At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and build of data pipelines for innovative AI projects.
- Company: Join the BBC's Generative AI Programme and shape the future of media.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values innovation and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving business problems with cutting-edge AI technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in data engineering, strong Python skills, and a collaborative mindset.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The Lead Data Engineer will help the BBC make practical use of AI tools and systems to solve business problems and help our internal teams work effectively and efficiently. The role is in the BBC's Generative AI Programme and will collaborate closely with project managers, data scientists, analysts, domain experts, and the BBC's technical teams. Working with Programme Leadership, the postholder will design and help build the data pipelines and solutions that enable AI projects to move effectively through piloting to successful handover to the business for scaling.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop secure, reliable and well-designed solutions that support high-quality AI piloting and transition to successful handover to the business for scaling.
- Design and build robust data pipelines, models and supporting data structures that enable AI projects to move effectively from piloting to successful handover into the business for scaling.
- Work closely with data scientists, analysts, project managers, business partners, researchers and designers to understand requirements and translate them into valuable solutions.
- Establish and promote strong engineering practices for data quality, resilience, maintainability and operational performance across the team's work.
- Help shape data approaches to architecture, integration and pilot design, ensuring solutions are appropriate for AI experimentation and future scaling.
- Provide technical leadership to others, mentoring, code review and setting standards, contributing to a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
- Ensure data used within AI projects is managed in line with the BBC's organisational values, security requirements and responsible approach to AI.
Key Qualifications
- Significant experience of designing, delivering and operating data engineering solutions, including pipelines, models and platform components, with the engineering discipline to build secure, resilient and maintainable systems in complex organisational environments.
- Experience of working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, translating a range of user, product and research needs into practical engineering solutions.
- Demonstrable experience of providing technical leadership to other engineers, mentoring, reviewing code, setting standards and improving engineering practices.
- Sound understanding of data governance, security and quality considerations, with the judgement to apply these appropriately in innovative or experimental contexts.
- Strong engineering practices including security by design, proficiency in Python, experience with Cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform preferred), CI/CD pipelines, and demonstrable use of AI-assisted development tools to improve code quality and delivery pace.
- Experience working in broadcast, media, start-up or research environments.
- Contributions to published technical documents or thought leadership in your area of expertise.
- Familiarity with API development frameworks (FastAPI or equivalent).
- Experience building with Generative AI frameworks (e.g. LangChain, LangGraph, PydanticAI) and managed AI services (e.g. Bedrock, Azure).
EEO Statement: We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Lead Data Engineer employer: BBC Studios Distribution Limited
The BBC is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets collaboration. As part of the Generative AI Programme, you'll have the opportunity to lead cutting-edge projects that leverage AI to solve real-world problems, all while benefiting from a culture that prioritises continuous learning and professional growth. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, the BBC fosters a supportive atmosphere that empowers employees to thrive in their careers.
Contact Details:
BBC Studios Distribution Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with folks in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at the BBC. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your data engineering projects, especially those involving AI tools. This will give you an edge and show potential employers what you can really do.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and understanding of data pipelines. Practice common interview questions and be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in past projects.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Make sure to apply directly 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 team at the BBC.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with data pipelines, AI tools, and collaboration in multidisciplinary teams. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Mention your proficiency in Python, experience with cloud platforms like AWS, and any work you've done with Generative AI frameworks. This is your chance to shine, so let us know what you can bring to the table.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at BBC Studios Distribution Limited
✨Know Your Data Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your data engineering skills, especially around building secure and resilient data pipelines. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how you've tackled challenges in complex environments. The BBC will want to see that you can translate technical requirements into practical solutions.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be prepared to talk about your experience in multidisciplinary collaboration. Share examples of how you've worked with data scientists, analysts, and project managers to deliver successful projects. Highlight your ability to understand different perspectives and translate them into engineering solutions.
✨Show Off Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Data Engineer, you'll need to provide technical leadership. Think of instances where you've mentored others or improved engineering practices. Be ready to discuss how you've set standards and contributed to a culture of learning within your team.
✨Get Familiar with AI Tools
Since the role is focused on AI, make sure you know your way around AI tools and frameworks like LangChain or Azure. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these technologies in your previous work and how they can be applied to solve business problems effectively.
