ZONTAL is revolutionizing data management and digital transformation for the life sciences industry. Our cutting-edge platform enables seamless data integration, standardization, and accessibility — empowering scientists and organizations to drive innovation, enhance compliance, and accelerate breakthroughs in healthcare and biotechnology. ZONTAL has offices in the US, Europe and Asia. Together with our integration and service partners, ZONTAL supports our customers globally, in any country and any time zone. Our team is growing, and we are currently seeking a skilled Lead Data Engineer / Manager of Data Engineering to join our Professional Services team at ZONTAL.
Position Summary :
This customer-focused role requires a hands-on leader proficient in Python and familiar with Java (among other coding languages), enterprise ETL processes, and AWS cloud infrastructure. You will guide a team of data engineers in configuring customer deployments, building data pipelines, applying parsers and viewers, and integrating the ZONTAL platform into customer IT ecosystems. The ideal candidate has strong technical skills, team leadership experience, and a commitment to process improvement.
Job Type : Full Time / Direct Hire
Location : Hybrid – Germany
Department : Professional Services
Reports To : VP of Professional Services
Key Responsibilities :
1. Team Leadership and Development :
- Lead and mentor a team of 5+ data engineers to deliver high-quality customer solutions.
- Develop capacity planning and resource management strategies to support diverse project requirements.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
2. Customer-Focused Data Engineering :
Manage the configuration of customer-specific deployments of the ZONTAL platform and associated services.Build and maintain data pipelines, ensuring seamless data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) to and from various sources.Applying parsers and viewers to data pipelines as-needed to support customer data integration.Assist customers in integrating the ZONTAL platform and associated services into their existing IT landscapes, ensuring compatibility and performance.Collaborate directly with customers during the deployment and configuration process to ensure satisfaction and alignment with requirements.3. Automation, Orchestration, and Optimization :
Implement and manage automation workflows using tools like Apache Airflow.Develop and maintain scripts for automating data processing tasks, focusing on efficiency and scalability.Continuously improve pipeline performance through robust automation and orchestration practices.4. Cross-Functional Collaboration :
Work closely with Product, Engineering, and DevOps teams to optimize data engineering practices.Serve as a technical liaison between data engineering and other functions to ensure seamless project execution.Communicate customer feedback to internal teams to enhance platform performance and user experience.5. Process Improvement and Reporting :
Drive continuous improvement in data engineering processes, focusing on reliability, automation, and customer satisfaction.Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement improvements based on data insights.Prepare concise reports and updates for internal and external stakeholders.Qualifications :
Education and Experience :
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or related field.6+ years of experience in data engineering, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.Demonstrated success leading customer-focused data engineering projects.Technical Skills :
Proficient in Python and experience with Java.Experience with ETL / ELT pipelines, to-and-from various datastores (incl. operating systems, network share protocols, web APIs, and databases), as well as for data processing automation. Hands-on experience with AWS cloud services for data storage, data pipelines, and compute (e.g., EC2, EKS, EFS, S3, RDS, Lambda, Glue).Skilled in data modeling, schema development, and data pipeline architecture.Proficiency with automation and orchestration tools (e.g., Apache Airflow).Experience with RDBMS and NoSQL databases, including PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, and strong SQL skills and experience with data integration patterns.Experience with Github or Gitlab.Experience with implementing and driving of data security and quality requirementsLeadership and Communication Skills :
Proven ability to lead and mentor a technical team.Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.Excellent communication and presentation skills to work effectively with customers and internal teams.Fluent in English, both written and spokenAbility to work with a diverse team across many time zones.Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. The position does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status now or in the future.Nice-to-Have Skills :
Experience with data management in life sciences or related fields.Knowledge of data governance and data quality best practices.AWS certification (e.g., Solutions Architect) is a plus.Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau).We Offer :
Company Pension Savings
Flexible work schedule
Why Join ZONTAL?
As a Lead Data Engineer / Manager of Data Engineering at ZONTAL, you will play a critical role in delivering customer-focused solutions within the life sciences industry. You’ll lead a skilled team while driving innovation and process optimization. Join us to make a meaningful impact through data engineering excellence.
ZONTAL is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicant will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Learn more about ZONTAL at https : / / zontal.io
