Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer

Full-Time 75000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Kinetech Recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and optimise data pipelines, ensuring top-notch data quality and governance.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company with a focus on data transformation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary up to £75k, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Mentorship opportunities and a chance to lead a small team of engineers.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of data modernisation and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Strong SQL skills and experience with Microsoft Fabric and data engineering principles.

The predicted salary is between 75000 - 75000 £ per year.

A Lead Data Engineer is required for a transformational role. With Fabric already in place, the focus is now on maturing the environment from Bronze through to Gold over the next 12-18 months, improving architecture, data quality, and overall platform capability.

This is a hands-on leadership role, acting as the senior technical escalation point while helping shape best practice, refine existing pipelines, and drive data modernisation across a complex data landscape.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, build and optimise scalable data pipelines within Microsoft Fabric (Lakehouse, Data Engineering, Data Warehouse, Data Integration)
  • Refine and enhance existing pipelines and architecture to align with best practice
  • Lead the transition of the platform from Bronze to Gold standard
  • Develop and fine-tune complex SQL queries, transformations, and data models
  • Support and troubleshoot data issues impacting reporting (e.g. Power BI refresh failures)
  • Take ownership of data quality, governance, and platform reliability
  • Act as the technical escalation point for a team of Data Engineers
  • Lead, mentor, and support a small team (3 engineers)
  • Work across multiple data sources (enterprise systems and bespoke applications) feeding into a Lakehouse
  • Engage stakeholders across the business to improve data quality and consistency

Required Experience

  • Strong hands-on SQL expertise, including performance tuning
  • Proven experience with Microsoft Fabric and Synapse (design, architecture, implementation)
  • Experience working with Lakehouse architecture and multiple data sources
  • Demonstrable experience modernising data platforms (e.g. Bronze to Gold maturity) or consolidating data into a central platform
  • Strong understanding of data engineering principles, governance, and data quality
  • Experience delivering and supporting production-grade data solutions
  • Ability to act as a senior technical escalation point and lead delivery
  • Strong stakeholder engagement skills, particularly around data quality challenges
  • Microsoft certifications (e.g. DP-600, DP-900)

Desirable Skills

  • Experience managing or mentoring engineers (or readiness to step into leadership)
  • Exposure to DevOps / CI-CD practices within data engineering
  • Experience in complex or enterprise environments

Interviews are planned for May. Please apply today for an immediate CV review.

Lead Data Engineer employer: Kinetech Recruitment

At Kinetech, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and mentorship, particularly in our hybrid working environment located in East London/Essex. Join us to be part of a transformative journey in data engineering, where your contributions will directly impact the evolution of our data platform and enhance your career in a supportive and forward-thinking team.
Kinetech Recruitment

Contact Detail:

Kinetech Recruitment Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the data engineering field, especially those who might know about opportunities at companies you're interested in. A personal referral can make all the difference.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your SQL skills and be ready to discuss your experience with Microsoft Fabric and Lakehouse architecture. We want you to showcase your hands-on expertise and how you've tackled data quality challenges.

✨Tip Number 3

Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for the Lead Data Engineer position.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer

SQL Expertise
Microsoft Fabric
Data Engineering Principles
Lakehouse Architecture
Data Quality Governance
Data Pipeline Optimisation
Performance Tuning
Stakeholder Engagement
Data Modernisation
Technical Leadership
Mentoring
DevOps / CI-CD Practices
Data Integration

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Microsoft Fabric, SQL expertise, and any relevant projects that showcase your ability to modernise data platforms. We want to see how you can contribute to our journey from Bronze to Gold!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a hands-on leadership role, don’t forget to mention any experience you have in mentoring or leading teams. We’re looking for someone who can act as a technical escalation point, so share examples of how you've supported others in their roles.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to complex topics like data engineering!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to upload your CV and cover letter in one go. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised on our end!

How to prepare for a job interview at Kinetech Recruitment

✨Know Your Data Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of data engineering principles, especially around SQL and Microsoft Fabric. Brush up on your knowledge of Lakehouse architecture and be ready to discuss how you've modernised data platforms in the past.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Since this is a hands-on leadership role, prepare examples of how you've led teams or mentored engineers. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you helped your team overcome them, particularly in relation to data quality and governance.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Be ready to talk about your experience engaging with stakeholders to improve data quality. Prepare some anecdotes that highlight your communication skills and how you’ve tackled data quality challenges in previous roles.

✨Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect to dive deep into technical discussions, especially around SQL performance tuning and troubleshooting data issues. Practise explaining complex concepts clearly, as you’ll need to demonstrate your expertise while also being approachable to your team.

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