About the WaFd Enterprise Data Department

Are you passionate about data and its transformative potential? At WaFd Bank's Enterprise Data Department, we're on a mission to harness the power of data to create exceptional customer experiences, fight fraud, and drive innovation. We invite you to join our newly formed dynamic group, where your initiative, critical thinking, and passion for data will thrive. You'll play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing our data strategy, unlocking valuable insights that have a tangible impact on both the organization and our customers. Embrace the challenge, make a difference, and be part of a team that values your expertise and ambition.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter along with their application.

Job Summary

As the Senior Data Engineering Manager at WaFd Bank, you will lead and mentor a team of data engineers responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining our organization's data infrastructure. Reporting directly to the Chief Data Officer, you will play a pivotal role in the leadership of the data department, developing strategies in alignment with organizational goals, continually evolving the data ecosystem, and serving as a bridge between your team and the business. Your hands-on leadership will involve working alongside your team to collaboratively build and refine data infrastructure, ensure high data quality, optimize data management practices, and drive continuous improvement.

Experience in fintech or a financial institution is a significant advantage.

Along with the key functions listed below, you will be expected to uphold the value that WaFd Bank places on simply being kind when working alongside colleagues and servicing our clients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Team Leadership and Development
Hire, lead, mentor, and manage a strong team of data engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture with excellent customer service in alignment with WaFd's values. Work with stakeholders to balance priorities and focus the team on high-value work. Provide hands-on guidance, performance assessments, and professional development opportunities for the team.
1. Data Infrastructure
   Work side by side with team members to lead the design, construction, and maintenance of scalable data infrastructure, including data pipelines, systems integrations, data warehouses, data marts, and data lakes in support of analytical and business needs. Collaborate with stakeholders to understand data goals and objectives and translate them into executable strategies and tactics.
2. Data Quality and Governance
   Develop and implement strategies and tactics to enhance and validate data quality, integrity, and consistency across multiple data sources and systems. Assist business units in understanding data governance and make recommendations to improve organization-wide data management.
3. Documentation and Procedures
   Create and manage documentation and appropriate procedures necessary to enforce standards, communicate best practices, define roles and responsibilities, and sustain ongoing operations. Define and promote effective documentation best practices internally and externally.
4. Security / Compliance
   Adhere to all applicable laws and regulations. Maintain a working knowledge of security threats, laws, and policy for data privacy and protection in the complex regulatory environment of financial institutions. Take steps to protect organizational data from accidental or unauthorized damage, modification, or disclosure; assist with security and access management.
5. Technical Support and Guidance
   Provide technical support and guidance to end-users, analysts, and stakeholders on data-related matters, tools, and technologies. Troubleshoot issues related to data and data systems. Monitor data systems.
6. Continuous Improvement
   Stay current with related regulations, best practices, tools, and new technologies. Participate in educational opportunities, read professional publications, maintain personal and professional networks, and participate in professional organizations. Use new knowledge and ideas to continuously improve operational efficiencies, procedures, and strategy.
7. Team Player
   Commit to a collaborative mindset and perform other duties as needed in support of the team.

Education/Skills/Training:

Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in computer science, data science, software engineering, information systems, related quantitative field, or equivalent experience and/or training. A minimum of 6 years of experience in database development, maintenance and application interface or equivalent demonstrated performance and expertise. A minimum of 2 years in a managerial role leading technical teams.

• Strong understanding of data management principles, data governance practices, and data modeling concepts.
• Highly proficient in SQL, SQL-based languages (e.g., T-SQL, PL/SQL), and coding languages (e.g., Python, Java).
• Experience with relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL), big data cloud platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Azure Data Warehouse), and object-oriented data platforms (e.g., NoSQL, Hadoop, MongoDB).
• Experience with data integration and ETL tools (e.g., AWS DMS, SSIS, MuleSoft, Talend).
• Familiarity with data visualization and analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is a plus.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in fintech or a financial institution is a significant advantage.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Strong leadership and management skills, with a bias toward making an impact
• Investor in people, instilling culture and helping them reach their full potential
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• Strong customer service ethic and great communication skills
• Passionate about delivering quality no matter what you are doing
• A self-starter, motivated to push the limits and think outside of the box
• Innovative thinker with a fondness for solutions that are simple, elegant, and effective
• Ability to work with and maintain highly confidential information

Location**:

• This position is eligible to work a hybrid schedule in our Seattle, WA office.

At WaFd Bank you get all of these great benefits!

• Paid time off for vacation, sick days and holidays
• Health insurance
• Stock options
• Bonus programs
• Generous 7% 401(k) employer matching*
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee assistance programs
• Pre-tax health and dependent-care spending plans

WaFd Bank Benefits Summary - Click here for more information

We are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. We recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military and/or veteran status, or disability in accordance with Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, which require affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. WaFd Bank does not discriminate on the basis of national origin or citizenship status as provided under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. WaFd Bank is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities to the full extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you feel you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the ADA, you are encouraged to contact us at 800.324.9375

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