Master Data Engineer III

Summary

The Master Data Engineer III serves a critical role in designing, developing, and supporting enterprise data solutions that enable reliable, scalable, and high-quality data across the organization. Leveraging advanced technical expertise, business acumen, and deep understanding of data engineering principles, this role is responsible for solving complex data challenges, leading technical initiatives, and driving continuous improvements in data architecture, integration, and operational processes.

The Master Data Engineer III partners closely with business stakeholders, architects, analysts, vendors, and technical teams to understand strategic requirements and translate them into effective data solutions. This role acts as a technical leader and subject matter expert, guiding solution design, reviewing technical outcomes, defining standards, and providing mentorship to other engineers. The Master Data Engineer III works independently on projects of diverse scope and complexity, balances competing priorities, and exercises sound judgment in developing innovative solutions that align with business objectives and enterprise architecture standards.

Maintaining a broad understanding of evolving business needs, technologies, and data management practices is essential to ensure data solutions continue to meet organizational requirements. This position frequently represents the data engineering function to leadership and plays a key role in establishing best practices, improving processes, and ensuring the stability and scalability of enterprise data platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Technical

• Lead the design, development, implementation, and support of complex data engineering solutions that enable enterprise reporting, analytics, integrations, and operational processes.
• Partner with business and technical stakeholders to gather, analyze, and translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Perform detailed analysis of data architecture, data flows, integrations, and technical requirements to identify effective solutions for business needs.
• Design and review data models, data pipelines, and integration architectures that support enterprise objectives while ensuring performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• Lead technical design reviews, solution reviews, and outcome reviews to ensure adherence to engineering standards and best practices.
• Develop, execute, and oversee comprehensive testing and deployment strategies, including manual and automated testing procedures, to ensure solution quality and operational stability.
• Apply advanced technical expertise across multiple data engineering technologies to provide support, troubleshooting, and maintenance for production solutions.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for assigned technologies or domains, owning escalations of the highest complexity and driving issue resolution.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Data Engineers and other team members through knowledge sharing, coaching, and solution reviews.

Leadership

• Collaborate with architects, business leaders, and technical teams to define standards, improve engineering processes, and establish best practices.
• Lead or contribute to strategic initiatives requiring innovation and development of new approaches to complex business and technical challenges.
• Manage and coordinate vendor deliverables and technical activities to ensure successful execution of project objectives.
• Represent the data engineering team in interactions with leadership, business stakeholders, vendors, and cross-functional technical teams.
• Provide project leadership for assigned initiatives, including effort estimation, technical planning, risk identification, and resource coordination.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, engineering methodologies, and tools, making recommendations that improve efficiency, scalability, reliability, and overall business value.
• Integrate technical expertise with business knowledge to develop solutions that deliver measurable outcomes for the organization.

Typical Education

Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a 4-year college or university. Equivalent education and experience may be considered.

Relevant Experience

Technical

• 4–10 years of progressive experience in data engineering, data integration, analytics, or related disciplines.
• Advanced understanding of data engineering concepts, architectures, methodologies, and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing complex data solutions across multiple technologies and business domains.
• Strong SQL, data transformation, and data pipeline development skills.
• Experience developing and supporting enterprise-scale data integration and analytics solutions.
• Proven ability to analyze complex technical problems, evaluate alternatives, and develop innovative solutions.
• Experience leading technical projects, workstreams, or engineering teams through all phases of solution delivery.
• Experience defining and implementing testing, deployment, and operational support procedures for enterprise data platforms.
• Expertise in one or more data engineering technologies or platforms and the ability to serve as a technical subject matter expert.

Leadership

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence technical and business stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and develop junior engineers and contribute to overall team effectiveness.
• Experience working collaboratively with vendors, business users, architects, and technical teams to deliver successful outcomes.
• Proven track record of managing competing priorities, navigating ambiguity, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently on highly complex initiatives.
• Experience developing governance standards, process improvements, and engineering best practices.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and capable of exercising sound judgment with minimal supervision.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and overseeing technical deliverables is preferred.
• Willingness to travel as required to support business and project objectives.

Other Information

This role reports onsite full-time at Simplot HQ (Boise, ID).