The Big Data PySpark Lead Engineer is a senior level position responsible for establishing and implementing new or revised application systems and programs in coordination with the Technology team. The overall objective of this role is to lead applications systems analysis and programming activities.
- Partner with multiple management teams to ensure appropriate integration of functions to meet goals as well as identify and define necessary system enhancements to deploy new products and process improvements
- Resolve variety of high impact problems/projects through in-depth evaluation of complex business processes, system processes, and industry standards
- Provide expertise in area and advanced knowledge of applications programming and ensure application design adheres to the overall architecture blueprint
- Utilize advanced knowledge of system flow and develop standards for coding, testing, debugging, and implementation
- Develop comprehensive knowledge of how areas of business, such as architecture and infrastructure, integrate to accomplish business goals
- Provide in-depth analysis with interpretive thinking to define issues and develop innovative solutions
- Serve as advisor or coach to mid-level developers and analysts, allocating work as necessary
- Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
- Build and maintain scalable data pipelines using PySpark within a Big Data environment to process and transform large volumes of structured and unstructured data.
- Design and develop solutions across the Hadoop ecosystem — including Hive, HDFS, Sqoop, Spark, Impala, and Scala — to enable efficient data ingestion, processing, and storage.
- Develop and manage real-time and batch data workflows using streaming data platforms, ensuring high availability and low-latency data delivery.
- Write complex SQL queries to extract, validate, and analyze data across distributed systems, supporting data-driven decision-making.
- Design and implement data models and data architecture patterns aligned with data warehouse principles, ensuring scalability, accuracy, and consistency.
- Automate pipeline scheduling and orchestration using shell scripting and Autosys, reducing manual intervention and improving operational reliability.
- Independently identify, assess, and resolve technical risks and data issues in a timely manner, maintaining system integrity across the data platform.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Hands-on expertise in PySpark and Big Data processing, with the ability to build and optimize distributed data workflows at scale.
- Practical knowledge of the Hadoop ecosystem, including Hive, HDFS, Sqoop, Spark, Impala, and Scala, applied in a production environment.
- Proficiency in complex SQL query development for data analysis, transformation, and validation across large datasets.
- Solid understanding of distributed systems architecture and how data flows across interconnected processing layers.
- Demonstrated knowledge of data modelling and data design, with familiarity in data warehouse concepts and dimensional modelling techniques.
- Competence in shell scripting and job scheduling using Autosys or equivalent workflow automation tools.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability, with a track record of working independently to diagnose and resolve complex data engineering challenges.
- Clear and effective communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Beneficial Skills & Qualifications
- Familiarity with streaming data platforms such as Apache Kafka or equivalent real-time data processing technologies.
- Exposure to cloud-based Big Data environments and modern data lake architectures.
- Experience working in financial services or regulated industries where data quality and governance are critical.
Recommended Qualifications:
- 6 -10 years of relevant experience in Apps Development or systems analysis role
- Extensive experience system analysis and in programming of software applications
- Experience in managing and implementing successful projects
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least one area of Applications Development
- Ability to adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate
- Demonstrated leadership and project management skills
- Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience
- Master’s degree preferred
This job description provides a high-level review of the types of work performed. Other job-related duties may be assigned as required.
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Job Family Group: Technology------------------------------------------------------
Job Family:Applications Development------------------------------------------------------
Time Type:Full time------------------------------------------------------
Primary Location:Jersey City New Jersey United States------------------------------------------------------
Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:$142,320.00 - $213,480.00
In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
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Most Relevant Skills Please see the requirements listed above.------------------------------------------------------
Other Relevant Skills For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.------------------------------------------------------
Anticipated Posting Close Date:Sep 30, 2026------------------------------------------------------
Automated Processing and AIWe use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.
Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.
Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right
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Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.
View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
Skills Required
- Hands-on expertise in PySpark and Big Data processing
- Practical knowledge of the Hadoop ecosystem including Hive, HDFS, Sqoop, Spark, Impala, and Scala
- Proficiency in complex SQL query development for large datasets
- Understanding of distributed systems architecture and data flow
- Knowledge of data modelling, data design, data warehouse and dimensional modelling techniques
- Competence in shell scripting and job scheduling using Autosys or equivalent
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability to diagnose and resolve complex data engineering issues
- Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- 6-10 years relevant experience in applications development or systems analysis
- Experience managing and implementing successful projects and demonstrated leadership/project management skills
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least one area of Applications Development
- Familiarity with streaming platforms such as Apache Kafka
- Exposure to cloud-based Big Data environments and modern data lake architectures
- Experience in financial services or regulated industries (data quality and governance)
- Master's degree
Citi Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Citi and has not been reviewed or approved by Citi.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits coverage is positioned as comprehensive, including health, dental, and vision insurance plus on-site clinics, prescription drug support, and disability coverage. Family-building support such as fertility assistance is described as a notable differentiator within the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are framed as strong, highlighted by a 401(k) with matching and additional plan options like a Roth 401(k). Financial support is reinforced through discounts and broader financial guidance resources tied to the benefits ecosystem.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing support extends beyond insurance through programs like an Employee Assistance Program, counseling/legal resources, and gym or wellness reimbursement. These offerings increase the perceived total rewards value even when cash compensation sentiment varies by role.
Citi Insights
What We Do
Citi's mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress. Our core activities are safeguarding assets, lending money, making payments and accessing the capital markets on behalf of our clients. We have 200 years of experience helping our clients meet the world's toughest challenges and embrace its greatest opportunities. We are Citi, the global bank – an institution connecting millions of people across hundreds of countries and cities.
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