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.

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.

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