Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer

Location: Fully Remote (UK)

Salary: 75,000 - 85,000

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

We're partnering with an innovative and fast-growing organisation looking to strengthen its data function with the addition of a Lead Data Engineer.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for an experienced Data Engineer who can take ownership of the design and evolution of modern data platforms and pipelines. You'll play a key role in shaping technical direction, driving engineering best practice and delivering scalable data solutions that support reporting, analytics and wider business decision-making.

You'll work closely with technical and non-technical stakeholders, provide technical leadership to other engineers and remain hands-on with the technologies you're responsible for.

We're looking for someone who has genuine production experience across the modern data stack, rather than someone who has simply had exposure to the technologies listed below.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development and optimisation of scalable data pipelines and cloud-based data platforms
• Take technical ownership of the organisation's data engineering solutions and contribute to longer-term platform strategy
• Work hands-on with Databricks to build and optimise production data solutions
• Develop and maintain robust data transformation frameworks using dbt
• Design and manage data orchestration workflows using Apache Airflow, Azure Data Factory or similar
• Write, optimise and troubleshoot complex SQL, ensuring data solutions are efficient, reliable and scalable
• Drive improvements in data quality, performance, monitoring and engineering standards
• Make informed technical and architectural decisions around data platforms, pipelines and tooling
• Lead data engineering projects from initial requirements through to deployment and ongoing optimisation
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to other data engineers
• Work closely with business and technical stakeholders to translate requirements into effective data solutions
• Identify opportunities to improve automation, scalability and the overall data engineering approach

Required Experience

• 5+ years' commercial experience working within data engineering or a closely related role
• Proven experience leading a Data Engineering team in a similar modern data environment
• Strong, confident SQL skills, including writing, optimising and troubleshooting complex queries
• Strong Python skills for data engineering
• Significant hands-on commercial experience with Databricks in a production environment
• Strong hands-on experience with dbt, including developing and maintaining transformation models and frameworks
• Proven experience with data orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow, Azure Data Factory or equivalent
• Strong understanding of modern ETL/ELT, data modelling, data warehousing and data quality principles
• Experience designing and maintaining scalable cloud-based data platforms and pipelines
• Experience contributing to data architecture and technical design decisions
• Strong understanding of data engineering best practice, with the ability to establish standards and improve existing approaches
• Excellent problem-solving, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Snowflake experience would be highly desirable.

What's on Offer

• Fully remote working within the UK
• 75,000 - 85,000 salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunity to shape the technical direction of a growing data function
• Genuine ownership of data engineering architecture and delivery
• Exposure to modern cloud technologies and complex data projects
• Flexible working environment
• Excellent opportunities for professional development and progression

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Lead Data Engineer who wants to combine hands-on engineering with genuine technical leadership. You'll have the opportunity to influence architecture, establish best practice and shape the future of the data platform while remaining close to the technology.