McDonalds

Sr Director, Platform Engineering - Data & Analytics

McDonalds • $237K — $296K *
Enterprise Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
  • 15+ years of experience in software or platform engineering and cloud technologies.
  • 8+ years managing large engineering teams and senior technical leaders.
  • Experience with enterprise platform strategies in cloud-native environments.
  • Deep expertise in Platform Engineering, DevOps, SRE, and automation practices.
  • Proficiency in large-scale data and analytics platform operations.
  • Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

  • Define and execute the long-term Platform Engineering strategy for the organization.
  • Lead the evolution of enterprise data platform capabilities supporting comprehensive analytics.
  • Champion a Cloud FinOps culture and optimize cloud compute and storage costs.
  • Establish Site Reliability Engineering practices for data platforms.
  • Drive adoption of DataOps and automation best practices throughout the organization.
  • Build relationships with strategic vendors and cloud providers.
  • Attract and develop high-performing engineering leaders and technical talent.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance including medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life insurance coverage.
  • Eligible for bonus and long-term incentive programs.
Full Job Description
Department Overview

The Data & Analytics team enables data-driven decision making across the enterprise by delivering scalable data platforms, advanced analytics capabilities, AI/ML foundations, and trusted data products. We empower business and technology teams with modern data infrastructure, governance, and engineering practices to transform data into actionable insights and business value.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Director, Platform Engineering, to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of the enterprise Data & Analytics platform engineering function. This leader will be responsible for building and evolving the foundational platforms, tools, automation, and reliability practices that power data engineering, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data product delivery across the organization.

The Senior Director will oversee teams responsible for cloud-native data platforms, developer experience, platform operations, DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), observability, security integration, and infrastructure automation. This leader will drive modernization efforts, establish scalable engineering standards, and ensure the Data & Analytics ecosystem delivers secure, reliable, and highly available services that support both current and future business needs.

This role partners closely with Data Engineering, Analytics, Data Science, AI/ML, Architecture, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Product Management, and business stakeholders to define platform strategy, optimize delivery velocity, and maintain operational excellence across the enterprise data landscape.

Duties

Platform Strategy & Leadership
  • Define and execute the long-term Platform Engineering strategy for the Data & Analytics organization, aligning investments with enterprise technology and business objectives.
  • Ensure data platform capabilities directly align with and empower core business outcomes, particularly in consumer-facing digital channels and complex global supply chain domains.
  • Establish a modern, scalable, and standardized platform engineering capability that accelerates data product delivery while ensuring operational reliability, security, and compliance.

Data Platform Engineering & Modernization
  • Lead the evolution of enterprise data platform capabilities supporting data ingestion, transformation, storage, governance, AI/ML workloads, analytics, and real-time processing.
  • Champion a formal Cloud FinOps culture for data platforms, proactively forecasting, monitoring, and optimizing compute and storage costs at extreme scale across cloud environments.
  • Drive modernization of CI/CD, DataOps, MLOps, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) capabilities to improve engineering efficiency and delivery quality.

Reliability, Security & Operations
  • Establish enterprise-grade Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) practices for data and analytics platforms.
  • Define service-level objectives (SLOs), reliability metrics, operational standards, and incident management practices across the platform ecosystem.

Engineering Excellence & Innovation
  • Drive adoption of DataOps, DevOps, platform engineering, and automation best practices throughout the organization.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to continuously improve platform capabilities and developer productivity.
  • Establish engineering standards, architectural guardrails, and technical governance processes that support sustainable growth and innovation.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management
  • Serve as the executive technology partner for Data & Analytics, Infrastructure, Security, Architecture, and Product leadership teams.
  • Build strong relationships with strategic vendors, cloud providers, and technology partners.
  • Provide executive-level communication and reporting on platform health, engineering investments, technology risks, and strategic outcomes.

