Manager - Data Engineering

When our square shaped burgers made their first sizzle on the scene more than 50 years ago, people knew our approach wasn't like any other. Same goes for the way we support our employees. Our culture of openness, flexibility, and inclusiveness allows everybody to flourish in their own way. If you're looking for a career where you can be part of the action as we continue to grow our iconic brand - We got you!

The Data Engineering Manager will be responsible for leading the hands-on development and operational support of scalable data pipelines and cloud-native infrastructure that power analytics, reporting, and operational systems across Wendy's business. This role focuses on delivering high-performance, secure, and reliable data solutions using modern tools and practices in Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

As a technical leader, you will drive the execution of key data engineering projects-including batch and streaming pipelines, data transformation workflows, and data warehouse optimization-ensuring best practices in data modeling, governance, and quality are followed. You'll work closely with senior data leadership, BI developers, product owners, and application teams to implement engineering solutions that align with business goals.

This role includes mentoring engineers, improving development workflows (e.g., CI/CD, testing, observability), and contributing to the operational excellence of our data platforms. You will not be directly responsible for vendor management or strategic roadmap decisions but will collaborate with senior leaders and cross-functional partners to ensure successful delivery of initiatives. Your contributions will directly support enterprise-wide analytics, restaurant operations, and new technology rollouts.

Responsibilities

• Data Engineering Execution
  • Lead the development and deployment of data engineering pipelines and integrations across various business domains.
  • Collaborate with senior data leadership to ensure alignment with architectural standards and best practices.
  • Support both batch and real-time data solutions using GCP-native services and modern data stack tools.
  • Participate in code reviews, ensure adherence to CI/CD practices, and maintain high code quality standards.
• Solution Delivery Support
  • Collaborate with product managers, analysts, and BI developers to gather requirements, develop data solutions, and validate deliverables.
  • Contribute to backlog grooming, sprint planning, and quality assurance practices to ensure timely delivery of projects.
  • Escalate blockers and support prioritization of engineering tasks in coordination with senior leadership.
• Technical Collaboration and Documentation
  • Work with architects and principal engineers to translate business needs into scalable technical designs.
  • Produce clear documentation and data flow diagrams to support onboarding, audits, and operational handoffs.
  • Assist in defining and applying data quality checks, monitoring, and observability practices across pipelines.
• Team Development and Mentoring
  • Provide technical mentorship and support to junior team members through pairing, knowledge sharing, and training.
  • Promote a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and learning within the team.
  • Participate in hiring, onboarding, and skill development initiatives in partnership with the senior manager.
• Cross-functional Coordination (Support Role)
  • Participate in cross-team projects involving digital, finance, and operations stakeholders to ensure accurate data engineering inputs.
  • Support senior leadership with technical feasibility assessments and resource planning.
  • Collaborate with vendor teams on integration deliverables when required but not responsible for ongoing vendor relationships or commercial agreements.

• Bachelor's Degree in BS Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in data engineering or software engineering roles.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as GCP, Azure, or AWS; GCP preferred.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, and data pipeline tools like Dataflow, Airflow, or dbt.
• Familiarity with BigQuery, NoSQL databases, and data warehouse design.
• Experience in building and optimizing data solutions for real-time data processing.
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and modern DevOps practices.
• Understanding of data security and privacy frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Experience in designing and implementing data architectures for large-scale, high-performance systems, with strong knowledge of data modeling, ETL processes, data warehousing concepts, and proficiency in SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., BigQuery, MongoDB, PostgreSQL).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in Agile environments and familiarity with JIRA, Confluence, or similar tools.
• Prior QSR, retail, or multi-unit operations experience.
• Leadership skills with a proven track record of building, leading, and mentoring cross-functional teams.
• Passion for developing talent by growing engaged, inclusive and diverse teams who mirror Wendy's core values 'Treat People with Respect' and 'Do the Right Thing'.

"Wendy's was built on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand.The base pay range for this position is listed below. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and budget for the open position and also may vary depending on the candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other relevant factors. This range does not include an estimated value for any benefits, bonus, or other incentives that may be applicable based on position. * The target annual bonus for this role is 10% of annualized base salary, based on actual company and personal performance. Our square burgers make us different and so do our benefits! Our restaurant support roles are eligible for a wide array of benefits, including things such as parental leave, free EAP sessions, company 401k match and other great offerings. For more details about our benefits, including an overview of eligibility and terms for certain benefits, please visit our benefits website, www.wendysbenefits.com.*

NOTE: Wendy's benefits, bonus, and other incentives are governed by the applicable legal plans and policies and, where appropriate, may be subject to Board approval an individual award agreement terms. Those documents supersede all other information regarding Wendy's benefits, bonus, and other incentives. Wendy's retains the right to amend or terminate its plans and policies at its sole discretion, in accordance with applicable plans, policies and laws."

Education: Bachelor's Degree

Travel: 5%

Pay Range: $114,000 - $200,000 Annually