At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale our enterprise data platform while ensuring reliability and performance.
- Company: Join a growing international SaaS business with a remote-first culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26 days PTO, birthday day off, and performance-based compensation reviews.
- Other info: Remote work with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on data infrastructure and drive AI/ML initiatives.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in data engineering with strong cloud platform experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Data Platform Lead to own and scale ApprovalMax’s enterprise data platform. Reporting to the Head of Data, you will ensure our data infrastructure is reliable, scalable, and trusted across the business while enabling analytics, self-service reporting, and future AI/ML initiatives. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role combining platform architecture, engineering standards, and team leadership.
What You’ll Do
- Own and operate the enterprise data platform (Azure Data Lake Gen2 + Databricks).
- Design and maintain scalable data pipelines, ingestion processes, and transformation layers.
- Ensure data reliability, security, governance, and performance across the platform.
- Enable self-service analytics by supporting analysts with robust data models, marts, and tooling.
- Lead development of an AI‑ready data platform, including semantic layers and infrastructure for ML/LLM use cases.
- Manage and mentor the Data Engineer, setting technical standards and priorities.
- Drive engineering best practices: CI/CD, testing, observability, and data quality monitoring.
- Oversee platform roadmap, architecture decisions, and cloud cost optimisation.
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years of experience in data engineering or data platform roles, including senior or technical lead responsibilities.
- Strong experience with cloud data platforms (ideally Azure + Databricks).
- Expertise in modern data stack practices (ELT pipelines, dbt, data modelling, data quality frameworks).
- Strong Python and orchestration experience (Airflow, Prefect, Databricks Workflows, or similar).
- Experience building reliable production data platforms with CI/CD, testing, and monitoring.
- Comfortable leading technical decisions and communicating trade‑offs to stakeholders.
- Demonstrated use of AI coding agents / LLM‑assisted development in engineering workflows.
Nice to Have
- Experience with AI/ML infrastructure (feature stores, vector databases, model serving).
- Familiarity with LLM application patterns such as RAG or text-to-SQL.
- SaaS or B2B product company experience.
What We Offer
- Growing international SaaS business with 10,000+ subscribers.
- Remote‑first working environment.
- 26 days PTO + birthday day off.
- Performance‑based compensation reviews.
- Remote office support.
Reporting to: Head of Data Team: Central Data Platform
Data Platform Lead employer: ApprovalMax
At ApprovalMax, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a remote-first work culture that prioritises flexibility and work-life balance. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through performance-based compensation reviews and robust support for remote office setups, ensuring that our team members thrive in their roles. Join us to lead innovative data initiatives in a dynamic environment where your contributions directly impact our growing international SaaS business.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Platform Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your data projects, especially those involving Azure and Databricks. This will give you an edge and demonstrate your hands-on experience to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on technical questions related to data engineering and platform architecture. Practice explaining your thought process and decision-making, as this is key for roles like Data Platform Lead.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Data Platform Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Data Platform Lead role. Highlight your experience with Azure, Databricks, and any relevant data engineering projects. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about data platforms and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don’t forget to showcase your technical skills, especially in Python and cloud data platforms. Mention specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your expertise in building reliable data infrastructures.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to provide all the necessary details in one go. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at ApprovalMax
✨Know Your Data Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the modern data stack, especially Azure and Databricks. Brush up on ELT pipelines, data modelling, and quality frameworks. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies will show that you’re ready to take ownership of the data platform.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Data Platform Lead, you'll be managing and mentoring a team. Prepare examples of how you've led technical decisions or mentored others in previous roles. Highlight your ability to communicate trade-offs effectively to stakeholders, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in building reliable production data platforms. Talk about how you implemented CI/CD, testing, and monitoring to ensure data reliability and performance. This will showcase your hands-on experience and strategic thinking.
✨Prepare for AI/ML Discussions
Since the role involves developing an AI-ready data platform, brush up on your knowledge of AI/ML infrastructure. Be prepared to discuss any experience you have with feature stores, vector databases, or LLM application patterns. Showing familiarity with these concepts will set you apart from other candidates.
