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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build a cutting-edge internal data platform from scratch.
- Company: Join Fonoa, a forward-thinking tech company focused on solving real customer problems.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with the chance to shape the future of data at Fonoa.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative team that values ownership and collaboration in data engineering.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in Data Engineering, strong SQL skills, and experience with modern data tools.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About Engineering at Fonoa
Engineering is central to how we build the business. We focus on solving real customer problems, not just shipping features. We work in small, high-trust teams, with full ownership across the lifecycle, from design to production and beyond.
We value:
- Ownership – engineers own what they build end-to-end
- Simplicity – we break down complex problems into clear solutions
- Thinking Big - we innovate with modern technologies (LLMs, AI Agents, etc.) to solve meaningful problems
- Quality – scalable, maintainable systems are non-negotiable
- Speed & iteration – we ship fast, learn, and improve continuously
- Collaboration – we win as a team, not as individuals
Position Overview
As Fonoa continues to scale globally, we are looking for a Data Engineer to help us bootstrap an internal data platform from the ground up. Working closely with the Infrastructure team, you will play a foundational role in unlocking the value hidden across our different systems and make data accessible to both technical and non-technical stakeholders in a seamless way.
This is not a role where you'll walk into a mature data stack with well-defined requirements. We have data spread across multiple systems and services, and we need someone who can help us experiment, iterate, and discover how to best add value to the business and our products through data. You'll be exploring what's possible, building the first versions of pipelines and tooling, and shaping the direction of data engineering at Fonoa.
This is a highly collaborative, hands-on role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, brings curiosity and proactivity, and is energised by the challenge of building something from scratch rather than maintaining something that already exists.
What Will You Do
Data Platform Foundations
- Design, build, and iterate on the foundational data infrastructure that will become Fonoa's internal data platform
- Evaluate and select appropriate tools and technologies based on our needs, scale, and team capabilities
- Establish patterns and best practices for data modelling, cataloguing, and documentation, and data governance and quality standards early on
Data Integration & Access
- Connect and consolidate data from multiple internal systems and services into a unified, queryable layer
- Build interfaces and tooling that enable non-technical users (including Product, Finance, Operations) to consume data independently
- Ensure data quality, consistency, and reliability across sources through validation and monitoring
Exploration & Value Discovery
- Partner with stakeholders across the business to understand their data needs and identify high-impact opportunities
- Prototype dashboards, reports, and data products to test hypotheses about where data can drive decisions
- Help define what 'data-driven' looks like at Fonoa and shape the roadmap accordingly
Collaboration & Enablement
- Work closely with the Infrastructure team on cloud resources, networking, and security considerations for data workloads
- Partner with Finance, Operations, and Product to understand their reporting and analytical needs, and translate those into reliable, queryable data products
- Share knowledge and advocate for data engineering best practices across the organisation
What We Are Looking For
- 5+ years of experience in a Data Engineering or similar role (Analytics Engineering, Backend Engineering with heavy data work)
- Solid proficiency in SQL and at least one programming language (Python, Scala, or similar)
- Experience building and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines and working with data warehousing or lakehouse architectures
- Hands-on experience with modern data stack tooling — particularly a columnar warehouse (BigQuery, Snowflake, or similar), a transformation layer (dbt or equivalent), and an ingestion/CDC tool (Airbyte, Fivetran, or similar)
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP preferred) and their data services
- Experience with workflow orchestration tools
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work with non-technical stakeholders and translate their needs into data solutions
- Comfort with ambiguity and an ability to make pragmatic decisions with incomplete information
- Prior experience bootstrapping a data platform or data function from scratch
Bonus Points If You Have
- Experience with data visualisation and BI tools (Metabase, Looker, Superset, or similar)
- Background working in a product-oriented SaaS company
- Experience working with financial or operational data (revenue, billing, reconciliation)
- Exposure to infrastructure-as-code and DevOps practices
What Success Looks Like
- A first iteration of an internal data platform is running, consolidating data from key systems into a reliable, queryable layer
- Non-technical stakeholders can access and explore data relevant to their work without needing engineering support for every question
- Clear patterns and documentation exist for how data is ingested, transformed, and consumed
- You have identified and delivered at least one high-impact data use case that demonstrably adds value to the business or product
API Documentation
For engineers, API design and structure are an important part of evaluating a role. You can explore our API and how we build products here: https://docs.fonoa.com/
Tech Stack
We use these technologies today, but we don’t hire for specific tools. We care about engineers who can understand problems, make good technical decisions, and choose the right tools for the job.
Backend: Node.js, Go
Frontend: React, TypeScript
Infrastructure: GCP, k8s, Terraform, Postgres
Note: If you don’t think you have the full experience we’re looking for, but you could be a fit and are willing to learn, do apply anyway! We are building a diverse and inclusive team.
As part of the recruitment process at Fonoa, we process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants. This notice explains how and why your data is collected and used, and how you can contact us if you have any concerns.
Senior/Staff Data Engineer in London employer: Fonoa
Contact Detail:
Fonoa Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Staff Data Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repo showcasing your projects, especially those related to data engineering. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common data engineering questions and scenarios. Think about how you’d tackle real-world problems, just like the ones Fonoa faces.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Staff Data Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Ownership: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience with end-to-end ownership of projects. We love seeing how you've taken charge and delivered results, so share specific examples that showcase your ability to own what you build.
Keep It Simple: We value simplicity, so when you're crafting your application, break down your experiences into clear, digestible points. Avoid jargon and focus on how you’ve solved complex problems in straightforward ways—this will resonate with us!
Think Big and Innovate: Don’t shy away from showcasing your innovative side! If you've worked with modern technologies or have ideas on how to leverage data in exciting ways, let us know. We’re looking for someone who can think big and push boundaries.
Collaborate and Communicate: Since collaboration is key for us, emphasise your communication skills in your application. Share instances where you've worked with non-technical stakeholders to translate their needs into actionable data solutions—this will show us you’re a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fonoa
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, dive deep into Fonoa's values and culture. They focus on ownership, simplicity, and collaboration, so think about how your past experiences align with these principles. Be ready to share examples that demonstrate your ability to work in high-trust teams and take ownership of your projects.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Make sure you can confidently discuss your experience with SQL, ETL/ELT pipelines, and modern data stack tools. Prepare specific examples of projects where you've built or maintained data infrastructure, and be ready to explain your decision-making process when selecting tools and technologies.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
Fonoa is looking for someone who thrives in uncertain situations. Think of instances where you've successfully navigated ambiguity in your previous roles. Be prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving and experimentation, especially when building something from scratch.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves working closely with non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining complex data concepts in simple terms. Prepare to discuss how you've previously collaborated with different teams to understand their data needs and how you translated those into actionable solutions.