Data Ops Lead

Brief Description:We are seeking a DataOps Lead to own and advance the operational reliability, quality, and scalability of our cloud-based data platforms. This role sits at the intersection of data engineering, platform operations, and reliability, supporting critical data pipelines that power analytics, reporting, and operational decision-making across oilfield and energy operations.The DataOps Lead will be responsible for ensuring that data is available, accurate, timely, and trustworthy, while leading operational best practices across ingestion, processing, and delivery systems running primarily on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).This is a hands-on technical leadership role with strong expectations for ownership, cross-team collaboration, and continuous improvement.Detailed Description:Data Platform OperationsOwn the day-to-day operational health of cloud-based data pipelines and platformsEnsure high data availability, freshness, accuracy, and completenessLead operational support for batch and streaming data workloadsData Reliability & QualityDefine and manage data SLAs, SLOs, and reliability metricsImplement and maintain data quality checks, validations, and monitoringDesign processes for backfills, reprocessing, and failure recoveryCloud & InfrastructureOperate and optimize GCP-based data services, including BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub, and GKEPartner with platform and SRE teams on scalability, performance, and cost optimizationManage data infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform)Automation & ToolingBuild and maintain Python-based automation for data operations and monitoringImprove reliability and repeatability through standardized tooling and workflowsSupport and enhance data orchestration platforms (e.g., Airflow / Cloud Composer)Incident Response & Operational ExcellenceLead response to data incidents, including triage, mitigation, and root cause analysisDrive post-incident reviews and track corrective actionsCreate and maintain runbooks, operational documentation, and playbooksCI/CD & GovernanceImplement CI/CD best practices for data pipelinesPromote testing, version control, and deployment standards across data workflowsEnsure data platforms align with security, governance, and access control requirementsLeadership & CollaborationAct as a technical leader within the DataOps functionPartner closely with:Data engineering teamsSRE / platform engineeringAnalytics and business stakeholdersMentor engineers and help raise the operational maturity of the data organizationRequired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:7+ years experience in Data Engineering, DataOps, or Data Platform Operations3+ years experience operating cloud-based data platforms in productionStrong hands-on experience with Google Cloud Platform, including:GCP: GKE, Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub (or equivalents)Cloud Monitoring & LoggingBigQueryDataflowDatastreamIAM and networkingComposer/AIrflowKubernetes: deployment, scaling, reliability patternsObservability: GCP Cloud Monitoring, LoggingStrong proficiency in Python for data pipelines, automation, and operational toolingExperience with data orchestration frameworks (Airflow preferred)Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform)Experience with Azure DevopsProven experience leading data incident response and operational improvementsStrong SQL skills for data analysis and troubleshootingMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.7+ years experience in Data Engineering, DataOps, or Data Platform Operations3+ years leading or owning production data platforms in a cloud environmentDemonstrated technical leadership of data operations initiatives or teamsAbility to understand and speak English at a level of proficiency allowing employee to issue, receive and respond to both safety and operations-related directions in EnglishPreferred Qualifications:Oil and Gas Industry knowledgeTechnology/Digital Industry knowledge#LI-DA1 The Evolving Oil Field Demands Evolving Service Providers NexTier is a leading provider of integrated completions that employs sustainable practices and equipment to support our customers’ ESG goals while accelerating production in the most demanding US land basins. Patterson-UTI is committed to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, offering equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of personal characteristics protected by law. Employees are encouraged to report any concerns through multiple channels.Posting Date: 2026-07-15