Lead, Data Engineer

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.

Title and Summary

Lead, Data Engineer

Mastercard Security Services is responsible for acquiring, engaging, and retaining customers by managing fraud and risk, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving the digital payments experience. We provide value-added services and leverage expertise, data-driven insights, and execution.

The Cyber and Fraud Solutions Data Science team develops AI products to help issuers, acquirers, and merchants fight fraud. As a Lead AI Data Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in designing scalable data pipelines, building robust feature engineering workflows, and creating shared tools that empower data scientists across the organization. You will also lead efforts to integrate data pipelines with model APIs and support production-grade AI systems.


Responsibilities:

-Lead the development of scalable, high-performance data pipelines for structured and unstructured data used in AI/ML models.
-Design and manage feature stores to ensure consistent feature computation across training and inference environments.
-Collaborate with ML Engineering and ML Ops teams to build and maintain data quality and drift monitoring systems.
-Develop AI microservices that integrate data pipelines with model APIs for real-time and batch inference.
-Recommend and implement improvements to data quality, efficiency, and pipeline resilience.
-Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver robust analytical solutions using Mastercards global data assets.
-Organize and maintain tools for data transfer, mining, cleaning, processing, and validation.
-Contribute to the development of scalable AI infrastructure and reusable components for enterprise-wide use.

Required Skills:

-Proven experience in Python and SQL for scripting, automation, and data integration.
-Hands-on experience with big data technologies such as Spark, Kafka, Hive, Impala, Airflow, and NiFi.
-Familiarity with relational databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle) and cloud platforms (preferably AWS).
-Experience building and managing feature engineering workflows and feature stores.
-Understanding of ML workflows, including model training, inference, and monitoring.
-Experience with CI/CD tools (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) and infrastructure automation (Terraform).
-Strong knowledge of Linux/Unix systems and shell scripting.
-Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across technical and non-technical teams.
-Subject matter expertise in payments, fraud, or cybersecurity or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn new domains.
-Creative, curious, and innovative mindset with a passion for solving complex problems.

Nice to Have:

-Experience with AWS cloud services for data engineering and ML workflows.
-Hands-on experience with Databricks, including Medallion Architecture and Delta Lake

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

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.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges

O'Fallon, Missouri: $140,000 - $231,000 USD