At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our MI team to develop scalable data solutions using AWS technologies.
- Company: DWP, the UK's largest government department, focused on empowering millions.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, generous leave, hybrid working, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Other info: Join an award-winning culture with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on data-driven decisions that affect lives across the UK.
- Qualifications: Experience with PySpark, AWS, and a strong background in full stack development.
We need a Data Engineer to join our Management Information (MI) team and help shape the future of data at DWP. Working with modern AWS technologies, you'll develop scalable data solutions that power reporting, analytics, and strategic decision-making. Our DWP Digital teams use fresh ideas and leading-edge tech to build and maintain digital solutions that will be used by nearly every person in the UK, every day and at key moments in their lives.
DWP is the UK's largest government department. We help people into work and make payments worth over £195bn a year to support and empower millions of people. The scale of what we do is extraordinary, and our purpose is unique. We'd love you to join us.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?
- Experience developing and managing PySpark workflows within AWS environments.
- Knowledge of AWS Lambda and event-driven solutions to support automated data processing.
- Experience provisioning and supporting cloud infrastructure using Amazon EC2 and automation tools.
- Understanding of Agile ways of working and experience contributing to CI/CD delivery practices.
- Ability to optimise data processing, storage, and queries to improve performance and data quality.
- Experience designing and automating ETL pipelines using PySpark and Spark SQL.
- A strong full stack development background with technologies that include .NET 4,8, C#, JavaScript, C++ and Java.
You and your role
As a Data Engineer in DWP Digital's Management Information (MI) team, you'll help us to deliver modern data engineering solutions that support analytical reporting, business intelligence, and strategic decision-making. We work in a hybrid cloud environment that combines AWS technologies with legacy platforms - here you will design, build, maintain, and optimise scalable data products used by our analysts and data scientists. You will develop and orchestrate PySpark-based ETL pipelines, using technologies such as Amazon EMR, AWS Lambda, and EC2 to process large volumes of structured and unstructured data efficiently.
Your role involves collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to translate reporting requirements into robust technical solutions while ensuring high standards of data quality, performance, and security. Alongside hands-on data engineering delivery, you will contribute to Agile delivery practices, support CI/CD automation, maintain technical documentation, conduct code reviews, and share knowledge with fellow engineers and data professionals as part of a thriving community of practice.
Details
Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home (40%) and some time collaborating face to face in a hub (60%).
Pay: We offer competitive pay for this role of up to £51,528.
Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%, worth over £12,876 per year.
Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time. You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.
We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving.
- Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'.
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference.
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
And we have an award-winning environment and culture:
- DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards.
- Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024.
- Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025.
- Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards.
Process: We know your time is valuable, so our application and selection process is just two stages:
- Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs.
- Interview: A two-stage interview online.
CLICK APPLY for more information and to start your application.
Data Engineer in Birmingham employer: DWP
DWP is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With competitive pay, a generous pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements, employees can enjoy a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful digital transformation initiatives that impact millions across the UK. Join us in our vibrant digital hubs in Blackpool or Newcastle, where you'll be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to excellence and innovation in public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Engineer in Birmingham
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We think you need these skills to ace Data Engineer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
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Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at DWP, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at DWP. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
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Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at DWP!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.