logistics, trading, or freight-related domains