Head of Data Engineering in London

Head of Data Engineering in London

London Full-Time 72000 - 108000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
D

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and develop high-performing data engineering teams while shaping technical strategy.
  • Company: Join a market-leading SaaS organisation in Central London with a hybrid work model.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by building scalable data platforms and nurturing talent.
  • Qualifications: Strong foundation in Data Engineering and proven leadership experience.
  • Other info: Opportunity to thrive in a dynamic, collaborative culture focused on innovation.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 ÂŁ per year.

dcoded is partnering with a market-leading SaaS organisation as they appoint a Head of Data Engineering to lead, scale, and evolve their data engineering capability. This is a senior leadership role with a strong emphasis on Google Cloud (GCP), organisational influence, and people development.

You will sit at the intersection of technology, delivery, and leadership—setting direction, growing teams, and ensuring the data platform is built to scale, perform, and enable the wider business.

The Role

  • Leadership
    • Lead and develop high‐performing data engineering teams through coaching, mentoring, and clear progression frameworks.
    • Create an environment where psychological safety, inclusion, and high standards coexist.
    • Enable engineers to do their best work by aligning individual growth with team and business outcomes.
    • Act as a visible cultural leader, reinforcing values and supporting a connected, engaged engineering community.
  • Data Platform & Technical Direction
    • Take ownership of the long‐term stability, scalability, and quality of the data platforms under your remit.
    • Influence and help define the organisation's data and AI technical strategy.
    • Work closely with architects, tech leads, and engineering leadership to align on design decisions and reduce technical risk.
    • Promote strong engineering practices around reliability, performance, testing, and observability, with teams accountable for live systems.
  • Delivery, Planning & Execution
    • Partner with Product and Data leaders to shape roadmaps, priorities, and delivery plans.
    • Ensure teams are appropriately structured and equipped to deliver consistently without compromising quality.
    • Track delivery effectiveness, address constraints, and continuously improve how work flows through the team.
    • Identify risks early, manage trade‐offs, and represent your teams in cross‐functional forums.
  • Hiring & Team Scaling
    • Lead hiring efforts to attract, assess, and onboard diverse data engineering talent.
    • Evolve team structure and capability in line with both technical needs and future growth.
    • Play an active role in performance reviews, promotion processes, and long‐term talent planning.
  • Stakeholder Partnership
    • Build strong relationships with product, analytics, and senior business stakeholders.
    • Clearly communicate complex technical topics in a way that supports informed decision‐making.
    • Think beyond team boundaries, balancing local delivery with organisation‐wide priorities and outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

  • A strong foundation in Data Engineering, with hands‐on experience working on modern data platforms.
  • Proven experience designing and operating data systems in the cloud (GCP strongly preferred).
  • Previous leadership experience managing data or analytics engineering teams.
  • A track record of improving delivery, process, and team effectiveness.
  • Confidence working across planning, estimation, prioritisation, and stakeholder alignment.
  • A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across technical and non‐technical audiences.
  • A calm, pragmatic approach when operating in complex or ambiguous environments.
  • Genuine passion for developing people through coaching, feedback, and structured growth.

If you’re motivated by building high‐impact data teams, shaping technical strategy, and creating an environment where engineers can thrive, dcoded would love to speak with you.

Head of Data Engineering in London employer: dcoded. | B Corp TM pending

At dcoded, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Central London. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our structured progression frameworks and emphasis on psychological safety, ensuring that every team member can thrive while contributing to cutting-edge data engineering solutions. Join us to lead high-performing teams in a hybrid environment where your influence shapes the future of our data platforms and drives meaningful impact across the organisation.
D

Contact Detail:

dcoded. | B Corp TM pending Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Data Engineering in London

✨Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even casual coffee chats. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.

✨Show Off Your Skills

Don’t just talk about your experience—show it! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects and achievements. This gives potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.

✨Ace the Interview

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and practising common questions. Be ready to discuss how your leadership style aligns with their values and how you can help them scale their data engineering teams.

✨Apply Through Us!

We’ve got your back! Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that dream job. We’re here to support you every step of the way in your job search journey.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Data Engineering in London

Data Engineering
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Cloud Data Systems Design
Leadership
Coaching and Mentoring
Team Development
Technical Strategy Definition
Engineering Practices
Delivery Planning
Stakeholder Management
Communication Skills
Risk Management
Performance Improvement
Collaboration
Adaptability in Complex Environments

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Data Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in data engineering and cloud platforms like GCP or AWS.

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 how you've led teams and improved processes in previous roles.

Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your hands-on experience with modern data platforms and any relevant projects. We want to see how you’ve tackled challenges and delivered results in your past roles.

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!

How to prepare for a job interview at dcoded. | B Corp TM pending

✨Know Your Data Engineering Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your data engineering fundamentals, especially around GCP and cloud technologies. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with modern data platforms and how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past. Think about times when you coached or mentored engineers, created a positive team culture, or influenced technical strategy. This role is all about leadership, so make it clear that you can inspire and develop others.

✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently

Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You’ll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, so being able to break down your ideas will be key. Consider using real-world examples to illustrate your points.

✨Be Ready to Discuss Delivery and Strategy

Think about how you've shaped delivery plans and roadmaps in your previous roles. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve identified risks, managed trade-offs, and improved team effectiveness. This shows you understand the bigger picture and can align team goals with business outcomes.

Head of Data Engineering in London
dcoded. | B Corp TM pending
Location: London
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

D
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>