At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data engineering projects and mentor teams while delivering innovative solutions.
- Company: Dynamic consultancy focused on real-world impact and client success.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Join a team of experts and enjoy flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data engineering in a people-first environment.
- Qualifications: Expertise in data engineering, leadership experience, and strong communication skills.
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.*
Locations
Lead Data Engineer in Newport, Wales employer: Formula.
Join a leading strategy, operations, and digital consultancy in Bristol, where a people-first culture fosters genuine delivery and hands-on implementation. As a Lead Data Engineer, you'll enjoy a hybrid working model, exceptional career progression opportunities, and the chance to lead multi-disciplinary teams on complex data challenges while contributing to both client success and internal innovations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer in Newport, Wales
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Lead Data Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experience. We recommend practising common interview questions related to data engineering and thinking about how you can showcase your hands-on experience with Databricks and Azure services.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to tailor your approach! When you’re applying through our website, make sure to highlight your relevant experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering complex data engineering projects. We want to see how you can bring value to our clients!
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. We love candidates who take initiative and demonstrate their genuine interest in joining our people-first culture.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer in Newport, Wales
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 designed robust data pipelines or led multi-disciplinary teams. We love seeing real-world examples of your work!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It streamlines the process for us and ensures your application lands in the right hands. 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
Since this role involves leading multi-disciplinary teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and mentoring others, and how you’ve driven performance in an Agile environment. They’ll be looking for someone who can inspire and guide their team.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
You’ll need to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, so practice simplifying your language. Think about how you can convey your ideas clearly and effectively, especially when discussing data maturity and governance requirements. Good communication can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making process. Think about past challenges you’ve faced in data engineering and how you overcame them. This is your chance to demonstrate your growth mindset and intellectual curiosity, so don’t hold back!
