Citizens Financial Group, Inc

Director of Data Operations - Operational Support & Data Platform Stability

Citizens Financial Group, Inc • $130K — $160K *
Phoenix, AZ 85032In-Person
Enterprise Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of experience in data engineering with a focus on operational support and platform reliability
  • Proven leadership in managing enterprise data platform operations, especially in financial services
  • Experience with cloud migration and implementing data modernization initiatives
  • Familiarity with AI-driven automation in production environments
  • Strong understanding of banking data domains and regulatory requirements
  • Experience working with Agile methodologies and engaging with cross-functional teams
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Responsibilities

  • Provide hands-on leadership for 24x7 operational support of data platforms
  • Ensure stability and performance of data pipelines through proactive monitoring
  • Establish AI-driven operational automation for data processes
  • Define SLAs, SLOs, and KPIs in collaboration with stakeholders
  • Oversee root cause analysis and resolution of data incidents
  • Drive modernization of ETL processes into cloud-native frameworks
  • Implement observability frameworks for data systems

Benefits

  • Hybrid work schedule with four days on-site
  • Engaging leadership role with a focus on modernization and sustainability
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in cloud and AI
  • Chance to influence enterprise-wide data strategy and governance
  • Access to professional development and career advancement opportunities
Full Job Description
Job Description

Role Summary

As a Director of Data Operations focused on Operational Support and Data Platform Stability, you will provide senior technical leadership to a team of data engineers responsible for operating, and continuously improving enterprise-scale data platforms. This role extends beyond traditional engineering to ensure high availability, resiliency, and performance of critical data pipelines and systems supporting core banking and analytics functions.

You will partner with business and technology stakeholders to modernize data ecosystems using AI-driven automation, Lakehouse architecture, and cloud-native platforms, while ensuring operational excellence. Your leadership will drive consistent, scalable, and reliable data delivery across the enterprise, enabling downstream analytics, regulatory reporting, and customer-facing applications.

Specialized Responsibilities
  • Provide hands-on leadership for 24x7 operational support and reliability engineering of enterprise data platforms
  • Ensure data pipeline stability, resiliency, and performance at scale, including proactive monitoring and incident prevention
  • Establish and enforce AI-driven operational automation, including self-healing pipelines, anomaly detection, and predictive failure analysis
  • Partner with stakeholders to define SLAs, SLOs, and operational KPIs for data systems across critical business domains
  • Oversee root cause analysis and resolution of data incidents, pipeline failures, and performance bottlenecks
  • Drive modernization of legacy ETL/ELT processes into cloud-native, event-driven, and scalable data frameworks
  • Lead implementation of observability frameworks, including logging, tracing, metrics, and lineage tracking
  • Standardize data engineering lifecycle practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and release governance
  • Optimize data platforms for cost, performance, and throughput efficiency across distributed systems
  • Collaborate across teams to ensure downstream data consumption readiness, including analytics, reporting, AI/ML, and regulatory use cases
  • Mentor and develop engineering teams in site reliability engineering (SRE) principles and operational excellence


Preferred Technical Expertise
  • Advanced experience with Lakehouse architectures (e.g., Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg, Hudi) and related engineering patterns
  • Deep expertise in cloud-based data ecosystems (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including distributed storage and compute
  • Strong experience with streaming and event-driven processing (e.g., Kafka, Spark Streaming, Flink)
  • Expertise in data pipeline orchestration and automation tools (Airflow, Dagster, native cloud orchestration)
  • Proficiency in AI/ML-driven operational analytics, including anomaly detection, forecasting, and optimization models
  • Experience implementing data observability and monitoring platforms (e.g., Monte Carlo, Datadog, Prometheus, CloudWatch)
  • Advanced programming experience in Python, Java/Scala, SQL, and distributed processing frameworks
  • Expertise in performance tuning for large-scale data systems, including storage optimization, partitioning, and indexing strategies
  • Familiarity with DevOps and SRE practices, including Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation)

