Manager, Data Engineering

Lightning AI

$188K — $275K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 4+ years managing data engineering or analytics teams in a startup.
  • 10+ years in analytics engineering or related roles.
  • Deep expertise in ETL pipelines and data architecture.
  • Strong knowledge of SQL, Python, and modern data tools (dbt, SQLMesh, etc.).
  • Proven ability to build high-performing teams and deliver product insights.
  • Experience collaborating with product and engineering teams for strategic outcomes.
  • Strong communication skills for translating technical concepts.

Responsibilities

  • Design and own ETL/ELT pipelines for various data types.
  • Build and maintain clean, documented data tables for analysis.
  • Ensure data quality through schema management and monitoring.
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to instrument tracking.
  • Support product and ML teams by helping to unblock workflows.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Retirement and financial wellness support.
  • Generous paid time off and holidays.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Professional development support.
  • Wellness and work-from-home stipends.
  • Flexible work environment.
Full Job Description


What We're Looking For

We're moving fast, and our data infrastructure needs to keep up. GPU telemetry, product usage, and operational signals are accumulating faster than our pipelines can surface them. We're at the stage where the right data foundation unlocks everything: better product decisions, faster model iteration, and cleaner ops. As our first Data Engineering Manager, you will help us get there.

This is an early, high-scope role reporting to our VP of Product. You'll own data reliability across the company: clean tables, documented lineage, and signal flowing to where it's needed. You drive projects from conception to production without waiting to be told what to do next.
What You'll Do
  • Design and own ETL/ELT pipelines that move GPU telemetry, product usage, operational data, and customer data from where it lives to where it's useful
  • Build and maintain the clean, documented tables that analysts and data scientists actually work from - not raw dumps
  • Own data quality end-to-end: schema management, freshness monitoring, lineage tracking, and alerting when something breaks
  • Partner with engineering and GTM teams to instrument what isn't already tracked
  • Work closely with product, infra, and ML teams, primarily unblocking them
What You'll Need
  • 4+ years of experience managing analytics engineering or data engineering teams, preferably in a scaling startup environment
  • 10+ years of total experience in analytics engineering, data engineering, or similar data-focused roles
  • Deep expertise in data modeling, ETL pipelines, and data warehouse architecture
  • Strong technical foundation with expertise in SQL, Python, and modern data stack tools (dbt, SQLMesh, etc)
  • Proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams
  • Experience partnering with Data Science, Product, and Engineering leaders to deliver key product metrics and user behavior insights
  • Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on technical leadership
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
  • Experience scaling analytics functions from early stage to maturity in rapidly changing environments
  • Track record of establishing data governance, quality standards, and best practices
  • A bias for action and urgency, not letting perfect be the enemy of the effective
  • A "full-stack mindset", not hesitating to do what it takes to solve a problem end-to-end
Location

We work in-person from our NYC office 2 days a week-we've found it accelerates how fast we ship.

We are committed to offering competitive compensation that reflects the value each team member brings to our mission. Final offers are based on factors such as experience, skills, geographic location, and role expectations. In addition to base salary, our total rewards package for eligible roles includes a discretionary bonus, a meaningful equity component, and comprehensive benefits.

The anticipated annual base salary range for this role is:

$188,000-$275,000 USD

Benefits and Perks

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' health, well-being, and long-term success. Benefits may vary by location, team, and role.

Benefits include:
  • Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage (U.S.); Private medical and dental insurance (U.K.)
  • Retirement and financial wellness support (U.S.); Pension contribution (U.K.)
  • Generous paid time off, plus holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Professional development support
  • Wellness and work-from-home stipends
  • Flexible work environment

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Lightning AI

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Manager, Data Engineering jobs: