Lead Data Engineer

Location: Leeds (hybrid)

Salary: Up to £70,000 (depending on experience) + bonus

Clearance Requirement: Candidates must be eligible for UK National Security Vetting.

We're looking for an experienced Lead Data Engineer to join a fast-growing digital technology team working on secure, high-impact projects. This role is ideal for someone passionate about data engineering, cloud-native architecture, and delivering real-world solutions at scale.

You’ll lead the technical delivery of complex data engineering solutions for high-profile clients, working within a multidisciplinary team. You'll be empowered to bring modern engineering practices to life while mentoring others and continuously improving standards.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Leading end-to-end delivery of data engineering projects with accountability for quality and performance.
• Designing and building scalable, secure data pipelines using modern cloud and open-source tooling.
• Working closely with architects and analysts to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Driving engineering best practices, including code review standards and agile delivery.
• Contributing to technical strategy and mentoring other engineers.

What You’ll Need:

• Strong experience in data engineering with expertise in languages such as Python, Scala, or Spark.
• Proficiency in designing and building data pipelines, working with both structured and unstructured data.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), using native services for data workloads.
• Solid understanding of database technologies (e.g., Oracle, MySQL, MongoDB).
• Strong grasp of system architecture and data security principles.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and cross-functional delivery teams.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence at both technical and senior stakeholder levels.

Desirable Skills:

• Familiarity with data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Exposure to platforms such as Quantexa, Databricks, or Palantir.
• Experience building machine learning pipelines or working on data science applications.
• Knowledge of test automation and CI/CD for data workflows.

This is a unique opportunity to join a mission-driven team working on impactful technology, with flexibility, learning support, and a clear path for technical progression.