Talent Leadership
  • Attract, develop, and retain high-performing engineering leaders and technical talent.
  • Build organizational capabilities through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development.
  • Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and performance-driven culture that encourages accountability, ownership, and continuous learning.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
  • 15+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, platform engineering, infrastructure engineering, cloud technologies, data platforms, or related disciplines.
  • 8+ years of experience leading large-scale engineering organizations, including managers and senior technical leaders.
  • Proven experience defining and executing enterprise platform strategies in cloud-native environments, including large-scale cloud cost management (FinOps).
  • Deep expertise in Platform Engineering, DevOps, DataOps, SRE, cloud infrastructure, automation, and modern software delivery practices.
  • Experience building and operating large-scale data and analytics platforms supporting enterprise data products, AI/ML solutions, and critical business workloads.
  • Demonstrated success leading platform modernization, cloud transformation, and engineering standardization initiatives.
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior business and technology leaders.
  • Experience managing large-scale operational environments with accountability for reliability, availability, security, and performance outcomes.
  • Exceptional communication, organizational, and stakeholder management capabilities.
  • Proven ability to lead through complexity, ambiguity, organizational change, and rapid growth.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • Deep experience with cloud ecosystems including AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and/or Microsoft Azure.
  • Expertise in Infrastructure as Code, Kubernetes, container platforms, CI/CD, DataOps, MLOps, and platform automation frameworks.
  • Experience supporting modern data architectures such as data lakes, streaming platforms, data mesh, and AI/ML platforms tailored for consumer, restaurant, or supply chain domains.
  • Strong understanding of data governance, regulatory compliance, data security, privacy, and enterprise data management practices.
  • Experience implementing enterprise observability, operational intelligence, and reliability engineering frameworks at scale.
  • Background leading global engineering organizations supporting mission-critical data and analytics capabilities.


Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $237,102 - $296,377 per year

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

Additional Information:

Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance.

About McDonalds

McDonald's Careers

Join the vibrant team at McDonald's, a global leader in the fast-food industry, and be part of a company known for its exceptional culture and commitment to innovation and leadership. At McDonald's, we offer a range of job opportunities that cater to a variety of skills and professional aspirations, making it an ideal place to jumpstart or advance your career. Work You'll Do At McDonald's, every position is an opportunity to grow. Whether you're looking for an entry-level role or a managerial position, you'll find that McDonald's supports your career ambitions with robust training programs and growth opportunities. Our team is dedicated to helping you develop the leadership and professional skills necessary for success in any endeavor. Join our diverse team and contribute to a culture that values innovation, leadership, and diversity. McDonald's is not just a workplace but a community where you can thrive professionally and personally. McDonald's Employment Benefits Choose a career at McDonald's and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that supports both your professional and personal life. From competitive salaries and health benefits to employee discounts and flexible schedules, McDonald's is committed to the well-being of our team members. We also offer exclusive leadership and diversity training programs that empower our employees to take on new challenges and lead with confidence. Internship Opportunities Kickstart your career with a McDonald's internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and a chance to develop essential skills in a supportive environment. Interns at McDonald's work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain exposure to the operational excellence that drives our global success. Innovation at McDonald's At the heart of McDonald's culture is a drive for innovation. We continuously seek innovative solutions to enhance the dining experience of our customers and improve our operational efficiencies. By joining our team, you'll collaborate on exciting projects that push the boundaries of what's possible in the fast-food industry. Networking and Professional Development McDonald's encourages professional development and networking through various initiatives and platforms. Connect with colleagues, mentors, and industry leaders who can help you navigate your career path and achieve your professional goals. Our commitment to career development is reflected in our ongoing training programs and our proactive approach to internal promotions and hiring. Join Our Team Explore the job opportunities at McDonald's and find the position that matches your skills and interests. We are hiring creative, curious, and motivated individuals who are ready to contribute to our dynamic team. Check out our open positions and apply today to take the first step towards a rewarding career at McDonald's. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest career tips, company news, and industry insights—all from the people who work here at McDonald's. Subscribe to our careers blog and personalize your experience to receive updates that align with your career interests. McDonald's is more than just a company—it's a place where you can make a difference. Join us and help shape the future of the fast-food industry while building a career that you can be proud of.
Learn more about McDonalds
Size
200,000 employees
Market Cap
$194.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.7 billion
Founded
1955
5 Year Trend
-1.2%
Revenue
$19.2 billion
NASDAQ

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