AVP, Principal Data Engineer

We are looking for an AVP Principal Data Engineer to lead the development of a consumer-centric, low-latency analytic environment leveraging data technologies and transforming legacy systems. This role is fast-paced, dynamic, and will influence high-level decisions across Synchrony.Overview Design, develop and lead data engineering applications in highly agile and fast-moving teams. Lead a data engineering team and contribute individually when required. Partner with architects and cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, resilient, and fast data applications across the enterprise data lake and data warehouse. Responsibilities Design, develop and lead data engineering applications in highly agile and fast-moving teams. Lead a data engineering team and roll up the sleeves to contribute when required. Implement ETL/ELT on big data platforms (Cloudera Hadoop cluster) / containers using Ab Initio, Spark, Hive, Kafka, RDBMS (Oracle, MySQL), NoSQL databases (Cassandra), and public cloud solutions. Responsible for design, development, testing oversight and production implementation. Experience with batch and real-time data pipelines in a DevOps environment using Ab Initio and Spark. Work closely with Product Owners, Product Managers, Program Managers, and SCRUM masters in a Scaled Agile framework. Partner with architects to efficiently design data applications with scalability, resiliency and speed. Lead data engineering team to drive program delivery. Drive technical development and application standards across enterprise data lake and data warehouse. Accomplish results by communicating expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising results; coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; developing, coordinating, and enforcing systems, policies, procedures, and productivity standards. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve and deliver on business objectives and priorities. Apply technical knowledge and insights to contribute to the development and execution of engineering capabilities. Stay up-to-date on latest trends in data engineering, recommend best practices, and promote automation to avoid redundancy. Mentor and coach the team to promote Synchrony values and culture. Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor's degree preferred with a concentration in Computer Science, Engineering or related field and 4 to 5 years of work experience with ELT/ETL/Data warehousing, large-scale data environments (e.g., Cloudera) and public cloud (AWS preferred) using Ab Initio, Spark, Hive, Kafka, RDBMS (Oracle, MySQL). In lieu of a degree, a certification in related field and 8 to 9 years of work experience with above-mentioned exposure to large-scale data environments. Desired Characteristics Prior experience as a Data Engineering Technical Lead leading a team in a Scaled Agile framework. Strong experience and deep understanding of ETL, data warehousing, data lakes (Hadoop & Spark) and analytics concepts. Experience owning multiple mission-critical applications on data platform. Experience with batch and real-time data pipelines in a DevOps environment. Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment with globally located Agile teams working in different shifts. Ability to develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships at all levels across IT and business stakeholders. Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present complex topics, influence, and follow through with timely actions. Experience in designing ETL pipelines to enable automated data load into AWS S3 & Redshift. Experience in Credit Card/Banking/FinTech environments and dealing with sensitive data in regulated contexts. Demonstrated ability to implement complex and innovative solutions. Salary and Benefits The salary range for this position is 110,000.00 - 185,000.00 USD annually and is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance. Actual compensation will be based on experience, skill level, or knowledge. Salaries are adjusted according to market in CA, NY Metro and Seattle. Grade/Level: 11. Eligibility You must be 18 years or older. You must have a high school diploma or equivalent. You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of onboarding. You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service before posting to other roles; Level 8 or greater must have at least 18 months. All internal employees must meet performance expectations with manager approval to post. Our Commitment and Compliance Our commitment: We strive for an inclusive culture where your skills, experience, and voice are valued. We support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and foster belonging. Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We do not sponsor individuals for employment visas now or in the future. All qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Reasonable Accommodation Notice: Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples include alt formats, sign language interpreters, or specialized equipment. For accommodations, contact the Career Support Line at 1-866-301-5627 (8am–5pm CST, Mon–Fri). Be careful — do not provide banking or credit card details when applying for jobs. If you see something suspicious, report it. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-21