Manager of Data Engineering

Manager of Data Engineering 3.1 3.1 out of 5 stars La Vergne, TN 37086 Thompson Machinery - Caterpillar 25 reviews Manager of Data Engineering

ABOUT US

Looking for more than just a job? At Thompson Machinery, we've been powering progress since 1944. We are the go-to Caterpillar dealer for Middle and West Tennessee and North Mississippi. Come join a team where our mission is simple: deliver smart solutions, build lasting partnerships, strengthen the communities we call home and invest in your growth.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

This position is responsible for leading Thompson Machinery's data engineering function and delivering reliable, secure, and scalable data solutions that enable reporting, analytics, and data-driven decision making across the organization. Reporting to the Director of IT, the Data Engineering Manager manages a team of data engineers who primarily build and support solutions using Microsoft Power Platform technologies (including Dataverse and Microsoft Fabric) as well as Microsoft database platforms such as SQL Server. The team is heavily involved in data integration, data security, data warehousing, ETL/ELT processes, and medallion architecture (Bronze/Silver/Gold), and supports Business Intelligence and Analytics teams by developing semantic models and curated datasets. Success in this role requires strong delivery leadership, clear communication, and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams while translating business needs into actionable technical solutions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES

Data Engineering Delivery & Portfolio Execution:

Own end-to-end delivery of data engineering initiatives, including integrations, pipelines, warehousing, and semantic model enablement. Establish clear ownership of scope, priorities, timelines, and outcomes; communicate tradeoffs and constraints proactively. Ensure solutions are production-ready with appropriate testing, monitoring, documentation, and support procedures. Modern Data Platform Leadership (Dataverse, Fabric, SQL Server): Lead the design and delivery of data platform solutions leveraging Microsoft Fabric and Dataverse, including lakehouse and warehouse patterns as appropriate. Oversee data warehouse and database engineering practices using Microsoft SQL Server (including performance, reliability, and operational support expectations). Guide team implementation of medallion architecture (Bronze/Silver/Gold), including standards for ingestion, transformation, validation, and curated outputs.

Integrations, ETL/ELT, and Data Movement:

Lead integration and data movement initiatives across internal and external systems using APIs, connectors, and approved integration patterns. Oversee ETL/ELT pipelines and scheduling, including error handling, logging, alerting, and recovery procedures to meet business SLAs. Partner with vendors and internal teams to coordinate changes that impact interfaces, data schemas, and downstream reporting.

Data Security, Governance, and Quality:

Ensure data solutions align with Thompson's security requirements, data access controls, and audit expectations across platforms and environments. Establish and enforce standards for data quality, reconciliation, lineage, and documentation to improve trust in reporting and analytics. Coordinate with IT security and infrastructure teams to implement least-privilege access, environment separation, and secure integration endpoints. BI/Analytics Enablement (Semantic Models): Partner with Business Intelligence, reporting, and analytics groups to define data products, curated datasets, and semantic models that meet reporting needs. Ensure semantic models and shared datasets are performant, governed, and aligned to agreed definitions, metrics, and business rules.

People Leadership & Team Development:

Lead, coach, and develop data engineers; provide role clarity, workload balancing, and growth plans. Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, delivery discipline, and continuous improvement. Ensure adequate skill coverage and cross-training to reduce single points of failure and support business continuity.

Business Partnership & Requirements Consulting:

Consult with business stakeholders to understand needs, identify gaps, and define outcomes that can be enabled through data solutions. Translate business requirements into clear technical requirements and delivery plans; ensure alignment on acceptance criteria and change impacts. Work effectively with diverse teams across the company to drive adoption, reduce friction, and ensure solutions fit real-world processes.

WHAT WE EXPECT OF YOU

We all have different backgrounds, yet we all use our unique contributions to provide the highest quality of service.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Data/Analytics, or a related field (preferred); equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. 5+ years of progressive experience delivering data engineering solutions (data integration, pipelines, warehousing, and analytics enablement) and leading or mentoring technical teams. Strong understanding of modern data engineering concepts including ETL/ELT, data warehousing, medallion architecture (Bronze/Silver/Gold), and downstream reporting dependencies. Demonstrated experience with Microsoft data and platform technologies such as Microsoft Fabric and Dataverse, and with Microsoft SQL Server (data modeling, performance, and operational support). Experience delivering integrations with internal and external systems using APIs and approved integration patterns, with attention to security and reliability. Proven ability to consult with business stakeholders, identify gaps, and translate needs into clear requirements and implementable data solutions. Strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and audiences (technical and non-technical). Demonstrated strength in IT delivery practices, including intake/prioritization, estimation, dependency management, risk management, and transparent status reporting.

Preferred:

experience with semantic model development to support BI/reporting teams and familiarity with IBM i / DB2 environments.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

At Thompson Machinery, we believe that great benefits are more than just perks— they're essential for employee well-being and success. We've designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring that our team members thrive both personally and professionally. Here's an overview of our benefits, including some that set us apart from our competitors.

THE BASICS

Various medical plan options, including a no-cost option Vision and dental insurance Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance Employer-paid basic life insurance 401k matching Profit Sharing 8 paid holidays annually Initially up to 15 days of Paid Time Off annually with increase after five years of service Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

WHAT SETS US APART

Competitive pay Exposure to world-class CAT training and development Tuition Reimbursement Tool Purchase Assistance to buy high-quality tools at deep discounts Annual stipend toward the purchase of work boots Company Incentive Bonus Program Paid Veteran holiday annually to all service members Training and Development programs Work uniforms and professional cleaning services Financial Wellness programs Thompson Machinery offers competitive salaries and a complete benefits package. Compensation for this position will be commensurate with candidate experience and background. Thompson Machinery is an equal opportunity employer: Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.