At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and maintenance of data platforms that drive real business impact.
- Company: Join Lightfoot, a pioneering company transforming telematics with data-driven solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on continuous learning and mentorship.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI and data innovation, making a tangible difference.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in data engineering, advanced Python and SQL skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Lightfoot turns vast volumes of in-vehicle telemetry into products that change driver's behaviour and cut emissions and cost for the fleets we serve. Delivering on our AI ambition depends on having the data foundations to support it. This is a senior, hands-on engineering role that builds and operates those foundations.
You'll:
- Own the end-to-end data platform: architecture, build, maintenance, security, and governance — serving as the internal go-to expert and trusted voice on all data engineering matters.
- Be at the forefront of turning data into real impact — solving meaningful business and customer challenges while unlocking new levels of fleet efficiency and commercial ROI.
- Design, build, and maintain robust data pipelines with automated validation, ensuring data integrity across every layer.
- Lead the transformation of legacy reporting (Python, SQL, Excel) into a secure, scalable and fully observable platform powered by Apache Airflow (WMAA).
- Define and publish data quality metrics that drive engineering decisions and demonstrate platform health to stakeholders.
- Champion AI and modern data tooling — you'll push the boundaries of what's possible, with hands-on ML product experience required and LLM expertise a serious bonus.
Join us on a mission to become the best data company in telematics. If you're ambitious, passionate about data, and want your work to genuinely move the needle — this is your seat at the table.
Essential skills and experience
- 5+ years in a data engineering or data science role, with a proven track record of delivering production-grade data products.
- Advanced Python (PySpark or Polars preferred) and SQL across multiple flavours — comfortable owning and evolving live production codebases.
- Hands-on experience building and shipping ML products, not just prototyping.
- Deep familiarity with Azure Data Lake and file-based storage architectures.
- Strong Git discipline and version control best practices.
- A genuine advocate for AI — you understand its value in modern data products and actively champion its adoption.
- A proactive builder: you spot problems before they escalate and default to creating scalable, market-leading solutions.
Desirable
- Streaming / IoT data.
- Experience with high-volume telemetry or event-streaming pipelines.
- BI tooling. Power BI or similar, to support and enable the analytics team.
- Agile delivery. Comfortable working in an agile, iterative team.
Personal characteristics
- Senior, self-directed and pragmatic — hates manual repetition and automates relentlessly.
- A standard-setter who raises the engineering bar for those around them.
- A confident communicator who can make complex engineering and ML concepts clear to non-technical stakeholders.
- A continuous learner who stays current with cloud, data and AI tooling.
- A natural mentor who raises the capability of those around you.
Senior Data Engineer in Exeter employer: Lightfoot
At Lightfoot, we pride ourselves on being an innovative employer that empowers our team to make a real impact in the world of telematics. Our collaborative work culture fosters continuous learning and growth, providing ample opportunities for professional development while championing cutting-edge AI and data solutions. Located in a vibrant area, we offer a dynamic environment where your contributions directly influence fleet efficiency and sustainability, making every day at Lightfoot both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Engineer in Exeter
✨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 Lightfoot!
✨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 Senior Data Engineer at Lightfoot.
✨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 Lightfoot.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Senior Data Engineer at Lightfoot, 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 Senior Data Engineer in Exeter
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 Lightfoot, 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 Lightfoot. 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 Lightfoot
✨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 Lightfoot!
✨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.
