At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data engineering projects, build production systems, and mentor the next generation of engineers.
- Company: Fast-growing tech consultancy with a founder-led approach and a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, professional development, and autonomy in decision-making.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for leadership and growth in a variety of sectors.
- Why this job: Shape technical direction and influence client missions while staying hands-on with engineering.
- Qualifications: Senior data engineer with strong SQL, dbt, and data modelling skills; STEM degree required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location - London, Hybrid
Salary - £80,000 - £90,000 + Benefits
Job Type - Permanent
Want to be the technical voice on client missions, build production data systems with your own hands and grow the next generation of engineers, all without being boxed into one tool or one product? Our client is a fast-growing, founder-led technology consultancy delivering data infrastructure and platforms for ambitious organisations. They are looking for a senior data or analytics engineer to join as an Engineering Lead in their Data Infrastructure practice. You will work directly with the founders, have real influence over technical direction, and play a central role in shaping how the practice grows.
The role is genuinely broad. Rather than owning a single product, you will work across the full data infrastructure surface, pipelines, lakehouse, data modelling, BI, analytics and integrations into client operational and finance systems. You will bring a centre of gravity, perhaps BI and analytics, APIs and integrations, or modelling, but you will never be locked into it. You will set the technical bar, stay hands-on as a primary engineer, and act as a forward-deployed engineer with direct access to client stakeholders. You will also line manage and develop a group of Engineers, with the explicit aim of growing each of them into an Engineering Lead in their own right. Depending on the mission, there is also the opportunity to act as delivery lead on client missions, owning scope, timeline, resourcing and client communication end to end.
What you’ll be doing:
- Setting technical direction: Own architecture, framework, vendor and build-versus-buy decisions within the data infrastructure stack, with genuine autonomy on day-to-day technical calls.
- Lead on whatever toolset a client engagement needs, from the preferred modern data stack to the client’s own platform.
- Building and shipping: Stay hands-on as a primary engineer, building pipelines, models, dashboards and integrations. Review work across the practice and set the standard for technical quality. Pair with Engineers, unblock them, and take on the hardest problems yourself when it makes sense.
- Developing people: Line manage your own group of Engineers through regular 1:1s, performance reviews and input into compensation. Own their growth path, helping every Engineer progress towards an Engineering Lead role.
- Working with clients: Act as a forward-deployed engineer with direct access to client stakeholders. Translate client needs into technical decisions, and explain technical constraints in language that lands.
- Leading missions (where applicable): Take on delivery lead responsibility for one or more client missions, owning scope, timeline, resourcing and communication. Coordinate Engineers and other leads across your missions and keep the founders updated.
About you:
- A senior data or analytics engineer with strong SQL, dbt and data modelling skills.
- Proven experience shipping, supporting and iterating on pipelines, lakehouse models and BI tooling in production.
- Working command of a modern data stack such as Fivetran, Databricks, dbt and Looker, plus the adaptability to pick up client-specific tooling quickly.
- Good knowledge of Python, APIs and Git, and working knowledge of cloud infrastructure, primarily AWS.
- Able to hold a technical conversation with a non-technical client stakeholder without losing either side.
- Someone who sees mentoring as core to the job, not an add-on.
- Comfortable making decisions with imperfect information and owning the outcome.
- Confident running client engagements end to end, including the awkward conversations, if taking on delivery lead duties.
- A strong problem-solver with a passion for learning and great attention to detail.
- A 2:1 or above in a STEM degree.
Why you’ll love it:
- Real influence: Work directly with the founders and shape technical direction, standards and the growth of the practice.
- Variety: Every client mission is different, with exposure to a wide range of platforms, sectors and problems.
- Autonomy: No sign-off culture for day-to-day technical decisions. You are trusted to make the call.
- Leadership without leaving the code: Lead people and missions while staying a hands-on engineer.
- Investment in you: Structured onboarding, funded vendor certifications, and support to attend external conferences, courses and training.
- Flexibility: Hybrid working across the UK, in a small, fast-moving business where roles are deliberately not tightly bounded.
Data Engineering Lead employer: Joshua Robert Recruitment
As a Shopping Centre Manager in Edinburgh, you will join a well-respected property management organisation that values its employees and fosters a collaborative work culture. With a competitive salary of £60,000 per annum, the company offers excellent growth opportunities, allowing you to enhance your skills in facilities management and stakeholder engagement while working in a vibrant retail and leisure environment. The role not only provides a chance to lead operational performance but also to make a meaningful impact on the customer experience in a prominent location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Engineering Lead
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Joshua Robert Recruitment!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Data Engineering Lead at Joshua Robert Recruitment.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
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 Joshua Robert Recruitment.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Data Engineering Lead at Joshua Robert Recruitment, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Data Engineering Lead
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!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Joshua Robert Recruitment, 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 Joshua Robert Recruitment. 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 Joshua Robert Recruitment
✨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!
✨Showcase Your Projects
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 Joshua Robert Recruitment!
✨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.
