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- Tasks: Lead the design and build of advanced data platforms for tackling financial crime.
- Company: Join a high-performing team in a dynamic tech environment.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, flexible work schedule, and hands-on leadership experience.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor engineers and drive best practices in a collaborative setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by delivering scalable data solutions using cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in data engineering, Databricks, and AWS cloud architectures.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 47250 £ per year.
Location: London (2 days onsite per week)
Day Rate: £525 Per day (Outside IR35)
Duration: 6-month contract
Start: ASAP
Contact: Matthew.Makranczy@forsythbarnes.com
Overview
We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer to join a high-performing team delivering advanced data platforms that support financial institutions in tackling fraud and financial crime. In this role, you will help design and evolve a modern Databricks + AWS lakehouse architecture, enabling analytics, machine learning, and investigative teams to generate actionable insights from large-scale datasets. This is a hands-on leadership position focused on building robust, scalable, and governed data solutions using modern cloud technologies.
The Role
- Own the end-to-end design, build, optimisation, and support of scalable Spark / PySpark data pipelines (batch and streaming)
- Define and implement lakehouse architecture standards (medallion model: bronze, silver, gold), including governance, lineage, and data quality controls
- Design and manage secure data ingestion frameworks (e.g. Apache NiFi, APIs, SFTP/FTPS) for internal and external data sources
- Architect and maintain secure AWS-based data infrastructure (S3, IAM, KMS, Glue, Lake Formation, Lambda, Step Functions, CloudWatch, etc.)
- Implement orchestration using tools such as Airflow, Databricks Workflows, and Step Functions
- Champion data quality, observability, and reliability (SLAs, monitoring, alerting, reconciliation)
- Drive CI/CD best practices for data platforms (infrastructure as code, automated testing, versioning, environment promotion)
- Mentor engineers on distributed data processing, performance optimisation, and cost efficiency
- Collaborate with data science, product, and compliance teams to translate requirements into scalable data solutions
Required Skills & Experience
- Strong experience as a Senior or Lead Data Engineer with ownership of end-to-end data solutions
- Expertise in Databricks, PySpark / Spark, SQL, and Python
- Proven experience building and optimising large-scale data pipelines in production environments
- Strong knowledge of cloud data architectures, particularly within AWS
- Experience designing scalable data models and reusable frameworks
- Hands-on experience with orchestration tools such as Airflow or similar
- Solid understanding of data governance, lineage, and compliance requirements
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code (e.g. Terraform, CloudFormation)
- Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams
What We’re Looking For
- A hands-on technical leader who can design, build, and deliver solutions independently
- Someone comfortable working with high-volume, high-throughput data systems
- Strong problem-solving skills and a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset
- Experience mentoring engineers and setting engineering standards and best practices
- Ability to balance technical excellence with delivery timelines
Lead Data Engineer (Ref: 196438) in City of London employer: Forsyth Barnes
Contact Detail:
Forsyth Barnes Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer (Ref: 196438) in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the data engineering field, especially those who work with AWS and Databricks. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best data pipelines and projects. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise in Spark, PySpark, and cloud architectures. Make it easy for potential employers to see what you can do!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common data engineering challenges. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled issues related to data quality, governance, and performance optimisation. We want to hear your problem-solving stories!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Lead Data Engineer role!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer (Ref: 196438) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Databricks, AWS, and building scalable data pipelines. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for our team. Share specific examples of your past work that align with the job description, especially around data governance and CI/CD practices.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a hands-on leadership position, don’t forget to highlight your mentoring experience. We love seeing how you've guided teams in the past, so share those stories to show us your leadership style!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures you get noticed by the right people. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forsyth Barnes
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Databricks, PySpark, and AWS. Brush up on your knowledge of data pipelines and cloud architectures, as you’ll likely be asked to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Data Engineer, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to mentor and guide others. Prepare examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past, focusing on your approach to problem-solving and setting engineering standards.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to design scalable data solutions. Think through potential scenarios involving data governance, lineage, and compliance, and be ready to explain how you would tackle these challenges.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Strong communication skills are key for this role. Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms, as you’ll need to collaborate with both technical and non-technical teams. Confidence in your delivery can make a big difference!