ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering Jobs

Meta

Director, Data Engineering

$253K/yr

Director, Data Engineering Responsibilities: * Firefighter Mode * Leadership asks "what's the ROI of [new AI tool]?" on Wednesday. You have an answer by Friday * A team claims their AI initiative ...

Veracyte

Director, Data Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

$234K - $253K/yr

The Director of Data Engineering will lead the design, development, and evolution of our enterprise data platforms to empower scientific, clinical, operational, and commercial teams with trusted ...

HarbourVest

Director, Data Engineering

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$220K - $230K/yr

Our Quantitative Investment Science group is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to fully manage and deliver our private equity data platform. This hands-on leadership role requires a proven history of ...

DwyerOmega

Director, Data Engineering

Michigan City, IN · On-site

We are seeking a visionary Director, Data Engineering to architect the "data set of the future." This role is not just about reporting; it is about building the scalable, AI-ready infrastructure that ...

Dwyer Instruments, Inc.

Director, Data Engineering

$165K/yr

Job Type Full-time Description We are seeking a visionary Director, Data Engineering to architect the "data set of the future." This role is not just about reporting; it is about building the ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsIndependent Contractor Director Data Engineering Jobs

Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering information

See salary details

$54K

$154.9K

$244K

How much do independent contractor director data engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for independent contractor director data engineering in the United States is $154,873.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $189,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Independent Contractor Director of Data Engineering?

An Independent Contractor Director of Data Engineering is a senior-level professional who leads data engineering teams and projects on a contract basis, rather than as a full-time employee. They are responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and maintenance of data infrastructure, ensuring the organization's data systems are robust, scalable, and secure. As independent contractors, they often work with multiple clients or on specific projects, providing their expertise to help organizations manage large data sets, optimize data pipelines, and support data-driven decision making. Their role requires strong leadership, technical skills, and experience in areas such as cloud platforms, data warehousing, and data governance.

How does an Independent Contractor Director of Data Engineering typically collaborate with client teams and internal stakeholders?

As an Independent Contractor Director of Data Engineering, you'll regularly engage with client-side leadership, product managers, and technical teams to understand project requirements and set data strategy. Your role often involves leading a remote or cross-functional team, ensuring clear communication and alignment on deliverables, timelines, and technical standards. Being independent, you'll need to quickly integrate into existing processes, build trust, and adapt your leadership style to fit different organizational cultures, all while maintaining accountability for data infrastructure and team performance.

What is the difference between Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering vs Data Engineering Manager?

AspectIndependent Contractor Director Data EngineeringData Engineering Manager
CredentialsRelevant data engineering certifications, extensive experienceSimilar certifications, leadership experience
Work EnvironmentContract basis, remote or client sitesFull-time, in-house or hybrid
Employer UsageHired by companies for specific projectsEmployed by organizations with ongoing teams
Search IntentContract data engineering leadership rolesFull-time data engineering leadership roles

The main difference is that an Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering works on a contractual basis, often project-specific, providing specialized leadership without long-term employment. In contrast, a Data Engineering Manager is typically a full-time employee responsible for managing teams and ongoing operations within an organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Independent Contractor Director of Data Engineering, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Independent Contractor Director of Data Engineering, you need deep expertise in data architecture, pipeline development, and leadership, typically backed by a degree in computer science or engineering and several years of data management experience. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), big data technologies (such as Hadoop or Spark), and relevant certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Data Analytics) is highly valuable. Strong communication, project management, and strategic thinking skills distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities are crucial for delivering scalable data solutions, leading diverse teams, and making informed technical decisions that align with business goals.
More about Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs
What cities are hiring for Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs? Cities with the most Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering job openings:
What states have the most Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs? States with the most job openings for Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs are:
Independent Contractor Director Data Engineering jobs near you
Director, Data Engineering

Director, Data Engineering

Meta

Remote

$253K/yr

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago

Meta rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 43 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

123rd of 191 rated software companies

Job description

You'll be one of the analytics leaders for how Meta transforms its Enterprise through AI. This is a 0→1 role with enterprise-wide scope, high ambiguity, and direct visibility to leadership. If you want to shape how 70,000+ people work—and measure whether it's actually working—this is the job.We are open to hiring Data Science or Data Engineering profiles. In our world, both are Analytics. The work will span the full spectrum—from building the data infrastructure that powers enterprise measurements to shaping the strategic frameworks that define what "good" looks like. Your title matters less than your demonstrated experience to operate across that range.THE TEAM2026 is a step-function year for AI at Meta. We're not just building AI products for the world—we're fundamentally rewiring how we work internally. This is driven by AI4W (AI for Work), a company-wide effort to integrate AI into every tool, team, and process at Meta.This role reports to Enterprise Analytics leaders and will be one of the experienced ICs on a new “Ecosystem" analytics team. You'll sit at the intersection of the teams actually building Meta's internal AI future (Metamate, Devmate, Analytics Agent, vibe coding platforms) and Enterprise Engineering (EE), which manages 680+ products and 6 of Meta's top 10 internal tools, powering everything from recruiting and financial planning to supply chain operations and employee support. Across EE, we're watching the real-time pivot from "passive AI assistance" to autonomous agents that don't just advise but execute: sourcing candidates, calculating tax provisions, resolving IT tickets, and accelerating analytics workflows through cookbooks, semantic models, and self-serve recipe systems.There is no playbook and the measurement frameworks are nascent.
Director, Data Engineering Responsibilities:
  • Firefighter Mode
  • Leadership asks "what's the ROI of [new AI tool]?" on Wednesday. You have an answer by Friday
  • A team claims their AI initiative saved 10,000 hours. You validate (or invalidate) it
  • You rapidly instrument, measure, and communicate whether it's working
  • You jump into whatever is urgent and ambiguous—and you close it
  • Systems Thinker Mode
  • Build measurement frameworks that work across wildly different AI tools and use cases (coding, analytics, recruiting, HR support, supply chain, finance and more)
  • Create the dashboards, workspaces, semantic models and self-serve layers that let stakeholders across the company understand progress without pinging you
  • Design and scale the data pipelines and instrumentation that capture agent telemetry, usage signals, and outcome metrics across a fragmented and fast-moving tool landscape
  • Shape the strategy for how we think about productivity, time savings, and quality improvements in an AI-augmented workforce
  • Influence how Analytics (and business functions) evolve their operating models, job profiles, and organization structures for the AI era

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience
  • AI power user. You're already a power AI user in your day-to-day work—Metamate, Claude, Cursor, or whatever tools make you faster. You'll set an example for what "AI-native" looks like and help others get there
  • 0→1 builder experience You've built measurement systems from scratch in ambiguous spaces. You don't wait for requirements—you define them
  • Speed + rigor. You can move fast without being sloppy. You know when to be 60% right now vs. 95% right later
  • Executive communication. You'll regularly present to leadership. Your insights need to be crisp, actionable, and defensible
  • Cross-functional influence. You'll work across dozens of teams (EE, Security, CPP, DevInfra, and more). You need to drive alignment without authority
  • Honesty. Some AI initiatives won't work. Some claimed impact will be inflated. You'll need to call it like you perceive it

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
  • Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)
  • Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
  • Experience with productivity/efficiency measurement, internal tools, or enterprise products
  • Familiarity with LLMs, agentic systems, or AI tooling
  • Prior experience in a founding/early team member role

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$253,000/year to $314,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

What Meta employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply