Define and execute the enterprise data engineering strategy aligned to a federated (data mesh-style) operating model, balancing domain autonomy with centralized governance
Build , scale and lead a high-performing data engineering organization, including platform, enablement, and domain-aligned teams
Architect and oversee scalable, secure data platforms leveraging AWS services (e.g. S3, Glue, Lambda, EMR, Redshift) , dbt and Snowflake
Establish best practices for data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and serving (batch, streaming, and real-time patterns)
Drive adoption of modern data engineering principles including DataOps , CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and automated testing frameworks
Define and enforce data governance standards, including data quality, lineage, cataloging , security, and compliance across federated domains
Enable self-service data capabilities through reusable data products, shared tooling, and developer platforms
Lead the design and implementation of AI-native data architectures, including feature stores, vector databases, and semantic layers
Champion the creation and integration of knowledge graphs and ontologies to enhance data discoverability, interoperability, and contextual understanding
Collaborate with senior stakeholders across engineering, product, analytics, and AI/ML teams to deliver business value through data
Key Skills and Experience
Proven experience leading large-scale data engineering organizations in complex, federated or matrixed environments
Deep expertise in AWS data ecosystem (S3, Glue, Lambda, Kinesis, EMR, IAM, Lake Formation) and cloud-native architecture patterns
Strong hands-on and architectural experience with Snowflake / dbt /Airflow , including performance optimization, data modelling , and cost management
Expertise in building scalable modern data platforms (data lakes, lakehouses , and data warehouses) enabling reliable real-time and batch analytics
Strong understanding of distributed data processing frameworks (e.g. Spark, Flink) and streaming technologies
Demonstrated implementation of DataOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, observability, testing, and automated deployments
Experience designing and operationalizing data governance frameworks in a federated or data mesh environment with self-service and trusted data capabilities
Highly versed in delivering ML / AI-ready ecosystems (feature stores, semantic layers, graph databases ) aligned with executive stakeholders to driv e business impact
Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with the ability to influence at executive level and drive organizational change .
Equal Opportunities
We are
Additional Information
Wood Mackenzie is the global leader in analytics, insights and proprietary data across the entire energy and natural resources landscape.
For over 50 years our work has guided the decisions of the world's most influential energy producers, utilities companies, financial institutions and governments.
Now, with the world's energy system more complex and interconnected than ever before, sector-specific views are no longer enough. That's why we've redefined what's possible with Intelligence Connected.
By fusing our unparalleled proprietary data with the sharpest analytical minds, all supercharged by Synoptic AI, we deliver a clear, interconnected view of the entire value chain. Our trusted team of 2,700 experts across 30 countries breaks siloes and connects industries, markets and regions across the globe.
This empowers our customers to identify risk sooner, spot opportunities faster and recalibrate strategy with confidence - whether planning days, weeks, months or decades ahead.
Wood Mackenzie
Intelligence Connected
WoodMac.com
Wood Mackenzie Brand Video
Wood Mackenzie Values
Inclusive - we succeed together
Trusting - we choose to trust each other
Customer committed - we put customers at the heart of our decisions
Future Focused - we accelerate change
Curious - we turn knowledge into action
Role Summary
The Vice President of Data Engineering is responsible for defining, building, and scaling a modern, enterprise-wide data engineering capability within a federated operating model. This role will lead the design and delivery of robust, secure, and high-performing data pipelines , with a strong focus on AWS-native architectures and Snowflake-based data warehousing.
The VP of Data Engineering will establish best-in-class engineering practices, enabling domain-oriented data ownership while ensuring consistency through shared standards, governance, and platform capabilities. A critical aspect of the role is enabling the development of AI-ready data ecosystems, including knowledge graphs, ontologies, and semantically enriched datasets that support advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI-native applications.
Woodmac · Edinburgh, UK