Head of Data Engineering Woolworths Group India is partnering exclusively with Zinnov Group to recruit for this position.

About the role
This role is part of the Technology Leadership team in Woolworths India as well as being a part of the People and Data Leadership in Australia. As the most senior data engineering leader within Woolworths Group in India, the Head of Data Engineering is responsible for leading the end-to-end Data, Services, and Cloud Engineering capability. This strategic leadership role will build and guide a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team responsible for data ingestion, pipeline development, maintenance, semantic layer creation in Looker, and the development of reusable, automated data platform frameworks using infrastructure-as-code. The Head of Data Engineering will own the on-the-ground operating model, manage the talent pipeline, and drive a consistent, modern engineering practice across the global Woolworths Data Engineering capability. This role is pivotal in driving the business towards a single source of truth, championing the use of AI and automation to increase delivery velocity, and serving as a key member of the Information Management leadership team. What you’ll do Technical & Delivery Leadership
• Lead the End-to-End Data Engineering Capability: Oversee teams responsible for data ingestion, pipeline development, maintenance, and the creation of semantic layers in Looker.
• Automate the Data Platform: Direct cloud engineers in building reusable frameworks and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tooling to automate data platform configuration and object management.
• Build Foundational Services: Guide full-stack engineers in creating software and services that support platform resilience, data management, and operational excellence, including FinOps, data lineage, and continuous controls monitoring.
• Set and Enforce Engineering Standards: Define and govern standards for version control, testing, error handling, and documentation, ensuring they are consistently applied across all engineering squads.
• Champion AI and Automation: Embed AI-assisted development and management practices (such as AI-assisted pipeline development, automated quality monitoring, or similar) into the team’s standard ways of working to accelerate pipeline development and improve operational efficiency. Strategic & People Leadership
• Drive Towards a Single Source of Truth: Lead initiatives to reduce data silos, resolve data mastering conflicts, and build confidence and trust in data assets across the organization.
• Manage the Global Capability Operating Model: Own the local execution of the data engineering operating model, managing resource allocation,



capacity planning, and the overall talent pipeline in India.
• Lead, Develop, and Retain Talent: Build and retain a high-performing, multi-disciplinary engineering team. Set clear direction and accountability, developing direct reports into leaders in their own right.
• Cultivate Engineering Excellence: Foster a culture of engineering excellence, technical curiosity, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Influence and Educate Senior Stakeholders: Educate and influence senior stakeholders across the business, building data literacy, articulating the value and strategy of the data engineering function, and building trust in data assets. What you’ll bring
• Expert Data Platform Leadership: Deep expertise in leading engineering teams on modern, cloud-native data stacks, specifically GCP and BigQuery.
• Strategic and Commercial Acumen: Ability to align technical strategy with business objectives, manage budgets, and drive cost-effective solutions (FinOps).
• Automation and IaC Mindset: Proven ability to lead teams in building and managing data platforms through infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, and robust automation.
• People Leadership and Talent Development: Demonstrated success in building, leading, and mentoring high-performing engineering teams in a global delivery model.
• Stakeholder Influence: Exceptional ability to engage with and influence senior stakeholders (Director and C-suite level), translating complex technical concepts into business value.
• Data Governance and SSoT Advocacy: Strong command of data governance principles (data quality, metadata, mastering, lineage) and a track record of driving an organization toward a single source of truth. Your prior experience Essential
• Significant experience (typically 18+ years) in data engineering, data platform, or data leadership roles, with at least 5 years at a senior management or “Head of” level.
• Deep, hands-on experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and BigQuery; must have led teams that have built and scaled data platforms on this stack.
• Proven track record of evolving a business’s data architecture, with concrete examples of changing how a business ingests, stores, and consumes data.




• Experience leading engineering teams in complex enterprise environments with multiple data domains (e.g., Customer, Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance).
• Demonstrated application of AI in data engineering contexts, such as AI-assisted pipeline development, automated quality monitoring, or similar.
• Strong understanding of data governance principles and tooling. Desirable
• Experience in the retail, e-commerce, or consumer goods industry.
• Familiarity with transformation frameworks like Dataform or dbt.
• Experience with data cataloguing or governance tools such as Collibra.
• Exposure to the platform requirements for Machine Learning and AI workloads. What you’ll experience
• Be a part of Australia’s largest retailer
• 20 days annual leave
• A flexible approach to work
• Premium insurance coverage for you and your dependants Everyone belongs at Woolworths Group Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are key to realising our purpose of better together for a better tomorrow. We recognise the value our team’s diversity brings to our business, customers, and communities and that teams with diverse experiences and backgrounds enrich our group and are better able to innovate and solve problems. As one of the largest employers in Australia and Recent Zealand, we aim to create a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels that they belong, can be their best selves, and reach their full potential. We encourage all candidates to apply; please let us know in your application if we can support you with any adjustments in the hiring process. Your Personal Data By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to Zinnov Management Consulting Private Limited and its subsidiaries (Zinnov) and/or Woolworths Group Limited and its subsidiaries (Woolworths Group) collecting, processing and disclosing your personal information, including any sensitive personal information provided by you, for the purposes of managing the recruitment process, assessing your suitability for employment, communicating with you regarding your application, and, where appropriate, considering you for future employment opportunities, to the extent relevant. If your application is successful, Zinnov and/ or Woolworths Group will also use your personal information, including sensitive personal information, for managing your ongoing working relationship. Your personal information will be handled, in accordance with applicable privacy laws. To learn more about how we collect, use, disclose and safeguard your personal information, including your privacy rights, please refer to the Zinnov Privacy Policy and Woolworths Group Team Member Privacy Notice.

📌 Head of Data Engineering (Bengaluru)
🏢 Woolworths Group
📍 Bengaluru