1

Director Data Engineering Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Within our Data and Analytics Engineering practice, you will apply data, algorithms, and software engineering to build and deploy AI and Machine Learning solutions at scale. As a Director, you will ...

... directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) for efficient data organization and processing - Supporting the ... Management Information Systems, Computer and Information Science, Systems Engineering, Electrical ...

Head of Data Science

London, KY · On-site

$128.45 - $148.73/hr

Despite this, data science is still early at Fresha. That's the opportunity. About the Role We're ... Partner with Product, Engineering, and Commercial teams to embed DS into decisions Delivery ...

Project - Data Engineer II

Louisville, KY · On-site

$110K - $132K/yr

Communicate regularly with Engagement Managers (Directors), project team members, and ... These solutions are powered by engineering for business advantage, transforming mission-critical ...

Data Platform Engineer I

Louisville, KY · On-site

$109K - $131K/yr

If you want an engineering job that means shipping code that reaches real customers, not just ... directed study. * Core Fundamentals: Understanding of core software concepts, including basic data ...

New

next page

Showing results 1-20

Director Data Engineering information

See Kentucky salary details

$63.4K

$169.1K

$220.6K

How much do director data engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for director data engineering in Kentucky is $169,110.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,900.00 and $219,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of data engineering, and how are they typically addressed?

A Director of Data Engineering often encounters challenges such as integrating disparate data sources, maintaining data quality and security at scale, and aligning data strategy with evolving business goals. Successfully addressing these challenges requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, continuous upskilling in new technologies, and implementing best practices for data governance and automation. Directors must balance hands-on technical oversight with strategic planning, ensuring their teams are equipped to deliver reliable and high-performing data infrastructure. By fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, Directors help their organizations stay ahead in a rapidly evolving data landscape.

What does a director of data engineering do?

A Director of Data Engineering leads the strategy, architecture, and execution of data infrastructure within an organization. They manage teams responsible for data pipelines, storage, and processing systems to ensure scalability, reliability, and performance. This role involves collaborating with business leaders, data scientists, and analysts to align data capabilities with company goals. Additionally, they oversee technology selection, governance, security, and best practices for data management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of data engineering?

To thrive as a Director Data Engineering, you need deep expertise in data architecture, data pipeline design, large-scale database systems, and leadership, typically supported by a relevant degree and significant experience managing engineering teams. Familiarity with tools like SQL, Python, Spark, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), and certifications such as Google Cloud Certified - Professional Data Engineer or AWS Certified Solutions Architect are often expected. Outstanding communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor and inspire teams are key soft skills in this position. These skills ensure the successful design and execution of robust data solutions that drive organizational decision-making and innovation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineering jobs in Kentucky? The most popular types of Data Engineering jobs in Kentucky are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Data Engineering jobs in Kentucky? For Director Data Engineering jobs in Kentucky, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Data Engineering jobs in Kentucky look for? The top searched job categories for Director Data Engineering jobs in Kentucky are:
What cities in Kentucky are hiring for Director Data Engineering jobs? Cities in Kentucky with the most Director Data Engineering job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Data Engineering job openings in Kentucky as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $169,110 per year, or $81.3 per hour.

Director, Data Platforms Engineering

Yum! Brands

Louisville, KY • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Yum! Brands rating

5.4

Company rating: 5.4 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Yum! Brands is seeking a strategic and technically accomplished Director to lead the Data Architecture, Engineering, and Operations functions within the AI, Data & Analytics organization.


This role is responsible for defining the vision, strategy, operating model, and execution framework for enterprise data platforms that power analytics, AI, and business operations across Yum! Brands. As a key member of the DP&E leadership team, this individual will lead globally distributed teams, oversee strategic technology investments and vendor partnerships, partner with executive stakeholders, and drive alignment between platform capabilities and enterprise objectives. 
The ideal candidate combines proven experience leading large-scale technical organizations with deep expertise in modern cloud data platforms, data architecture, and engineering practices. They will be equally comfortable influencing enterprise strategy, building high-performing teams, communicating with senior leadership, and guiding technical decisions that drive scalability, reliability, and innovation. 

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience 

  • 12+ years of experience in data engineering, data platforms, or data architecture. 

  • 5+ years of experience leading global, distributed technical teams. 

  • Proven track record of owning and delivering enterprise-scale data platforms and architecture. 

  • Experience operating effectively in complex, matrixed organizations. 

Technical Skills 

  • Deep expertise in modern data platforms, including Snowflake, dbt Core, Airflow/Astronomer, and AWS. Informatica IICS experience is a plus. 

