Lead Data Engineer

About SANS

Founded in 1989, SANS Institute (SANS) began as a cooperative research and education organization. Over the next 25 years, it grew to become the most trusted and widely recognized provider of information security training and certification in the world. Today, SANS has served more than 300,000 cybersecurity professionals around the world, with more than 60,000 earning Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) security certifications-the leading certification that provides assurance to employers that their people and prospective hires can do the job.

At the heart of SANS is a community of practitioners, from auditors and network administrators to CISOs, who share their lessons learned and collaborate on solutions to the challenges they face. These experts, working across corporations, government agencies, and universities, come together to support and strengthen the global information security community.

Why SANS?

At SANS, our culture is defined by three pillars: Mission, Brand, and People.

• Our Mission is to hire people who understand the importance fighting against cybersecurity threats.
• Our Brand reflects a commitment to delivering the highest quality training.
• Our People are grounded in a culture of fairness, honesty, customer focus, and a pragmatic approach.

What You'll Achieve at SANS

We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to join our Data team. This role plays a key part in defining and driving the data architecture standards, data infrastructure, and long-term data strategy for SANS. This role will be responsible for designing and maintaining a scalable, secure, and high-performing data ecosystem that supports the entire organization.

As the primary consumer of data is the full SANS enterprise - spanning business and technology stakeholders - the Lead Data Engineer will work cross-functionally to ensure data structures, pipelines, and platforms are scalable, reliable, and aligned with organizational objectives. This role will partner closely with teams across the business to enable data-driven decision-making and ensure that data assets effectively support SANS' operational and strategic functions.

As a Lead Data Engineer, you will:

• Define, implement, and maintain enterprise-wide data architecture standards, governance frameworks, and best practices.
• Design and oversee scalable data pipelines, storage solutions, and data platforms to support business and technology stakeholders across SANS.
• Lead the development and optimization of data infrastructure, ensuring performance, reliability, security, and cost efficiency.
• Establish and drive the long-term data strategy aligned with SANS' organizational goals and growth plans.
• Partner cross-functionally with business, technology, analytics, and leadership teams to understand data needs and translate them into scalable solutions.
• Ensure high data quality, integrity, accessibility, and compliance across systems.
• Evaluate and recommend tools, platforms, and emerging technologies to enhance SANS' data capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to data engineers and other technical team members.
• Oversee data modeling standards and ensure structures support reporting, analytics, and operational use cases.
• Support and enable enterprise-wide data-driven decision-making.
• Identify and deploy AI-driven solutions to optimize automation, analytics, and business processes.
  
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Every SANS employee brings something unique. For this role, we're looking for candidates with:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science / software engineering or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or related roles.
• Experience mentoring or leading other engineers.
• Proven experience designing and implementing scalable data architectures in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Deep expertise in building and optimizing ETL/ELT pipelines and data integration frameworks (e.g. DTB, Fivetran, Openflow).
• Strong experience with data warehousing technologies (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery, or similar platforms).
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and at least one programming language commonly used in data engineering (e.g., Python).
• Experience with data modeling techniques supporting analytics, reporting, and operational use cases.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, compliance, and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to define technical standards and influence enterprise-wide data strategy.
• Experience working cross-functionally with both business and technical stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-aligned solutions.
  
• Unrestricted authorization to work in the USA; visa sponsorship is not available.

Benefits and Perks of Working at SANS

We're committed to fair and equitable compensation. The expected salary range for this position is$160,000 - $175,000 plus bonus eligible, depending on geographic location, skills, and experience. At SANS, pay equity and transparency are priorities.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports your total well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• Financial Benefits: Competitive base salary,bonus opportunities, and a 401(k) plan with company match.

• Health & Wellness: Robust medical, dental, and vision plans; company-provided short term disability; optional long-term disability, supplemental life and AD&D insurance for employees and dependents; voluntary benefits including accident insurance and identity theft protection; fitness and wellness programs; and a company paid employee assistance program (EAP).
• Time Off & Flexibility: Generous paid time off, including volunteer time.
• Learning & Development: Access to professional development and SANS training opportunities.

Flexibility and Balance at SANS

We support our colleagues with the tools and flexibility they need to thrive, both professionally and personally. As a primarily remote work environment, we are committed to maintaining strong connections, collaboration, and a vibrant culture across virtual teams. While most roles operate remotely, some positions may require occasional in-person presence depending on role-specific or business needs.

SANS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

SANS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact SANS Human Resources.

US Job Seekers: Click here to view the "Know Your Rights" poster.

SANS complies with all applicable state and local laws regarding the consideration of applicants with arrest or conviction records. For positions governed by federal and/or state banking regulations, SANS will adhere to relevant requirements when evaluating candidates with criminal histories.

Employment eligibility in the United States is required. SANS does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.