Databricks Technical Lead

Citi is seeking a senior Databricks Technical Lead & Data Architect to drive the architecture, design, and strategic direction of our enterprise data engineering and analytics platforms. Based in Mississauga, Canada, this role sits within Citi's Technology organization and is responsible for shaping the Databricks Lakehouse strategy, defining reference architectures, and providing authoritative technical leadership across cross-functional engineering programs. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Databricks platform design, big data architecture, and Apache Spark — combined with the leadership capability to guide, mentor, and elevate engineering teams at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple cross-functional engineering teams across the full application and data platform development lifecycle, setting clear technical direction and maintaining accountability for delivery outcomes.

• Own the Databricks platform architecture strategy, driving adoption of Lakehouse principles including Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and Medallion architecture patterns across enterprise data programs.

• Design declarative pipeline architectures using Databricks Delta Live Tables (DLT), defining standards for pipeline topology, data quality enforcement, expectations, and event-driven ingestion patterns — ensuring pipelines are production-grade, observable, and maintainable at scale.

• Architect and govern Databricks Workflows and Jobs, establishing enterprise patterns for multi-task orchestration, dependency management, cluster configuration, and job lifecycle management.

• Provide architectural leadership on Apache Spark and distributed computing, guiding teams on execution plan optimization, shuffle management, and performance-tuning strategies for large-scale data workloads.

• Define and enforce engineering standards and development procedures, including code quality standards, branching strategies, CI/CD integration for notebook and pipeline assets, and review frameworks — contributing to a consistent, high-quality technical foundation across the organization.

• Translate complex business and regulatory requirements into technical architecture, integrating data engineering and analytics capabilities with Citi's broader technology strategy.

• Partner with senior technology and business leaders across functions to influence direction, resolve escalated architectural and delivery issues, and align on shared goals.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 10 or more years of experience in applications development, with a track record of delivering complex technology programs at a scale.

• Proficiency working with Databricks for data engineering or analytics-driven application development.

• Deep knowledge of software development industry practices and standards, with the ability to apply that expertise to define and elevate team-level processes.

• Clear and confident communicator, able to present technical strategy and decisions to senior stakeholders across technology and business functions.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field.

Beneficial Skills & Qualifications

• Experience operating within large, matrixed financial services or regulated technology environments.

• Familiarity with risk and compliance frameworks as they apply to technology delivery and engineering governance.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience

What We Offer

At Citi, senior technology leaders have the opportunity to make decisions that matter at a genuinely global scale. In Mississauga, you will work alongside talented engineering professionals within a performance-driven environment that rewards technical leadership, strategic ownership, and meaningful delivery impact.

• Hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days working remotely, giving you structure and flexibility in equal measure.

• Strategic leadership scope, with ownership over multiple teams, budgets, and technology programs that directly support Citi's global operations.

• Access to continuous learning and professional development resources to keep pace with evolving technologies including cloud, data engineering, and modern application frameworks.

• Competitive compensation and financial wellbeing benefit reflective of a senior management position at a leading global financial institution.

• Wellbeing support and work-life balance programs designed to sustain long-term performance and personal resilience.

• The opportunity to shape engineering practices and standards that influence teams and technology outcomes across Citi's international footprint.

Apply now to lead engineering teams at one of the world's most significant financial institutions and build the applications that drive Citi's technology agenda forward.

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Job Family Group:

Technology

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Job Family:

Applications Development

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Time Type:

Full time

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Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:

$145, - $217,

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

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