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Lead Data Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mondo

Lead Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$110K - $145K/yr

Mondo is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to oversee end-to-end data engineering delivery while acting as the primary client-facing program owner. The role involves ensuring scalable data solutions ...

Deloitte

Lead Data Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

Work You'll Do As a Lead Data Engineer on the AI & Data team, you will be responsible for leading large-scale data and artificial intelligence programs that help clients modernize platforms, improve ...

Deloitte

Lead Data Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

Work You'll Do As a Lead Data Engineer on the AI & Data team, you will be responsible for leading large-scale data and artificial intelligence programs that help clients modernize platforms, improve ...

Anaheimducks

Lead Data Engineer

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Pay Details: The annual base salary range for this position in California is $140,000 to $180,000 per year. The starting pay for the successful candidate depends on various job ...

OC Sports and Entertainment

Lead Data Engineer

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Pay Details: The annual base salary range for this position in California is $140,000 to $180,000 per year. The starting pay for the successful candidate depends on various job ...

OCVIBE

Lead Data Engineer

Anaheim, CA

$140K - $180K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Pay Details: The annual base salary range for this position in California is $140,000 to $180,000 per year. The starting pay for the successful candidate depends on various job ...

OCVIBE

Lead Data Engineer

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Pay Details: The annual base salary range for this position in California is $140,000 to $180,000 per year. The starting pay for the successful candidate depends on various job ...

OC Sports and Entertainment

Lead Data Engineer

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Pay Details: The annual base salary range for this position in California is $140,000 to $180,000 per year. The starting pay for the successful candidate depends on various job ...

ALO

Lead Data Engineer

Beverly Hills, CA

$180K - $250K/yr

OVERVIEW We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer to architect, build, and evolve the foundational data platform that powers analytics, real-time decisioning, and operational intelligence across Alo.

Qcells

Lead Data Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$160K - $220K/yr

Description POSITON DESCRIPTION We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to architect, build, and lead the development of scalable, cloud-based data platforms that support enterprise analytics ...

Qcells

Lead Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $220K/yr

Description POSITON DESCRIPTION We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to architect, build, and lead the development of scalable, cloud-based data platforms that support enterprise analytics ...

Qcells

Lead Data Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$160K - $220K/yr

Description POSITON DESCRIPTION We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to architect, build, and lead the development of scalable, cloud-based data platforms that support enterprise analytics ...

Qcells

Lead Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $220K/yr

Description POSITON DESCRIPTION We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to architect, build, and lead the development of scalable, cloud-based data platforms that support enterprise analytics ...

ALO

Lead Data Engineer

Beverly Hills, CA · On-site

$180K - $250K/yr

OVERVIEW We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer to architect, build, and evolve the foundational data platform that powers analytics, real-time decisioning, and operational intelligence across Alo.

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsLead Data Engineer JobsLead Data Engineer Jobs in California

Lead Data Engineer information

See California salary details

$41.9K

$122.2K

$178.1K

How much do lead data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead data engineer in California is $122,163.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,200.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a lead data engineer typically collaborate with data scientists and other engineering teams?

As a Lead Data Engineer, you play a central role in bridging the gap between raw data and actionable insights. You’ll collaborate closely with data scientists to understand their requirements, ensuring data pipelines deliver clean, reliable datasets for modeling and analysis. Additionally, you’ll work with software engineers and DevOps teams to integrate data solutions into production systems, maintain data infrastructure, and uphold best practices for data governance and security. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are key aspects of this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lead data engineer?

To thrive as a Lead Data Engineer, you need advanced expertise in data architecture, database design, and programming languages like Python or Scala, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and relevant certifications such as Google Professional Data Engineer are highly valued. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help drive team performance and translate business needs into technical solutions. These skills ensure robust, scalable data pipelines and successful collaboration across technical and business stakeholders.

What is the difference between Lead Data Engineer vs Data Engineer?

AspectLead Data EngineerData Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, Data Science, or related; often certifications in cloud platforms or data toolsBachelor's in CS, Data Science, or related; similar certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads data projects, mentors teams, designs architectureBuilds data pipelines, maintains databases, implements data solutions
Industry UsageUsed in organizations with complex data needs, overseeing data teamsCommon in companies handling large-scale data processing

The main difference is that Lead Data Engineers oversee data projects and teams, focusing on architecture and strategy, while Data Engineers focus on building and maintaining data pipelines. Both roles require similar skills and certifications, but the Lead Data Engineer has additional leadership responsibilities.

What is a lead data engineer?

Lead Data Engineers are senior professionals responsible for designing, building, and managing large-scale data systems and architectures within an organization. They oversee data engineering teams, set technical standards, and ensure efficient data flow and storage. Their role involves collaborating with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to deliver reliable data solutions that support business goals. Lead Data Engineers also mentor junior engineers and help define best practices and strategies for data management.
What are the most commonly searched types of Lead Data Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Lead Data Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Lead Data Engineer jobs in California? For Lead Data Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Lead Data Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Lead Data Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Lead Data Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Lead Data Engineer job openings:
Lead Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Data Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $122,163 per year, or $58.7 per hour.

Lead Data Engineer - IM

Tata Consultancy Service Limited

Irvine, CA • On-site

$115K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Lead Data Engineer - IM
Must Have Technical/Functional Skills
Data Bricks , EBT ,Airflow , Asset Management exp
Roles & Responsibilities
Lead Data Engineer Information Management (IM)
Experience
815 Years
Role Overview
We are looking for a highly skilled Lead Data Engineer with strong hands-on experience in Databricks, dbt, and Python, and a proven track record of leading and executing data platform migration and modernization programs. The ideal candidate will have experience migrating legacy data warehouses, ETL platforms, and cloud/on-prem data ecosystems to a modern Databricks Lakehouse architecture using dbt-based transformation frameworks. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring deep technical expertise, solution design capabilities, and the ability to mentor engineering teams while driving enterprise-scale data modernization initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Data Engineering & Development
• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines using Databricks, PySpark, SQL, and Python.
• Develop and optimize ELT/ETL processes for large-scale data ingestion and transformation.
• Implement robust data quality, monitoring, and reconciliation frameworks.
• Build reusable data engineering components and frameworks.
Data Platform Migration & Modernization
• Lead migration of legacy data platforms, data warehouses, and ETL ecosystems to Databricks Lakehouse.
• Transform existing ETL workloads to modern ELT patterns using dbt.
• Analyze source environments and define migration approaches, roadmap, and execution strategy.
• Drive code conversion, performance optimization, and workload modernization efforts.
Databricks Engineering
Develop solutions leveraging:
• Databricks Lakehouse Platform
• Delta Lake
• Unity Catalog
• Databricks Workflows
• Structured Streaming
• Medallion Architecture (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
Optimize Spark jobs and Databricks workloads for performance and cost efficiency.
dbt Development
• Build and maintain dbt models, macros, tests, and documentation.
• Implement incremental processing and reusable transformation frameworks.
• Establish data lineage, testing, and CI/CD best practices.
• Work closely with business and analytics teams to build trusted datasets.
Leadership & Collaboration
• Lead a team of data engineers and developers.
• Perform code reviews and enforce engineering standards.
• Collaborate with arch itects, product owners, business analysts, and stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive adoption of best practices.
Salary Range- $115,000-$170,000 a year

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