At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and operate a cutting-edge machine learning platform for data science.
- Company: Join DraftKings, a leading tech company in the gaming industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with mentorship opportunities and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovative projects in data engineering.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in data or infrastructure engineering with strong Python skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As a Lead Data Platform Engineer at DraftKings, you will design, build, and operate the machine learning platform and Databricks infrastructure that powers scalable, reliable data science. You will own the backbone that enables model development, training, and deployment to be fast, repeatable, and cost‑aware so teams can move from ideas to impact without friction.
Working alongside Data Science, Machine Learning, Data Engineering, and Infrastructure partners, you’ll turn evolving use cases into durable platform capabilities. You’ll lead projects end to end, strengthening reliability, automation, and developer experience across the stack.
What you’ll do as a Lead Data Platform Engineer:
- Own and operate Databricks infrastructure with a focus on reliability, scalability, performance, and cost optimization.
- Build and manage cloud infrastructure on Amazon Web Services using infrastructure‑as‑code tools like Terraform.
- Author and review technical designs that enable scalable, automated, and reproducible machine‑learning workflows.
- Partner closely with data scientists, data engineers, machine‑learning engineers, and infrastructure teams to align platform capabilities to real‑world needs.
- Drive engineering initiatives from technical planning through delivery, production rollout, and long‑term maintenance.
- Stay current on data platform and machine‑learning platform trends, applying best practices that improve platform efficiency, usability, and governance.
- Coach and mentor teammates, raising the bar through strong technical feedback, thoughtful enablement, and shared ownership.
What you’ll bring:
- At least 5 years of experience in machine‑learning platform, data platform, data engineering, or infrastructure engineering roles.
- Hands‑on experience administering and operating Databricks in production environments.
- Deep familiarity with infrastructure‑as‑code, including Terraform or Pulumi, and proven ability to manage change safely at scale.
- Experience with AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines.
- Strong Python skills and familiarity with machine‑learning tooling such as MLflow, pandas, and scikit‑learn.
- A track record of owning complex systems end to end, including reliability improvements, incident follow‑up, and performance tuning.
- Clear, confident communication skills, including strong technical documentation and the ability to align cross‑functional partners.
We’re a publicly traded (NASDAQ: DKNG) technology company headquartered in Boston. As a regulated gaming company, you may be required to obtain a gaming license issued by the appropriate state agency as a condition of employment. We’ll guide you through the process if this is relevant to your role.
Lead Data Platform Engineer employer: SwiftCruit
DraftKings is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where Lead Data Platform Engineers can thrive in a dynamic environment. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful projects while working alongside talented professionals in data science and engineering. Located in Boston, our company offers competitive benefits and a commitment to professional development, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Platform Engineer
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like SwiftCruit!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Lead Data Platform Engineer at SwiftCruit.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like SwiftCruit.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Lead Data Platform Engineer at SwiftCruit, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Platform Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at SwiftCruit, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at SwiftCruit. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at SwiftCruit
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at SwiftCruit!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
