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- Tasks: Lead the creation of secure data pipelines on GCP and mentor fellow engineers.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking team at the Department for Transport, focused on data innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a top-notch pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transport policy while working with cutting-edge cloud technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in data engineering and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive environment that values your growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 57515 - 80400 £ per year.
£57,515 to £80,400 per year, Plus an additional DDaT allowance up to: £22,885
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Disability Confident: Yes
Closing Date: 22/02/2026
About this job
Can you lead secure, production-grade data pipelines on GCP while balancing live operations and innovation? Do you enjoy mentoring engineers and translating complex data engineering concepts for diverse stakeholders? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
In recent years DfT’s digital and data teams have implemented a range of advanced data services, making use of the latest cloud technologies to deliver the services and platforms that our users need, with excellent customer satisfaction rates. We are proud of our ability to develop and grow as a team, and we look forward to you sharing that sense of pride.
At DfT, we recognise that everyone has different needs and aspirations. We have created an inclusive and welcoming working environment so you can feel comfortable to be yourself at work. We’ll help you to reach your full potential, offering rewarding opportunities alongside access to the latest training and technologies.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Working as part of a talented and collaborative team, you will:
- Lead the build and operation of DfT’s production-grade data pipelines and platforms, ensuring reliability and security across our Google Cloud Platform environment.
- Own and manage live data services, triaging and resolving issues at pace to maintain high-quality data delivery for analysts, policy teams and external commitments.
- Drive innovation within data engineering, identifying opportunities to modernise tooling, adopt emerging GCP capabilities and introduce new approaches that improve efficiency and data quality.
- Plan delivery across legacy migration, operational support and new development, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that risks, dependencies and priorities are well managed.
- Work closely with technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating technical concepts, shaping data-related decisions, and responding to business needs.
- Line manage and develop engineers at varying levels, providing technical guidance, coaching and oversight, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
- Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), establishing repeatable patterns for environments, access, and data services.
- Lead the development of our metadata catalogue, curating business and technical metadata so users can effectively discover and use data.
In return, we can offer you access to new and emerging technologies, varied projects developed in a cloud-first environment, support and investment to further your training and development, flexible and hybrid working supporting a healthy work-life balance, and an industry-leading pension and employee benefits package.
For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only; whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
About Us
At the heart of data innovation and evolution in DfT, you will join a talented, experienced data engineering team imagining and shaping the delivery of the next wave of data services. The team is embedded within the wider data directorate and works alongside analysts, data scientists, architects and other engineers to deliver some of the most impactful data projects within DfT. You will support and shape various areas within the business which delivers an innovational transport policy agenda.
As DfT is a cloud-only enterprise, you will develop the latest cloud solutions meeting complex digital, identity and data needs. This role will give you the opportunity to share your experience and further develop your skills every day as you work on new and exciting projects with advanced technologies. We provide a supportive and constructive learning environment where your career growth is important.
Lead Data Engineer in Birmingham employer: Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
Contact Detail:
Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at DfT on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. This insider info can give us a leg up!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those technical interviews! Brush up on your GCP knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've led data pipelines in the past. We want to showcase our skills and experience, so practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off our leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how we've mentored others and driven innovation in previous roles. DfT values collaboration, so let’s highlight our ability to work with diverse teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can tailor our application to match what DfT is looking for, making it more likely for us to land that interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with GCP, data pipelines, and mentoring, as these are key aspects of the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about data engineering and how you can contribute to our team. Share specific examples of your past work that demonstrate your ability to lead and innovate.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical expertise, especially in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and cloud technologies. We want to see how you’ve used these skills to solve real-world problems.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better!
How to prepare for a job interview at Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
✨Know Your GCP Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Google Cloud Platform, especially when it comes to building and operating data pipelines. Brush up on the latest features and best practices, as you might be asked to discuss how you would leverage these in your role.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since the role involves mentoring engineers, prepare examples of how you've successfully guided team members in the past. Think about specific situations where your coaching made a difference, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Translate Technical Jargon
You’ll need to communicate complex data engineering concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining technical ideas in simple terms, so you can demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between tech and business needs during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Prowess
Be prepared to discuss how you handle live data service issues. Think of examples where you triaged problems quickly and effectively, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes of your actions.
