At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data engineering projects and guide multi-disciplinary teams to deliver impactful solutions.
- Company: A leading consultancy focused on hands-on implementation and client performance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for career progression.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with a focus on continuous learning and growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data engineering while working with industry experts in a people-first culture.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in data engineering, leadership skills, and strong technical knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 85000 £ per year.
We're recruiting on behalf of a leading strategy, operations and digital consultancy dedicated to driving the performance of their clients. This is a people-first business that prides itself on genuine delivery, not just strategy decks, but hands-on implementation that creates lasting value. This is a standout leadership opportunity for an experienced Lead Data Engineer who wants to own technical direction, lead multi-disciplinary teams, and work across client delivery, internal product development, and cutting-edge data platform challenges.
What You'll Be Doing
- Providing technical leadership across multiple client engagements and internal product initiatives, setting direction and assuring quality for all data engineering deliverables.
- Leading the architecture and design of scalable, secure, and cost-effective data platforms and pipelines, batch, streaming, API, event-driven, and unstructured.
- Owning end-to-end delivery governance for data engineering workstreams, including planning, estimating, budgeting, mobilisation, and RAID management.
- Defining and enforcing data engineering standards covering coding, testing, CI/CD, observability, and documentation — including design and code reviews.
- Partnering with client stakeholders to understand their data maturity, information governance requirements, and security constraints, translating those into robust roadmaps and delivery plans.
- Leading multi-disciplinary teams (data engineers, platform engineers, analysts, and data scientists) in an Agile delivery model (Discovery – Alpha – Beta – Live) aligned to GDS/DDAT standards.
- Driving platform reliability and performance, including monitoring, alerting, and incident response.
- Getting hands-on when it counts - complex pipeline development, optimisation, troubleshooting, and secure integration design.
- Coaching and mentoring data engineering practitioners and building communities of practice and reusable assets.
- Supporting business development activity including shaping proposals, thought leadership, and capability planning.
- Providing people leadership to direct reports, including objective setting, performance reviews, and development planning.
What We're Looking For
- Demonstrable expertise in data engineering, including designing and building robust pipelines for streamed, batched, and on-demand data sources.
- Must-have: hands-on experience with Databricks and Delta Lake.
- Cloud platform expertise - Azure-centric, with strong knowledge of Azure Data Factory and related Azure data services.
- Strong SQL and data modelling skills.
- Solid understanding of API-based integrations and SaaS platform connectivity.
- Proven experience leading complex data engineering workstreams end-to-end — planning, governance, risk management, and delivery assurance.
- Demonstrable leadership experience, including line management and coaching of data engineering practitioners and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences at senior levels.
- A growth mindset and genuine intellectual curiosity — energised by challenge and continuous learning.
- Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC level).
Why This Role?
- Lead data engineering delivery across a genuinely varied, complex portfolio.
- Contribute to both client delivery and internal proprietary platform development.
- Join a team of subject matter experts in a people-first culture.
- Real career progression with direct exposure to senior leadership.
- Hybrid working with flexibility across home, office, and client sites.
If you're a Lead Data Engineer with a passion for technical leadership and client-side delivery, please don't hesitate to apply!
*Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications, not all applicants will receive feedback.*
Lead Data Engineer employer: Formula.
Join a leading strategy, operations, and digital consultancy in Bristol that prioritises a people-first culture and offers a dynamic work environment. As a Lead Data Engineer, you'll enjoy the opportunity for genuine career progression, hands-on technical leadership, and the chance to work on complex data challenges while collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams. With hybrid working options and a commitment to employee growth, this role is perfect for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the role you want. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving data pipelines and platforms. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to data engineering. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with tools like Databricks and Azure Data Factory, and don’t forget to highlight your leadership skills!
✨Apply Through Our Website
When you find a job that excites you, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your hands-on experience with Databricks, Azure, and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about data engineering and how your background aligns with our people-first culture. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don't shy away from detailing your technical expertise. Mention specific projects where you've led data engineering workstreams or developed complex pipelines. We love seeing real-world examples of your skills in action!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Formula.
✨Know Your Data Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your data engineering skills, especially around designing and building robust pipelines. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with Databricks, Delta Lake, and Azure services like Azure Data Factory. They’ll want to see that you can not only talk the talk but also walk the walk.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leading teams and projects, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed multi-disciplinary teams in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and mentoring others, as well as your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly around data governance, risk management, and delivery assurance, and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Understand Their Business and Culture
Research the consultancy's approach to client delivery and their people-first culture. Be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission of delivering genuine value. Showing that you understand their business will set you apart from other candidates.
