Tech Lead – Data Engineering (GCP) (IRC270766)
Job Description
Proven expertise in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), with hands-on experience using BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Cloud Composer (Airflow), and associated native services
Advanced proficiency in SQL and DBT, including SQL model management, testing, documentation, and incremental pipeline strategies
Strong Python programming skills for developing robust, modular, and production-ready data transformation workflows
Solid understanding of data modeling techniques, including star, snowflake, and dimensional models. Comfortable working within large and complex data models.
Experience owning incident resolution and driving improvements in data platform reliability and system health monitoring
Strong grasp of DevOps best practices applied to data workflows, including CI/CD (e.g., GitLab CI, Cloud Build), observability, and infrastructure as code
Familiarity with agile methodologies and working effectively within cross-functional, distributed teams
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Bonus points for
GCP Data Engineer certification
Prior experience in media, marketing, or digital advertising analytics
Experience implementing data quality frameworks and governance tools
Familiarity with cost optimization strategies for BigQuery and other GCP services
Job Responsibilities
Act as the primary escalation point for L3 data incidents, taking ownership of complex production issues and driving resolution
Oversee platform support and maintenance, including health monitoring of pipelines, jobs, and infrastructure
Ensure incident response and data availability adhere to SLAs, coordinating effectively with global support teams
Collaborate with project delivery teams to ensure solutions are production-ready and transitioned smoothly into support and maintenance phases
Participate in root cause analyses and retrospectives; identify common failure patterns and lead efforts to prevent recurrences through engineering solutions
Partner with other technical leads to co-architect robust data pipelines and platform designs, contributing to the early phases of projects (Design & Build)
Champion data quality standards and develop automated checks and validation tools to improve trust in our datasets
Provide hands-on technical mentorship to a team of data engineers, supporting their growth through code reviews, architectural guidance, and sharing best practices
Contribute to and evolve our internal Data Engineering Playbook, documenting current strategies, patterns, and operational guidance
Participate in strategic platform and tooling decisions, influencing how we model, process, and manage data at scale
Department/Project Description
WPP is transforming its global data infrastructure to deliver faster, more scalable, and more intelligent analytics capabilities. As part of this journey, we're hiring a Technical Lead, Data Engineering to manage the technical delivery and operational resilience of our core data platform.
This role sits at the intersection of engineering leadership, platform reliability, and architecture — helping us ensure that data flows are healthy, scalable, and ready for production. You’ll work across project delivery, production support, and platform enhancement initiatives while mentoring a growing team of engineers.