Director of Data Engineering - Lead ML & Data Platform in Columbus

Who is Boulevard?

Boulevard provides the first and only client experience platform for appointment-based, self-care businesses. We empower our customers to give their clients more of the magical moments that matter most.

Before launching in 2016, our founders spent months interviewing salon managers and working behind front desks to understand their pain points so we could design a modern, user-friendly platform that meets the unique needs of their business. Our roots may be in hair salons, but we are built for the broader self-care industry, including many types of salons, spas, medspas, barbershops, and more. Our technology not only helps our customers survive but thrive. Take a look at how we (and YOU) can make that happen.

We have an insatiable curiosity and embrace experimentation. We believe that simple solutions require the most sophistication, and we design each and every detail to maximize potential, power, and impact. Do our values match? Read through our story and what we value the most.

Our team values and celebrates our diverse backgrounds. Being open about who we are and what we do allows us to do the best work of our lives. We believe in equal opportunity for all, and you should too.

Come do the best work of your life at Boulevard.

We're hiring a Director of Engineering - Data to build and lead the technical foundation that powers Boulevard's data ecosystem and products. This role is responsible for our data infrastructure, data governance, ML capabilities, and the underlying systems that enable data-driven products and decision-making across the company.

Reporting to the SVP of Engineering, you'll play a critical leadership role in establishing Boulevard's data platform as a strategic competitive advantage. Your work will shape how data is collected, processed, and leveraged across the company — driving insights, powering product innovation, and ensuring operational excellence. You will ensure that data is reliable, secure, performant, and accessible to support our growing customer base and internal teams. You'll lead a high-impact team of data engineers, with a mandate to grow and scale the organization. This is a foundational role where you'll architect and build systems that will support Boulevard's growth for years to come.

Domains of Ownership

• Data Infrastructure & Platform Engineering — Build and maintain scalable, reliable data pipelines and infrastructure
• Data Products — Partner with the insights team, product management, and product engineering to power reporting dashboards, analytics features, and data-driven customer experiences
• Data Governance & Quality — Establish frameworks for data integrity, lineage, and compliance
• Data Security & Privacy — Ensure data protection, access controls, and regulatory compliance (including HIPAA)
• ML/AI Platform Operations — Provide the foundation and standards for machine learning and AI capabilities
• Real-time & Batch Processing — Design and optimize data processing systems for various use cases
• Data Integration & APIs — Enable seamless data flow between systems and external partners

Key Projects & Initiatives

• Modern Data Infrastructure: Continue building out scalable data infrastructure using tools like dbt, Airflow, and real-time streaming platforms
• Customer Data Products: Collaborate with Product Management and Product Engineering to deliver customer-facing reporting, dashboards, and analytics features
• Data Platform for Insights: Build robust data pipelines that enable the Data Insights team to deliver external benchmarking and internal business intelligence
• Data Governance Framework: Establish comprehensive data quality monitoring, lineage tracking, and governance policies
• Platform Self-Service: Build tools and frameworks that enable other teams to safely and efficiently work with data
• Security & Compliance: Strengthen data protection, access controls, and ensure HIPAA compliance across all data systems
• Performance Optimization: Continuously improve cost, speed, and reliability of data processing systems
• ML/AI Infrastructure: Provide robust foundation for training, deployment, and monitoring of machine learning models and LLMs

What You'll Do Here

• Technical Leadership: Define and execute the long-term technical strategy for Boulevard's data platform, ensuring scalability and reliability as we grow
• Team Building: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of data platform engineers, establishing best practices and fostering a culture of excellence
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Management, Product Engineering, and the Data Insights team to understand requirements and deliver platform capabilities that enable customer-facing data products and internal insights
• Architecture & Design: Drive architectural decisions for data systems, balancing current needs with future flexibility and scalability
• Operational Excellence: Establish monitoring, alerting, and operational practices that ensure high availability and performance of data systems
• Standards & Governance: Define and implement data governance policies, security standards, and quality frameworks across the organization
• Strategic Planning: Work with leadership to align data platform roadmap with business objectives and technical strategy

What You'll Need to Thrive

• 10+ years of experience in data platform engineering, distributed systems, or infrastructure engineering, with deep expertise in building scalable data processing systems
• 5+ years of people management experience, including managing senior engineers and technical leads
• Proven track record of building data platforms and ML systems that support both internal analytics and customer-facing data products
• Experience delivering customer-facing reporting, dashboards, and analytics features in collaboration with Product teams
• Strong experience with modern data stack technologies (dbt, Airflow, Snowflake, Kafka, etc.)
• Deep understanding of data governance, quality frameworks, and security best practices
• A strategic mindset with the ability to translate business goals into technical roadmaps, balancing short-term execution with long-term vision

How We'll Take Care of You

At Boulevard, we work hard to structure compensation in a way that balances internal equity with local market competitiveness. For U.S.-based candidates, the anticipated base salary range is $220,000 – $270,000 per year. In addition to base compensation, this role may be eligible to participate in a variable compensation program. Final compensation will vary based on applicable experience, location, and final leveling.

• ✨ 401(k) match plus dental, medical, vision, and life insurance
• Flexible vacation day policy — take a break whenever you need
• Fully remote — choose where you want to work, plus a monthly work-from-home stipend
• Family planning resources and specialized support programs
• Equity: get ahead on the ground floor and grow with Boulevard
• Boulevard Bucks Learning and Development program — explore businesses in the market we serve

We recommend following our official LinkedIn page to stay up to date on all things Boulevard life!

Boulevard Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. All employment decisions at Boulevard Labs, Inc. are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.