Role Overview for VP, Data Engineering with a FinTech Company – Charlotte, NC
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a trailblazing, high-growth FinTech company in their search for a visionary Vice President of Data Engineering. Located in the vibrant financial hub of Charlotte, NC, this executive leadership role is a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of data-driven innovation within the financial services industry. Our client is at the forefront of revolutionizing financial technology, leveraging data to create unparalleled products and customer experiences. As the VP of Data Engineering, you will be the strategic owner of the entire data ecosystem, responsible for architecting, building, and scaling a world-class data infrastructure that serves as the backbone of the organization.
This is not just a technical leadership role; it is a strategic business position. You will report directly to the Chief Technology Officer and work in close collaboration with the executive team, including leaders in Product, Analytics, Data Science, and Operations. Your mission will be to transform raw data into a strategic asset, enabling advanced analytics, machine learning, business intelligence, and product innovation.
You will lead a talented and growing team of data engineers, architects, and BI specialists, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader with a deep technical background, a strategic mindset, and a proven track record of building and scaling data platforms in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. If you are passionate about harnessing the power of data to disrupt an industry and are ready to make a significant impact on a company’s trajectory, this is the role for you.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Data Engineering with a FinTech Company – Charlotte, NC
As the Vice President of Data Engineering, you will be entrusted with a broad range of responsibilities that are critical to the company’s success. Your duties will encompass strategic leadership, technical execution, team management, and cross-functional collaboration. You will be expected to not only manage the current data infrastructure but also to anticipate future needs and build for scale.
Strategic Vision and Leadership
Develop and execute a comprehensive, long-term data strategy and roadmap that aligns with the company’s business objectives. Champion a data-first culture throughout the organization, advocating for data literacy and data-driven decision-making at all levels.
Data Platform Architecture and Development
Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of a robust, scalable, and secure data platform. This includes data ingestion pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, data warehousing, data lakes, and real-time streaming solutions. Ensure the platform can support the growing demands of analytics, machine learning, and business intelligence.
Team Building and Mentorship
Recruit, lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of data engineers and data architects. Foster a collaborative and innovative environment, providing clear direction, career development opportunities, and technical guidance. Set performance standards and manage the team to achieve ambitious goals.
Data Governance and Quality
Establish and enforce a comprehensive data governance framework. Implement policies and procedures for data quality, data lineage, metadata management, and data security. Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and availability of all data assets.
Technology Evaluation and Innovation
Stay at the forefront of emerging data technologies and trends. Evaluate and recommend new tools, frameworks, and platforms to enhance our data capabilities and drive efficiency. Lead proof-of-concept projects and manage the integration of new technologies into the existing ecosystem.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with stakeholders across the company, including Data Science, Product Management, Software Engineering, and Business Operations. Understand their data needs and deliver solutions that provide actionable insights and empower them to succeed.
Operational Excellence
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the data engineering function, ensuring the reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness of our data infrastructure. Implement best practices for monitoring, alerting, and incident response to maintain high levels of system availability.
Compliance and Security
Ensure all data practices and infrastructure comply with relevant financial regulations and data privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, SOX). Work with the security team to implement robust security controls to protect sensitive financial data.
Budget and Vendor Management
Develop and manage the data engineering budget, making strategic decisions on resource allocation and technology investments. Manage relationships with third-party vendors and cloud service providers to optimize cost and performance.
Requirements for the VP, Data Engineering with a FinTech Company – Charlotte, NC
We are seeking a candidate with a distinguished career in data engineering and a proven ability to lead at an executive level. The requirements for this role reflect the need for deep technical expertise combined with exceptional strategic and interpersonal skills.
Required Qualifications:
Experience
A minimum of 12-15 years of progressive experience in data engineering, software development, or a related field, with at least 7 years in a leadership role managing and scaling data engineering teams.
Industry Knowledge
Significant experience within the FinTech, banking, or financial services industry is essential. A deep understanding of financial data, market dynamics, and regulatory requirements is required.
Cloud Expertise
Proven, hands-on experience designing and building large-scale data solutions on a major cloud platform (AWS, GCP, or Azure). Expertise with services like AWS S3, Redshift, EMR, Kinesis, Glue, or their equivalents is critical.
Big Data Technologies
Deep technical expertise in modern big data ecosystems. Proficiency with distributed processing frameworks like Apache Spark is a must. Experience with streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka, Flink) and data warehousing solutions (e.g., Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift) is also required.
Technical Acumen
Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or Scala. A solid understanding of data modeling, database design, and SQL. Experience with data orchestration tools like Airflow or Dagster.
Leadership Skills
Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and mentor high-performing technical teams. A track record of attracting top talent and fostering a positive, inclusive, and innovative team culture.
Strategic Mindset
Ability to think strategically and translate business needs into a clear technical vision and roadmap. Experience presenting complex technical concepts to executive-level audiences.
Education
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related quantitative field.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Machine Learning infrastructure (MLOps) and supporting data science workflows.
- Familiarity with the modern data stack, including tools like dbt, Fivetran, or Census.
- Experience in a high-growth, venture-backed startup environment.
- Advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.S.) in a relevant field.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client believes in investing in their people and provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to support their employees’ well-being and professional growth.
Competitive Compensation
An attractive base salary, significant performance-based annual bonus, and a meaningful equity package.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents with low employee contributions.
Retirement Planning
A 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you save for your future.
Generous Time Off
A flexible and generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, plus company-paid holidays, to encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Professional Development
A substantial annual budget for conferences, training, certifications, and other professional growth opportunities.
Family Support
Paid parental leave to support you and your growing family.
Relocation Assistance
A comprehensive relocation package is available for exceptional candidates moving to the Charlotte area.
Work Environment
A modern, collaborative office space in a prime Charlotte location, equipped with the latest technology and amenities.
How to Apply
This is a retained search being conducted exclusively by JRG Partners. If you are a transformative data leader with the skills, experience, and passion to drive data innovation at a leading FinTech company, we want to hear from you. To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the role.
JRG Partners is a leader in executive search for the technology sector. To learn more about our expertise in placing top-tier technical executives, we invite you to explore our Technology Officers practice area on our website. We look forward to connecting with you and discussing how this exceptional role can be the next great step in your career.
