Principal Data Engineer

Join the ECI Group's Professional Technical Services Network as a contract Principal Data Engineer .  This is a Houston TX based contract role with an anticipated 7-month duration with an estimated start date of October 5, 2026.   Note: You must be a US Citizen or Permanent US Resident to qualify for this position. 

About the Role
We are seeking a visionary Principal Data Engineer to lead the delivery of innovative data analytics solutions, with a focus on technical excellence, governance, and operational performance in a high-volume data environment. This role involves strategic and technical leadership in building Azure-based data lake solutions, driving maturity in data management, and engaging with cross-functional teams to leverage data for organizational success.
Key Responsibilities:

• Architect, design, and implement scalable Azure-based data lake solutions.
• Establish roadmaps for capability-building across technologies such as Qlik Replicate, Databricks Delta Live Tables, and Unity Catalog.
• Provide technical leadership, ensuring adherence to best practices and quality standards.
• Lead the development of data transformation pipelines using Databricks Delta Live Tables and Structured Streaming.
• Optimize Databricks resources for high-volume data processing without exceeding budget.
• Oversee the use of Databricks Unity Catalog for data governance, lineage, and metadata management.
• Develop and enforce robust data governance policies, ensuring compliance, security, and data quality.
• Monitor data pipeline performance and proactively resolve production issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align project objectives with business goals.
• Translate technical challenges into actionable insights for executive teams.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team skilled in Azure, Databricks, and data streaming technologies.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer sessions to empower internal teams with cutting-edge methodologies.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT or a related discipline.

• 15-17 years of experience in the IT industry with expertise in delivering cost-effective cloud-based data analytics solutions.
• Proven track record in building data lake architectures and optimizing performance in big data environments.
• Certification in Azure Data Engineering or Databricks (preferred).

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Azure technologies, including ADF, ADLS, Databricks, Stream Analytics, Delta Live Tables, and Synapse Analytics.

• Advanced proficiency in SQL and programming languages such as Python, Scala, or Spark-SQL.
• Experience in designing and developing scalable ETL pipelines and optimizing data workflows.
• Deep understanding of data migration from on-premises to cloud, cloud to cloud.

Leadership and Soft Skills:

• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage end-to-end analytics projects.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills for engaging executives and stakeholders.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, adaptability, and commitment to results.
• Expertise in identifying risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies.

 
Nice to Have:

• Familiarity with big data tools like Hadoop, Kafka, and Spark.

• Experience with visualization tools such as PowerBI or QlikSense.
• Knowledge of AI/ML, NLP, and GenAI concepts.
• Familiarity with AGILE and KANBAN methodologies.

Portfolio: Shell IDT/Downstream & Renewables IDT/Trading & Supply/TS - Crude & Products/TS - Products/TS - Products Investments
Program:
Project: T&S Future Freight Platform – Jigsaw
Description:
Build a new Freight Platform (replacing RADAR) to serve the freight business and its customers. This includes a new industry standard Voyage Management System (VIP) alongside other components to close capability gaps. Optimize business processes and define master data maintenance processes.
The overall Freight Platform will serve as a hub to facilitate seamless integration of necessary data, supporting an ecosystem of IT tools that are aligned with Shell's business growth roadmap.
Freight Platform Project will begin a detailed design phase through Stage Gate 2 to accomplish the following:

• • An approved (Solution Architecture) that provides a solution for Industry standard Voyage Management System (VIP) alongside other IT components to close capability gaps - identified during the Study Phase
  • Optimize business processes and define master data maintenance processes
  • Establish how well the platform can meet the needs for capturing Freight exposure management across the house, with the potential to use existing ETRMs for this if required,
  • What IMOS reporting capability to utilise and avoid paying for functionality in IMOS we don't need and can do internally in a cost-efficient manner,
  • Identify MI data use-cases that provide Shell a competitive edge and develop them in-house e.g. with Qliksense offering-up alternate solutions for exposure reporting, VaR, Carbon Emissions reporting.
  • Identify a middleware integration solution to replace Mulesoft to tie Shell systems to VESON VIP
  • Develop a data platform solution to ingest, host and distribute data between multiple integration points

Business Application:
RADAR Bulk Upload, RADAR Mail, RADAR-SAFE, RadarMsgServer, RADAR_app, VESON VIP T&S Pr| Data Modelling, Data Engineering, Data Integration

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