Lead Data Engineer – Enterprise Cloud & AI Solutions

NavitasPartners offers a contract opportunity for a Lead Data Engineer in Joliet, IL with a hybrid work model and a rate of USD 40 per hour. This role focuses on enterprise-scale cloud data and AI initiatives, delivering high-performance data platforms and enabling AI driven innovation across business units. You will operate in a collaboration-driven environment, coordinating with architects, data scientists, and engineering teammates to shape scalable solutions that meet complex requirements.

The position centers on leading the design and deployment of cloud data platforms, building scalable data pipelines, and optimizing performance to support diverse analytics and AI workloads. Through close cross-functional collaboration, you will guide implementation efforts and ensure deployments align with architectural standards and business objectives. This role combines technical leadership with hands-on delivery to drive impactful outcomes across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and deployment of cloud data platforms
• Develop scalable data pipelines and optimize performance
• Collaborate with architects, data scientists, and engineering teams

Requirements

• Strong background in data engineering with tools like Databricks, Snowflake, or BigQuery
• Experience with cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Hands-on implementation of large-scale data solutions

Technologies

• Databricks
• Snowflake
• BigQuery
• AWS
• Azure
• GCP

Nice to Have

• Experience with ML/AI engineering and MLOps pipelines
• Exposure to GenAI, LLMs, or agent-based AI systems
• Understanding of AI governance, compliance, and ethical AI practices