At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build modern cloud-native data platforms for national security.
- Company: Dynamic organisations in the National Security sector focused on innovative data solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Engage with multidisciplinary teams and influence the future of data architecture.
- Why this job: Join a team that values data engineering as a core discipline and drives impactful projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in data engineering, cloud platforms, and relevant technologies like Python and SQL.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 100000 £ per year.
Data Engineers – National Security Opportunities
Active DV / eDV Clearance
Hybrid opportunities across the UK
£55,000 - £100,000+ depending on experience, level and clearance
Thinking about your next move? One conversation I’ve been having more and more with Data Engineers is this: "I enjoy the people I work with... I’m just not learning anymore." Sometimes it’s legacy data warehouses that never seem to evolve. Sometimes it’s spending more time fixing pipelines than building them. Sometimes it’s being the only data specialist in the room. More often than not, it’s simply wanting to work somewhere that’s genuinely investing in modern data engineering rather than talking about it. If that sounds familiar, it might be worth reading on.
What I’m Seeing Across the Market
Paving spent the last couple of years speaking with Data Engineers, Data Architects and technical leaders across the National Security community, a few themes have become impossible to ignore. The organisations attracting the strongest engineers aren’t simply hiring people to move data from A to B. They’re building platforms that underpin AI, machine learning and operational decision-making. Modern cloud-native data platforms are replacing fragmented legacy estates. Engineering teams are investing in automation, scalability and data products rather than endless manual processes. Most importantly, the best environments are treating Data Engineering as an engineering discipline—not a support function. That’s exactly the type of organisations I choose to partner with.
The Opportunities
- Designing and building modern cloud-native data platforms
- Developing scalable ETL and ELT pipelines
- Working with AWS and Azure data services
- Engineering platforms using technologies such as Spark, Databricks and Kafka
- Building reliable, automated data pipelines supporting AI and Machine Learning workloads
- Collaborating with software, cloud and platform engineers in genuinely multidisciplinary teams
- Influencing architecture and technical direction as platforms continue to evolve
Some organisations are scaling rapidly. Others are well-established engineering businesses investing heavily in modern data capability. Some specialise in consultancy. Others offer long-term product ownership. The right move depends entirely on what you want your next few years to look like.
Clearance
Most of the organisations I support are delivering work on live National Security programmes, so active DV or eDV clearance is typically a prerequisite. That said, every so often an opportunity arises where an exceptional SC-cleared engineer—someone with the right technical background and a realistic route to higher clearance—can be brought in and sponsored. Those opportunities are limited, but they do exist, so if you’re unsure where you fit, I’m always happy to have an honest conversation.
Who I’m Looking To Speak With
I’m particularly interested in speaking with engineers with experience across areas such as:
- Data Engineering
- Cloud Data Platforms
- AWS and/or Azure
- Python
- SQL
- Apache Spark
- Databricks
- Kafka
- Data Modelling
- ETL / ELT
- Infrastructure as Code
- CI/CD for data platforms
Whether your title is Data Engineer, Senior Data Engineer, Lead Data Engineer or Data Platform Engineer, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Why Speak To Me?
The best engineers rarely move because somebody sends them a job description. They move because somebody understands where they want to be in two or three years’ time and can introduce them to organisations that genuinely align with those ambitions. Over the last couple of years I’ve built relationships with many of the engineering-led organisations consistently attracting positive feedback from the engineers I’ve placed there. Whether you’re looking for stronger technical leadership, greater ownership, better engineering culture, exposure to modern cloud-native platforms or the opportunity to work alongside exceptional people, I’ll always give you an honest perspective—not simply point you towards whichever vacancy happens to be available.
Many of the engineers I’ve helped over the last year weren’t actively looking when we first spoke. They simply wanted a better understanding of how the market was evolving before deciding whether it was time to move. Not actively looking? That’s completely fine. Some of the best conversations I have each week are with engineers who simply want an honest view of the market. If you’re curious about which organisations are genuinely investing in modern data platforms, how engineering cultures compare, or where the most interesting Data Engineering work is happening across the National Security community, I’m always happy to share what I’m seeing. If nothing else, you’ll come away with a clearer picture of the market—even if your next move is still a year away.
National Security Data Engineer — Hybrid, DV Cleared in Cheltenham employer: Forward Role
At Forward Role, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among our Cloud & DevOps Engineers. With competitive salaries and opportunities for professional growth in the thriving tech hubs of London and beyond, we empower our employees to tackle complex engineering challenges in National Security environments while working with cutting-edge technologies like AWS and Kubernetes. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values your expertise and supports your career development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land National Security Data Engineer — Hybrid, DV Cleared in Cheltenham
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
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Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Forward Role.
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We think you need these skills to ace National Security Data Engineer — Hybrid, DV Cleared in Cheltenham
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 Forward Role, 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 Forward Role. 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 Forward Role
✨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 Forward Role!
✨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.