  • Experience with data observability tools such as Monte Carlo or similar platforms. 

  • Strong background in data modeling, including physical, semantic, and domain-oriented approaches. 

  • Proven experience designing and building scalable batch and real-time data pipelines. 

  • Solid understanding of distributed data systems, platform operations, observability, and data quality practices. 

Leadership Skills 

  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape technical and business strategy. 

  • Strong capability to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions. 

  • Proven experience building and leading high-performing technical teams. 

  • Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and executive relationship-building skills. 

Education 

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Salary range: $218,600 - $273,100 + eligible bonus + comprehensive benefits

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience 

  • 12+ years of experience in data engineering, data platforms, or data architecture. 

  • 5+ years of experience leading global, distributed technical teams. 

  • Proven track record of owning and delivering enterprise-scale data platforms and architecture. 

  • Experience operating effectively in complex, matrixed organizations. 

Technical Skills 

  • Deep expertise in modern data platforms, including Snowflake, dbt Core, Airflow/Astronomer, and AWS. Informatica IICS experience is a plus. 

  • Experience with data observability tools such as Monte Carlo or similar platforms. 

  • Strong background in data modeling, including physical, semantic, and domain-oriented approaches. 

  • Proven experience designing and building scalable batch and real-time data pipelines. 

  • Solid understanding of distributed data systems, platform operations, observability, and data quality practices. 

Leadership Skills 

  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape technical and business strategy. 

  • Strong capability to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions. 

  • Proven experience building and leading high-performing technical teams. 

  • Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and executive relationship-building skills. 

Education 

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Excellence 

  • Serve as a primary representative of Data Platforms & Engineering within Yum! to executive leadership, building trusted relationships with senior business, technology, and market leaders while influencing enterprise strategy, technology investments, and platform priorities. 

  • Develop and deliver executive-level communications, business cases, strategic roadmaps, and operational reviews, translating complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes and actionable recommendations for senior leadership and C-level stakeholders. 

  • Lead a globally distributed organization supporting enterprise data platforms, establishing operating models, execution frameworks, and accountability mechanisms that support Yum!'s AI, Data & Analytics strategy. 

  • Build high-performing technical teams through coaching, succession planning, and organizational development while driving prioritization across competing business and technology demands. 

  • Own budget planning and financial stewardship across assigned platforms, tooling, vendor relationships, and delivery functions. 

Modern Data Stack Ownership 

  • Own the strategy, roadmap, and continuous evolution of the modern cloud data stack, including Snowflake, dbt Core, Airflow/Astronomer, Monte Carlo, AWS, and related technologies. 

  • Establish engineering standards across CI/CD, automated testing, modular pipeline design, semantic modeling, and observability. 

  • Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies, including AI-driven automation, to improve platform scalability, operational efficiency, and speed of delivery. 

Enterprise Data Platform Strategy 

  • Define and execute the long-term vision, roadmap, and operating model for enterprise data platforms in partnership with AIDA leadership. 

  • Drive platform standardization and modernization efforts across brands, functions, and technology teams while influencing investment decisions and technical priorities. 

  • Lead strategic vendor partnerships, contract negotiations, and commercial discussions while evaluating build-versus-buy decisions. 

Data Platform Leadership 

  • Lead globally distributed teams across Data Architecture, Engineering, and Operations, providing strategic direction, organizational leadership, and technical oversight for enterprise data platforms. 

  • Establish enterprise architecture patterns, engineering practices, and operational processes that improve platform quality, resiliency, maintainability, and speed of delivery. 

  • Oversee delivery and support of enterprise data products, platform capabilities, and foundational datasets that power analytics, AI, and operational decision-making. 

  • Drive continuous improvement through automation, observability, performance optimization, and operational excellence. 

  • Serve as the senior authority for platform architecture and engineering decisions, guiding complex technical tradeoffs and influencing enterprise technology standards. 

Business Partnership & Data Product Enablement 

  • Partner with business, product, technology, and BYTE Engineering leaders to translate strategic priorities into scalable data products and platform capabilities. 

  • Act as a trusted advisor on platform capabilities, architecture decisions, and data strategy, ensuring alignment between technical investments and business outcomes. 

  • Drive adoption and measurable value of enterprise data products while ensuring solutions are scalable, reusable, and aligned with broader enterprise technology roadmaps. 

Talent & Organizational Development 

  • Lead, mentor, and scale global teams by defining talent strategies, organizational structures, and capability development plans that support long-term growth and evolving business needs. 

  • Build and sustain a heart-led, high-performance culture focused on ownership, innovation, collaboration, and delivery excellence. 


What Yum! Brands employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom