Lead Data Engineer in Manchester

Hippo is recruiting for a Lead Data Engineer to join our Hippo Herd. Lead Data Engineers work in multi-disciplinary teams that build, support & maintain user‑centred digital solutions that offer real value and work for everyone.

Our Lead Data Engineers are experts in their field. You will act as a Lead Consultant providing technical expertise in data engineering practices both internally and to our clients. You will help drive the team's technical deliverables, maintain client relationships and be passionate about developing and upskilling others.

Our solutions empower our customers to build and support secure, scalable, & well‑engineered systems beyond traditional boundaries. We leverage deep data insights and continuous innovation to deliver platforms that allow our customers to understand and get the most from their data and digital services. The Lead Data Engineer will be a key player and implementer in this mission.

• Act as a technical SME within the Hippo engineering community to produce and ensure user‑centred software is developed based on business requirements and following best practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to explore, design and deliver solutions to client problems.
• Maintain client relationships and troubleshoot issues through collaboration.
• Design and manage software development and deployment pipelines resolving issues and potential bottlenecks before they occur.
• Continuously review and prioritise the delivery teams workload and can anticipate the need for realignment with evolving operational priorities and complex work‑streams and assignments.
• Be a strong communicator and presenter, presenting prototypes, solutions and progress to internal & external stakeholders in a clear concise manner.
• Build great relationships with your team and stakeholders, identifying and ensuring that challenges are overcome.
• Lead in the recruitment of other engineers, and support other consultants in their professional development.
• Ensure Hippo’s Data and Engineering communities contribute to Hippo’s business at a strategic level.
• Lead on new business opportunities, writing technical bids and proposals.
• Promote Hippo’s Data Herd externally (for example through writing Blogs, Workshops, Seminars or Conferences).

• Excellent experience delivering in Python and experience with at least one other core language.
• Excellent experience of SQL and relational databases. NoSQL databases is also desirable.
• Solid experience of at least one Cloud provider such as AWS, Azure or GCP.
• Solid experience of working with Snowflake and dbt.
• Strong experience of working with different data formats, e.g., CSV, JSON and XML.
• Building reliable Data Pipelines.
• Experience in Data Modelling is highly desirable.
• Broader knowledge of IT — e.g., Security and Networking.
• Working in an Agile Environment.
• Test‑Driven Development and/or Behaviour‑Driven Development.
• Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).
• Experience of operating as a technical leader on complex projects and able to manage stakeholder expectations and influencing decisions.
• Coaching and guiding others on the best way to achieve an optimal solution.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills, able to articulate in both technical/non‑technical terms depending on audience.
• Technical leadership and/or mentoring.
• Define working procedures and methodologies for the team.

As well as a competitive salary we’re transparent about from the outset, you can also expect a range of benefits:

• Contributory pension scheme (Hippo 6% with employee contributions of 2%).
• 25 days holiday plus UK public holidays.
• Perkbox access for a wide range of discounts.
• Critical illness cover.
• Life assurance and death in service cover.
• Volunteer days.
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme for the avid cyclists.
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicles scheme.
• Season ticket loans.
• Financial and general wellbeing sessions.
• Flexible benefits scheme with options of: private health cover, private dental cover, additional company pension contributions, additional holidays (up to an extra 2 days), wellbeing contribution, charity contributions, tree planting.

At Hippo, we’re dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that works for everyone. We understand that having a diverse team unlocks our capacity for innovation, creativity and problem solving. Only by building a community of diverse perspectives, cultures and socio‑economic backgrounds can we create an environment where all can contribute and thrive.

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups including women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and people with disabilities. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process that reflects our workplace culture. We are a registered Disability Confident Employer, Mindful Employer, Endometriosis Friendly Employer and a member of the Armed Forces Covenant. Hippo continually strives to remove barriers, provide accommodations and offer reasonable adjustments to ensure equity throughout our practices.

We are headquartered in Leeds and have offices across the UK in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol. We are on the lookout for top talent nationwide but you need to be located within reasonable travelling distance from one of our offices which will be your contracted office location. Given the dynamic nature of a consulting business, you may be required to work on‑site at a Hippo office or at an in/out of town client location for a number of days per week (client dependent) and therefore candidates will need to be open/flexible to travel. We also offer a generous relocation support package of up to £8k to help make your move a smooth one.