Lead Data Engineer

About the role

Have you ever wanted to be part of something BIG?

Now is the time to make an immediate impact at a leading global technology company, Mastercard.

This role is part of the AI&DPE Data Engineering platform team, responsible for building and evolving large scale backend data systems, real time and batch pipelines, and AI enabled services that power analytics, decisioning, and automation across the organization.

This is a backend engineering role, focused on Scala/Python/Java, distributed data platforms (Cloudera/Spark), and cloud based architectures, with a strong emphasis on AI agent creation and intelligent automation. Visualization tools (e.g., Qlik) are consumers of the platform, not the core focus of this role.

You will work with massive transactional datasets, modern big data and cloud platforms, and AI driven workflows to transform how Mastercard processes, enriches, and operationalizes data at global scale.

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Backend & Data Platform Engineering

Design, develop, and maintain backend services and data pipelines using Scala, Python and Java

Build and optimize batch and streaming workloads on Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) using Spark

Work with Cloudera Manager to support platform configuration, monitoring, performance tuning, and operational stability

Design and implement high quality datamarts and curated datasets with strong emphasis on data integrity, performance, and reliability

AI Agents & Intelligent Automation

Design, build, and integrate AI powered agents that operate to support:

Anomaly detection and operational intelligence

workflow automation

Apply generative AI driven, or rule based agents to reduce manual effort and improve scalability across backend systems

Cloud & Modern Data Architecture

Build and support data and compute workloads in AWS environments

Leverage Databricks for large scale data processing, advanced analytics

Contribute to cloud native and hybrid architectures integrating on prem and cloud platforms

Integration & Downstream Enablement

Enable downstream consumers (analytics, visualization, reporting tools such as Qlik) through well designed, reliable backend data interfaces

Partner with analytics, fraud, and business teams to ensure backend systems meet evolving needs without compromising platform stability

Documentation & Collaboration

Create clear technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, data flows, and design specifications

Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies and cross functional design reviews

Mentor and upskill team members in backend engineering, big data, and AI agent concepts

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Required

BS/BA degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field

Strong handson experience with Scala,Python/Java in backend or data intensive systems

Experience working with Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) and Spark

Familiarity with Cloudera Manager for cluster administration, monitoring, or troubleshooting

Strong understanding of data modeling concepts, distributed systems, and large scale data processing

Excellent problem solving skills and ability to work independently in complex environments

GOOD TO HAVE / STRONGLY PREFERRED

Hands on experience building, integrating, or supporting AI driven agents or intelligent automation solutions

Experience with Databricks for data engineering or ML workloads

Experience working in AWS (e.g., S3, EC2, EMR, Glue, Lambda, IAM, or equivalent services)

Knowledge of streaming and big‑data technologies

Kafka

Hadoop ecosystem

Hive/Impala

Exposure to model monitoring, or AI platform enablement

Experience with ETL tools such as Informatica

Experience working in Agile / Scrum teams within large enterprises

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.