Director Data Engineering

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company,is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning.From testing to certification, Ascend Learning products are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.

Headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s 2025 Greatest Workplaces as well as America’s Best Places to work for Mental Well-Being for 2025.

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.

What You'll Do The Director Data Engineering is responsible for leading and managing technical resources and teams to design, build, and maintain scalable data infrastructure, pipelines, and quality measures across the enterprise. This includes building strong working relationships with business leadership and business intelligence leaders. This role aims to drive technical strategy, optimize data architecture, and ensure the alignment of data engineering initiatives with business goals to enable data to create a competitive edge for our company. Additionally, the role involves being knowledgeable of the latest data engineering technologies and building teams that are proficient in the technologies in place and in the marketplace.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK This position will work a hybrid schedule from our office location in either Leawood, KS or Burlington MA strongly preferred. Remote work within the United States may be considered.

How You’ll Spend Your Time

Data Engineering Team Development and Management: Build, mentor, and oversee specialized team(s) of data engineering professionals, including data engineers, specialized senior data engineers, and data architects. Define clear roles, establish performance metrics, and promote ongoing learning to cultivate a team that is proficient in state-of-the‑art data engineering technologies and methodologies.

Technical Research and Technological Advancement: Maintain cutting-edge knowledge of data engineering trends and advancements, leading the exploration and integration of new technologies and practices. Evaluate their potential benefits and risks to the organization and drive the adoption of transformative data solutions that can revolutionize platform and infrastructure capabilities.

Data Engineering Project Direction and Implementation: Manage the end-to-end execution of data engineering projects, ensuring they adhere to high standards of quality, meet established timelines, and stay within budget. Oversee project lifecycles, from conception through to deployment, while continuously monitoring progress and making strategic adjustments as necessary.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Data Advocacy: Encourage cross-departmental collaboration and serve as the data engineering advocate within the organization. Communicate complex technical concepts and insights to stakeholders at all levels, ensuring a cohesive understanding and integration of data capabilities across various business units to drive informed decision-making and policy development. This involves identifying data‑driven opportunities, setting objectives, and creating a roadmap for implementation to ensure the organization capitalizes on data engineering innovations for competitive advantage.

Data Governance and Quality Standards: Establish and enforce robust data governance frameworks to ensure secure, reliable, and accountable management of data assets within the organization. This includes developing policies for data privacy, data quality, and lineage, as well as setting up oversight mechanisms to monitor data systems for compliance with legal and regulatory standards. The goal is to promote trust and integrity in the organization's data, safeguarding the interests of the company and its stakeholders while fostering responsible innovation.

What You'll Need

High School Diploma or GED Required. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.

A minimum of 7-10 years of relevant professional experience in data engineering, data architecture, software engineering, or a related area.

Proven experience in leading and managing technical teams.

Strong executive presence with the ability to represent the Data Engineering function to internal and external stakeholders, including cross-functional Senior Leadership

A track record of successful implementation of enterprise data engineering projects and strategies within an organization.

Experience with data infrastructure in a business context, demonstrating a strong understanding of how data platforms and pipelines can solve real‑world problems and drive value.

Experience working collaboratively between data engineering and business intelligence teams.

Prior experience in a senior role, such as a Lead Data Architect, Data Engineering Manager, or similar leadership position in the field of data engineering.

Strong expertise in data architecture, modeling (ERDs, dimensional modeling), and data integration across systems.

Proficiency with data pipelines and transformation tools (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Coalesce, Snowpipe) and version control (e.g., GitLab).

Knowledge of cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) that offer data and analytics services.

Experience with BI and analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Python, R) and advanced analytics techniques.

Familiarity with DataOps/DevOps practices and automation tools (e.g., Terraform, ARM).

Understanding of data governance, security, and best practices.

Knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies and tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence).

Experience with AI/ML and familiarity with modern AI platforms (e.g., Azure ML, Copilot, Claude, OpenAI) is preferred.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively lead teams and interact with stakeholders.

Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.

Strategic thinking and business acumen to align data engineering initiatives with organizational goals.

Continuous learning mindset to keep up with the rapidly evolving field of data engineering.

HIRING RANGE The current full‑time, annualized base pay hiring range for this role is $178,900.00-$255,860.00. In accordance with applicable state laws, we are providing the expected pay range for this position. Individual compensation will be determined by various factors, including relevant experience, qualifications, current business needs and local market factors. Most regular, full‑time employees are eligible to participate in an Ascend incentive bonus or sales plan.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Company paid life Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and parental leave

Employee assistance program

Other wellness programs such as Headspace and Airvet

Charitable matching program

Fostering A Sense of Belonging Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers. We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and be authentic. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S.-based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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