Engineering Manager (Data Team)

Engineering Manager (Data Team)

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic Data Engineering team and shape our AI-driven platform's future.
  • Company: Join Bluefish, a fast-growing startup at the forefront of AI marketing.
  • Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility, competitive salary, and significant career growth opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a tight-knit team with a strong focus on innovation and excellence.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a cutting-edge environment while tackling exciting challenges.
  • Qualifications: Experience in leading engineering teams and working with data platforms is essential.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

We’re growing fast and our Engineering team will double in size over the next 3 months and we are looking for an Engineering Manager to join Bluefish’s engineering leadership team. This is not just a leadership role; it’s a unique opportunity to help shape the foundation of a fast-moving, product-driven startup during a critical phase of growth. In this role, you will lead our Data Engineering team, which is responsible for the pipelines and infrastructure powering our AI-driven commerce intelligence platform. Our systems acquire and process hundreds of millions of synthetic prompts and signals, and the platform is expected to scale significantly as our traffic grows rapidly over the coming months.

A major focus of this role is helping the team evolve our data platform toward a scalable data lake architecture while maintaining reliability for critical production pipelines used by enterprise customers. You’ll lead the charge on execution, quality, and team culture. You’ll help transform early-stage velocity into mature, high-performing teams without losing the edge and pace that define great startups. At the same time, you will help the team move from a highly reactive operational mode toward a more sustainable, scalable engineering model, reducing incidents and freeing engineers to focus on higher-impact work such as platform improvements and new capabilities, while retaining excellent incident response practices. The role is linked with our location in London, but we are fully remote in the UK.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Manage and support a team of 6 Data Engineers distributed across Europe, helping them focus on the most impactful technical initiatives as the platform scales.
  • Drive execution excellence, ensuring the team delivers with high velocity, quality, and reliability, while maintaining strong cross-functional alignment.
  • Implement and evolve processes, tools, and metrics to support scalable and repeatable delivery.
  • Lead efforts to reduce operational incidents and improve pipeline reliability, helping the team move away from reactive firefighting toward proactive engineering.
  • Foster a healthy and sustainable team environment by helping the team manage workload, reduce burnout, and focus on meaningful engineering work.
  • Help position Data Engineering as a center of excellence for data, promoting best practices around data ownership, data platforms, and data-driven decision making across teams.
  • Provide technical capabilities and repeatable patterns to enable the whole organization to use data at scale.
  • Contribute in code reviews and establish processes that keep pushing the bar on engineering excellence.
  • Identify and address bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or misalignments, always looking for ways to raise the bar.

As our Engineering Manager you will:

  • Have experience leading and scaling high-performing engineering teams in multiple organizations.
  • Have experience working with data platforms, data pipelines, or data infrastructure, and understand concepts such as data lakes, data warehousing, and large-scale data processing.
  • Ideally have a background as a Data Engineer or Backend Engineer working with data systems, with experience in technologies such as Python, TypeScript and cloud-native infrastructure (ideally AWS).
  • Have experience operating in environments with high data volume, complex orchestration, rapidly evolving systems, and strong reliability requirements.
  • Have a strong understanding of organizational architecture, domain-driven design, and their impact on data flow modelling.
  • Lead with humility, clarity, and high standards.
  • Have previous experience in a startup environment and thrive in fast-moving, ambiguous situations.

About Bluefish:

Bluefish believes that AI represents the next major chapter of the internet – and that consumers will increasingly use AI to consume information and media online. On this new AI internet, brands will need new tools and technologies to tell their stories to consumers online – and a new marketing ecosystem will be created around AI. Bluefish is building the platform that helps brands engage consumers on this new AI channel, with powerful enterprise tools to manage AI brand safety and engage consumers with thoughtful and personalized AI marketing experiences.

Why Bluefish & Our Values:

  • Unique opportunity to join on the ground floor of a fast-moving startup building at the center of AI.
  • Tackle challenging and abstract problems while disrupting the $300B legacy mar-tech industry.
  • Join an experienced high-performing team where you will have immediate ownership and impact.
  • Experience a true meritocracy with significant career growth upside as the business scales.

Our Values:

  • Demonstrated grit and resourcefulness – you find creative solutions, adapt quickly, and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
  • Thoughtful and strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate needs, ask the right questions, and deliver insights that truly drive value.
  • Proven ability to collaborate across functions and roles, fostering open communication and shared ownership of outcomes.
  • Commitment to craftsmanship – you take pride in delivering high-quality work, paying attention to the small details while keeping the big picture in mind.
  • Self-starter with a proactive mindset and a strong sense of accountability – able to drive projects forward independently while staying aligned with team goals.
  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity and learning new tools, processes, or technologies to get the job done.

Engineering Manager (Data Team) employer: Bluefish AI

Bluefish is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead a high-performing Data Engineering team in a fast-paced, innovative startup environment. With a strong focus on employee growth and a culture that values meritocracy, you will have the chance to make a significant impact while working remotely from anywhere in the UK. Join a tight-knit team of industry veterans dedicated to disrupting the mar-tech landscape and enjoy the benefits of a supportive work culture that prioritises creativity, collaboration, and quality craftsmanship.

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Contact Details:

Bluefish AI Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager (Data Team)

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Bluefish on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and the company culture. This not only shows your interest but can also give you insider info that might help you stand out in interviews.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Bluefish’s products and values. Understand how their AI-driven platform works and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to their mission during the chat.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you've built high-performing teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you’ve fostered a positive team culture and driven execution excellence, as these are key aspects of the Engineering Manager role.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you note expressing your appreciation for the opportunity can leave a lasting impression. It’s a simple way to reinforce your enthusiasm for the role and the company.

We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager (Data Team)

Team Management
Data Engineering
Data Pipelines
Data Infrastructure
Data Lakes
Data Warehousing
Large-Scale Data Processing

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Engineering Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in data engineering, and any relevant technologies you've worked with.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're excited about joining Bluefish. Share specific examples of how you've led teams or improved processes in previous roles, and connect them to our mission and values.

Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t shy away from mentioning your technical expertise! Whether it’s Python, TypeScript, or cloud-native infrastructure, let us know how your background as a Data Engineer or Backend Engineer can contribute to our data platform.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape our engineering team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Bluefish AI

Know Your Data Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in data platforms, pipelines, and architectures like data lakes. Brush up on your knowledge of Python, TypeScript, and cloud-native infrastructure, especially AWS. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re ready to lead the Data Engineering team.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

Prepare to talk about your experience leading high-performing teams. Highlight how you’ve fostered a positive team culture and managed workloads to prevent burnout. Share specific examples of how you’ve empowered your team while maintaining high standards without micromanaging.

Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills

Be ready to discuss how you've tackled operational incidents and improved pipeline reliability in past roles. Think of examples where you’ve identified bottlenecks or inefficiencies and how you implemented solutions. This will illustrate your proactive engineering mindset.

Align with Company Values

Familiarise yourself with Bluefish’s values, such as grit, resourcefulness, and commitment to craftsmanship. Prepare to give examples from your experience that align with these values, showing that you not only fit the role but also the company culture.