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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Head of Data Engineering & Platform - **Company:** Mercury - **Location:** Vienna, VA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $290,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Unix, Cloud Computing, Data Architecture, Information Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Programming Tools, Machine Learning, Metadata, Data Streaming, Data Layers, Core Data, Operational Systems, Data Management - **Published:** August 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.workingnomads.com/job/go/1787066/ ## About the Role * Bring 10+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years leading data or engineering teams * Have architected modern data platforms at scale, building the data foundations, semantic layers, metadata, and platform capabilities that power analytics, AI, machine learning, and operational systems * Demonstrate the technical judgment and organizational influence to evolve data architecture through periods of rapid growth, balancing long-term, well-governed platform investments with near-term product needs * Bring deep expertise in modern data infrastructure, including data modeling, orchestration, streaming, storage systems, metadata, and governance * Have experience partnering with Security, Legal, Compliance, and Privacy teams to ensure data platforms meet the privacy, security, and regulatory standards expected of a regulated financial institution ## Description In the early 1970s, Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie built Unix around a deceptively simple idea: create small, composable tools that work well together. That philosophy went on to shape modern operating systems, developer tooling, cloud infrastructure, and much of the software we rely on today-not because any individual tool was revolutionary, but because the platform made everyone else more productive. We're looking for a Head of Data Engineering & Platform who can build the data platform that gives Mercury that same leverage-creating a foundation where trusted data is easy for both people and AI systems to discover, understand, and work with. In this role, you'll lead and grow a high-performing team of data engineers responsible for Mercury's core data infrastructure. You'll shape the architecture, tooling, and engineering practices that enable reliable analytics, accelerate product development, and enable the next generation of AI-powered products and internal tools. * Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. Here are some things you'll do on the job: * Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of senior data and analytics engineers responsible for Mercury's core data infrastructure, setting a high technical bar and cultivating a strong engineering culture * Define and execute Mercury's long-term data platform strategy, building the architecture, tooling, and reusable data products that power analytics, AI, operational systems, and self-service across the company * Build a platform that makes Mercury's data easy for both people and AI systems to discover, understand, and use, investing in semantic models, metadata, and developer tooling that make trusted data reusable across the company * Establish the foundations for a trusted, resilient data platform by driving best practices for reliability, observability, data quality, governance, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance * Partner closely with Engineering, Product, Data Science, Security, and Infrastructure leaders to ensure Mercury's data platform accelerates product development, business operations, and decision-making ## Related Videos - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [A Data Mesh needs Open Metadata](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/505-a-data-mesh-needs-open-metadata) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE - Node and Package Security](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2138-wearedevelopers-live-node-and-package-security) - [Blueprints for Success: Steering a Global Data & AI Architecture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1577-blueprints-for-success-steering-a-global-data-ai-architecture) - [Building Multi-Tenant ASP.NET Core Applications: Best Practices and Real-World Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1552-building-multi-tenant-asp-net-core-applications-best-practices-and-real-world-solutions) - [The Time Paradox: Building Timezone-Safe Python/Django Applications](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1915-the-time-paradox-building-timezone-safe-python-django-applications) ## Related Articles - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Everything a Developer Needs to Know About MCP with Neo4j](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/604-everything-a-developer-needs-to-know-about-mcp-with-neo4j) - [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift)