Head of Data Architecture & Engineering

Ventura Solutions is a newly established branch of the leading technology consultancy, Ventura Growth, specializing in digital transformation and data-driven strategies that enhance business performance across various industries. We partner with a diverse range of clients, from e-commerce retailers to independent digital marketing agencies, to build, optimize, and manage their technology stacks. As the first full-time technical hire for this high-growth entity, you’ll have the unique opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an exciting new firm. Your work will play a critical role in shaping the future of data-driven business strategies, from designing scalable data architectures and optimizing data governance to developing sophisticated data pipelines. Join us as we build something extraordinary, ensuring that our clients’ systems are robust, scalable, and seamlessly integrated.

Position Overview:

As the Head of Data Architecture and Engineering at Ventura Solutions, you will play a critical role in leading the design, implementation, and management of sophisticated data solutions for our clients. This position demands a deep understanding of cloud-based data architectures, data integration, performance optimization, and data governance. You will also engage directly with clients, translating technical concepts into actionable business strategies. This role requires the ability to work independently, drive strategic decisions, and eventually build and mentor a technical team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Data Architecture & Design:
  • Lead the design and implementation of scalable data architectures using cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, with a strong focus on Snowflake as the core cloud data warehouse.
  • Develop and optimize data models and data storage solutions, ensuring they meet business requirements for performance, scalability, and security.
  • Oversee data integration efforts using technologies like Kafka, NiFi, Spark, and Hive, with an emphasis on optimizing Spark for big data processing.
• Data Pipeline Development & Transformation:
  • Build, maintain, monitor, and optimize data pipelines using ETL tools such as FiveTran, Talend, Informatica, or Apache Airflow, ensuring seamless integration and transformation of data across various sources.
  • Implement data transformation processes using DBT to support analytics and reporting needs, ensuring data accuracy and readiness for business intelligence.
  • Experience in stitching first-party data to third-party or unknown data, with knowledge of multi-touch attribution (MTA) preferred.  
• Technical Leadership & Client Engagement:
  • Serve as the technical lead on data projects, guiding the development and implementation of best practices in data architecture and engineering.
  • Engage with clients to understand their data needs, translate these into technical solutions, and present them in a clear, non-technical manner.
  • Contribute to business development efforts by identifying opportunities for new engagements and crafting proposals that align with client objectives.
• Data Governance & Compliance:
  • Ensure all data solutions adhere to industry standards for security, compliance, and data governance, including implementing data encryption, access controls, and compliance monitoring.
  • Support business intelligence and analytics teams by ensuring data availability and integrity for tools like Tableau, Power BI, Looker, and Domo.
• Practice Development:
  • Establish and document best practices for data management and engineering, creating a foundation for scalable growth as the team expands.
  • Mentor and guide freelance resources and future full-time technical hires, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within the team.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Technical Expertise:
  • 8+ years of experience in data architecture and engineering, with a strong focus on cloud data warehousing and big data technologies.
  • Experience in DevOps using code versioning tools such as Github and CI/CD processes with tools like Terraform for infrastructure as code.
  • Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, with hands-on experience in Snowflake as a data warehouse.
  • Strong programming skills in SQL and Python, with experience in Java or Scala as a plus.
  • Expertise in big data processing with Apache Spark is required, with additional experience in NiFi and Hive considered a strong advantage.
  • Experience with ETL tools such as FiveTran, Talend, Informatica, or Airflow, and data manipulation libraries like Pandas and NumPy.
  • Experience with machine learning tools is preferred.
• Client-Facing & Communication Skills:
  • Proven ability to lead client engagements, translate business needs into technical solutions, and present these solutions effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
• Autonomy & Leadership:
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, make strategic decisions, and lead projects to successful completion.
  • Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers and contributing to the growth and development of a technical practice.
  • Engineering lead or management experience for 4+ years is a plus

Why Ventura Solutions?

• Impactful Work: Be a key player in building a new branch of a leading consultancy, shaping the future of data-driven strategies for our clients.
• Growth Opportunities: Take on a leadership role from day one, with the potential to build and mentor a technical team as the practice grows.
• Collaborative Environment: Join a dynamic, innovative environment where your contributions will be valued, and your impact will be tangible.

Please note that this role is open to candidates outside of Colorado. Any hire located in Denver will be in a hybrid role and will work from our downtown Denver office on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. 

The estimated pay range for this role is a base salary of $165,000 - $195,000.

The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills, experience, and geographic location. All roles are eligible for the following benefits: 

• Health Care Insurance
• Company stipends for specific perks
• Flexible time off
• Paid parental leave

To learn more about our benefits and perks, click HERE.

At Ventura Growth, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), gender identity, or gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military service or veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you have a disability or particular need that requires accommodation at any point in the hiring process, contact our Director of People.

Before applying to a remote role, ensure you will be working from the United States. We are not currently hiring outside the US.