At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data integration projects and mentor engineers in a hands-on role.
- Company: Nationwide is a member-owned mutual, challenging the financial sector for fairer banking.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous pension contributions, 25 days holiday, and wellness options.
- Other info: Apply early as we may close applications sooner if we receive a high volume.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on data strategy while fostering a culture of quality and continuous learning.
- Qualifications: Experience with cloud-based data platforms and strong engineering skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 € per year.
The Risk Data Team plays a pivotal role within the Data, Finance and Treasury Data (DFTD) division, driving forward the Lakehouse transformation and enabling smarter decision-making through trusted data delivery.
We are seeking a Team Lead to architect, deliver and scale data integration projects across Risk, Finance and Treasury domains. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines technical excellence with stakeholder engagement, helping to migrate complex workloads from legacy environments, shape best practices and uplift engineering maturity.
You\'ll be instrumental in fostering relationships with the Credit Risk team, championing the adoption of new tooling and ways of working, and creating meaningful value by enabling quality data flows and actionable insights. Your work will directly influence leadership decisions and propel our data strategy across the enterprise.
At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.
For this job you\'ll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you\'ll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Northampton or Swindon office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.
If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.
What you’ll be doing
As a Data Engineering Lead, you will:
- Lead design and delivery of enterprise-scale data projects on the Azure Data Lakehouse powered by Databricks
- Own the full engineering lifecycle—from architecture through to development and ongoing maintenance
- Shape technical patterns for ingestion, transformation (L0–L2) and file delivery for federated data domains
- Support project estimation and prioritisation in partnership with PMs and domain stakeholders
- Maintain reliability and performance of data pipelines; act as 3rd-line escalation for complex integration issues
- Drive improvements in metadata, lineage, controls and observability across all engineering outputs
- Contribute to data governance efforts by embedding scalable controls and guardrails
- Mentor engineers and foster a culture of quality, curiosity and continuous learning
- Collaborate with Risk domain leaders to turn business needs into technical roadmaps
About you
We’re looking for a collaborative leader with the following technical and interpersonal skills:
- Proven experience designing and deploying complex data platforms (preferably cloud-based, e.g. Azure or AWS)
- Hands-on engineering background with tools including: Databricks, Snowflake, DBT, Azure Data Factory, AWS, CI/CD, SAS/SQL, Python, MongoDB, GitHub
- Deep understanding of data lifecycle management—from ingestion to curated marts—with governance awareness
- Strong experience with data documentation, lineage and structured metadata
- Able to balance delivery speed with control requirements in regulated environments
- Track record of improving data quality, standardisation, and transparency across teams
- Comfortable influencing senior stakeholders and driving change with empathy and confidence
Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:
- Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
- Say it straight- We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
- Push for better- We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
- Get it done- We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes
You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
The extras you’ll get
There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:
- A personal pension – if you put in 7% of your salary, we’ll top up by a further 16%
- Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
- Life assurance worth 8x your salary
- A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
- Wellhub – Access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
- Access to an annual performance related bonus
- Access to training to help you develop and progress your career
- 25 days holiday, pro rata
Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society
We forge our own path at Nationwide.
As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.
If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.
At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.
We are Purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly Customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.
What to do next
If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.
We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.
#LI-POST
#J-18808-LjbffrLead Data Engineer (EN03) in Swindon employer: Nationwide Building Society
At Nationwide, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative work culture that values personal growth and innovation. With hybrid working options and a strong commitment to employee well-being, including generous benefits like a robust pension scheme and paid volunteering days, we empower our team members to thrive both professionally and personally. Join us in making a meaningful impact within the financial sector while enjoying a supportive environment that champions your development and celebrates achievements.
Contact Detail:
Nationwide Building Society Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer (EN03) in Swindon
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Azure Data Lakehouse and Databricks, as these are key technologies for the role. Consider building a small project or contributing to an open-source one using these tools to demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with the Risk domain by following relevant industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn. This will help you understand current trends and challenges in the field, which you can reference during discussions with stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with data lifecycle management and governance. Think of specific examples where you've improved data quality or standardisation, as these will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by reflecting on past experiences where you've mentored others or led a team through a challenging project. Be ready to share how you fostered a culture of quality and continuous learning.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer (EN03) in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in data engineering, particularly with cloud platforms like Azure or AWS. Emphasise your hands-on experience with tools such as Databricks and SQL, and showcase any leadership roles you've held.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, connect your skills and experiences to the specific requirements of the Lead Data Engineer role. Mention how you can contribute to the Lakehouse transformation and your approach to fostering relationships with stakeholders.
Demonstrate Customer First Behaviours:Reflect on your past experiences and provide examples that illustrate how you embody the customer first behaviours mentioned in the job description. This could include instances where you empathised with customers or pushed for better solutions.
Proofread and Edit:Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your documents for any spelling or grammatical errors. Ensure that your writing is clear and concise, as this reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nationwide Building Society
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with tools like Databricks, Azure Data Factory, and Python. Highlight specific projects where you've designed and deployed complex data platforms, as this will demonstrate your technical proficiency and relevance to the role.
✨Emphasise Stakeholder Engagement
Since this role involves collaboration with various teams, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully influenced senior stakeholders in previous positions. Discuss how you’ve turned business needs into actionable technical roadmaps, showcasing your ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams.
✨Demonstrate a Customer-First Mindset
Reflect on how your past experiences align with the customer-first behaviours outlined in the job description. Prepare anecdotes that illustrate how you've put customers at the heart of your work, whether through improving data quality or enhancing user experiences.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in data integration projects and how you overcame them, particularly in regulated environments. This will show your ability to balance delivery speed with control requirements.