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- Tasks: Lead the design and development of our data platform to enhance student outcomes.
- Company: Join Arden University, a multi-award-winning institution focused on innovation in education.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, a generous pension plan, and free courses for you and your family.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education while working with cutting-edge data technologies.
- Qualifications: Strong technical skills in data engineering and programming languages like Python and SQL.
- Other info: Flexible remote work with occasional team meet-ups and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 67000 £ per year.
This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that only requires a site visit roughly once every 2 months for team meetings. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.
About Arden University
We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.
There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.
About Our Department
The Lead Data Platform Engineer sits within our Analysis, Insights & Performance department at Arden University which plays a vital role in driving data-driven decisions. By providing valuable insights, monitoring performance, and promoting innovation, the team supports the university's mission to enhance student outcomes and drive continuous improvement.
About The Opportunity
As Lead Data Platform Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering Arden University’s data platform strategy, using your expertise to drive meaningful improvements in student experience, student outcomes, and operational efficiency.
Leading the Data Platform squad, you will take ownership of the design, development and evolution of the University’s core data infrastructure, including the data lake and medallion architecture. You will ensure the platform is scalable, secure and high-performing, consistently meeting the needs of stakeholders across the organisation.
As the technical lead for the platform, you will provide direction and governance for the use of modern cloud data technologies, including tools such as Power BI and Microsoft Fabric. You will define and champion best practices, while developing a clear and compelling vision for how modern data platforms and engineering patterns can enable analysts, data scientists and engineers to deliver greater value.
Combining strong technical expertise with business insight, you will identify opportunities where advancements in the data platform can unlock efficiencies and enhance decision-making. You will also play a key leadership role in translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable plans that support wider organisational goals.
In addition, you will lead, coach and develop both direct and indirect members of the data team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and technical excellence. This is a hands-on technical role with team leadership, focused on ensuring Arden’s data platform is robust, future-ready and aligned with the University’s long-term ambitions.
About You
You will be a strong technical data engineer who doesn’t necessarily have people leadership experience. This role is roughly 60% technical, 40% leadership.
Essential Skills / Experience
- Programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL
- Database theory and design
- SQL and NoSQL databases
- Big data technologies (e.g. Microsoft Synapse/Fabric, Hadoop, Spark, Kafka)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) principles
- CI/CD and DevOps concepts
- Data pipeline tools (e.g. Data Factory, Airflow, NiFi)
- Version control systems (e.g. Git)
- Ability to analyse problems and design effective solutions
- Strong communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences
- Familiarity with agile methodologies (e.g. Scrum)
- Data and analytics tools within Microsoft Azure
- Knowledge of Spark workloads
Desirable Skills / Experience
- Formal Data & Analytics qualification e.g. Certified Analytics Professional (CAP), Azure Data Engineer/Scientist Associate
- Experience in the use of data and analytics tooling within Microsoft Azure.
- Experience working within the Higher Education sector
- Data warehousing, business intelligence (BI), data governance, data architecture, data integration, data classification, data strategy, data quality management, data security and privacy, MDM, data standards, regulatory compliance and enterprise architecture frameworks.
- Experience of Data Science technologies within Microsoft Azure.
- Knowledge of ‘lakehouse’ engineering patterns.
- Knowledge of ETL design.
- Experience with enterprise AI Agentic toolsets such as Microsoft Foundry
Why Arden: Benefits
At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:
- 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!
- A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
- SimplyHealth plan option
- Private Medical Insurance coverage (applies to certain job roles)
- Access to Perkbox benefits
- Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
- Plus, other excellent benefits
- Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education
Our Values: Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.
Closing Date: 5th April (Midnight)
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. In order to avoid missing an opportunity to apply please submit your application as early as possible.
If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.
Sponsorship Statement
Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the points-based immigration system. However, we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.
Lead Data Platform Engineer in Birmingham employer: Arden University
Contact Detail:
Arden University Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Platform Engineer in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or other platforms. Let them know you're on the hunt for a Lead Data Platform Engineer role at Arden University. You never know who might have an inside scoop or can put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your technical skills and be ready to discuss your experience with Python, SQL, and big data technologies. We want to see how you can drive improvements in student outcomes and operational efficiency.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership potential! Even if you haven't led a team before, think about times you've influenced others or taken initiative. At Arden, we value collaboration and continuous improvement, so highlight those experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our passionate team at Arden University. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Platform Engineer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Data Platform Engineer role. Highlight your experience with programming languages like Python, R, and SQL, and showcase how your skills align with our mission at Arden University.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: We want to see your technical prowess! Include specific examples of your work with big data technologies and cloud platforms. Mention any relevant projects that demonstrate your ability to design and develop robust data infrastructures.
Communicate Clearly: Remember, we value strong communication skills! When writing your application, aim to explain complex technical concepts in a way that's easy to understand. This will show us you can bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so make sure to apply through our website as soon as you can to avoid missing out on this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arden University
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Lead Data Platform Engineer, you'll need to showcase your expertise in programming languages like Python, R, and SQL. Brush up on your knowledge of big data technologies and cloud platforms, especially Microsoft Azure. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've applied these skills.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Potential
Even if you don't have extensive people leadership experience, highlight instances where you've taken initiative or led a project. Discuss how you can foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within the team, aligning with Arden University's values.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and technical decision-making. Prepare examples of challenges you've faced in data engineering and how you approached them. This will show your analytical skills and ability to design effective solutions.
✨Align with the University’s Vision
Research Arden University's mission and values thoroughly. Be prepared to articulate how your role as a Lead Data Platform Engineer can contribute to enhancing student outcomes and operational efficiency. Show your passion for innovation and digital education to resonate with their goals.