Business Outcomes and Impact
  • Improved data platform stability and uptime, ensuring reliable delivery of mission-critical data assets
  • Reduced mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to resolve (MTTR) for data incidents
  • Increased operational efficiency through automation, reducing manual intervention and support overhead
  • Enhanced data pipeline scalability and performance, enabling high-volume, low-latency data processing
  • Accelerated enterprise data modernization, transitioning from legacy systems to cloud-native architectures
  • Improved data quality and trust, supporting regulatory compliance and critical business decision-making
  • Optimized infrastructure cost and utilization across distributed cloud environments
  • Enabled faster downstream analytics and AI/ML innovation through reliable, well-governed data pipelines

Preferred Qualifications
  • 12+ years of experience in data engineering, with significant focus on large-scale operational support and platform reliability
  • Proven experience leading teams in enterprise data platform operations within financial services or regulated industries
  • Demonstrated expertise in cloud migration and data modernization initiatives
  • Experience implementing AI-driven automation in production data environments
  • Strong understanding of consumer and commercial banking data domains and regulatory requirements
  • Experience with Agile delivery models and cross-functional stakeholder engagement
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
  • Relevant certifications in Cloud, Big Data, or Agile methodologies

Modernization and Architecture Expectations
  • Lead the transition to Lakehouse-driven architectures to unify analytics, AI, and operational workloads
  • Establish cloud-first, modular data platform designs supporting scalability and resilience
  • Implement event-driven, loosely coupled data pipelines to improve adaptability and real-time capabilities
  • Drive adoption of AI-powered operational intelligence, including automated remediation and predictive monitoring
  • Standardize data platform observability, governance, and lineage frameworks
  • Replace legacy ETL systems with modern, scalable, and metadata-driven pipeline architectures
  • Ensure all data systems are designed with resiliency, fault tolerance, and failover capabilities as core principles
  • Embed security, compliance, and data privacy controls into platform architecture by design

Hours & Work Schedule
  • Hours per Week: 40
  • Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
  • Hybrid: 4 days per week on-site

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc

Citizens Bank is a financial service company. It provides outstanding local and personalized service. It offers a full range of commercial, real estate, and consumer lending. It is specialized in personal and small business deposit services, electronic services.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Careers

Join the dynamic team at Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a leading financial institution where your career aspirations can soar. We are committed to fostering a culture of innovation, leadership, and diversity that supports our employees' professional growth and development.

Explore Job Opportunities

At Citizens Financial Group, Inc., we offer a wide range of job opportunities that cater to diverse skill sets and career interests. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, you'll find a position that challenges you and enhances your expertise.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with our internship programs designed to give you a hands-on experience in the financial sector. Our internships provide a robust platform to develop your skills, engage in meaningful projects, and network with industry leaders.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career with Citizens Financial Group, Inc. means opting for a comprehensive package of benefits. We believe in supporting our team members not only in their professional lives but also in their personal growth and well-being.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity Training

We pride ourselves on a workplace culture that embraces diversity and inclusivity. Regular diversity training ensures that our team members appreciate and leverage the unique backgrounds and perspectives that each individual brings to the company.

Professional Growth and Leadership Development

Continuous learning is at the core of our professional development agenda. With access to leadership development programs and tailored training, you can advance your career and leadership skills at Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Innovation at Work

Innovation is key to staying competitive in the financial industry. At Citizens Financial Group, Inc., you’ll work alongside talented professionals who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in financial services.

Networking and Career Advancement

Our company not only provides job opportunities but also fosters an environment where networking and professional connections flourish. This supportive network is vital for career advancement and personal growth within the industry.

Join Our Team

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the open positions at Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and find where your skills and passions align with our needs. We are continuously hiring and looking for new talents to join our robust team.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest career tips, industry insights, and job openings at Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Subscribe to our careers blog and personalize your job alerts to match your preferences and career goals.

Prepare for Your Interview

Make a great first impression. Prepare for your interview with us by researching our company culture, reviewing your resume, and coming ready to discuss how your experience and skills align with the position you are applying for. At Citizens Financial Group, Inc., we are more than just a financial institution; we are a place where you can make a difference. Join us and transform your career with a company that values your unique talents and aspirations.
Learn more about Citizens Financial Group, Inc
Size
17,463 employees
Market Cap
$19.3 billion
Industry
Finance & Insurance
Net Income
$1 billion
Founded
1828
5 Year Trend
+2.6%
NASDAQ
CFG
* Ladders Estimates

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