At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and build scalable data pipelines for our cutting-edge AI platform.
- Company: Fast-growing AI company in London with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £160K, equity, and hybrid work options.
- Other info: Direct access to founders and opportunity to build from the ground up.
- Why this job: Take ownership of data infrastructure and shape the future of our AI systems.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in data engineering with expertise in building data pipelines.
The predicted salary is between 144000 - 176000 £ per year.
We're a fast-growing AI company in London looking for our first senior data hire to architect and lead the data infrastructure behind our AI platform, real-time pipelines, analytics, vector databases, and ML data workflows, setting the standards the whole future data team will be built on. This is an individual contributor role: you'll be the senior technical owner of the data function, architecture, standards, and direction, not a route out of code into strategy or people management. The capability today is roughly 1.5 people, so it's started but not built; you're building it. LLM-native experience is essential: vector retrieval, embeddings, evaluation workflows, and real-time agentic systems, not general data engineering with superficial LLM exposure.
Key Responsibilities:
- Architect and build scalable data pipelines and infrastructure for our AI and product systems
- Design data ingestion, transformation, and storage architectures across operational and AI workloads
- Develop and manage batch and real-time data pipelines
- Build and optimise vector search, retrieval, and ML data pipelines
- Own data reliability, security, and governance
- Implement monitoring, observability, and data quality frameworks
- Set the culture, standards, and hiring bar for the data function as it scales
- Partner directly with founders and product leadership on data-driven decisions
Requirements:
- 7+ years, mostly in dedicated data engineering roles
- Strong track record building data pipelines and distributed systems
- Expertise with relational databases (PostgreSQL preferred; MySQL or similar fine)
- NoSQL databases and vector databases used in modern AI systems
- Strong Python programming experience
- A habit of making, and justifying, architectural calls, not just executing them
Nice to Have:
- Apache Spark, Airflow, Kafka, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, MongoDB, Qdrant/Milvus/pgvector, Pandas/Polars, cloud infra (GCP/AWS/Azure), and time in a high-growth startup.
Why this role:
You won't be maintaining someone else's system, you'll be laying the foundation of one. If you want real ownership, direct access to founders, and the chance to build the data backbone of a company from the ground up, this is that role.
Lead Data Engineer in London employer: Nextech Careers
Join a dynamic Managed Service Provider in Ipswich, where you will thrive in a modern office environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. With a competitive salary and opportunities for training and professional development, this role not only offers meaningful work but also genuine career progression. Enjoy the benefits of free on-site parking and engaging company social events, making it an excellent place to grow your IT support career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer in London
✨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 Nextech Careers!
✨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 Lead Data Engineer at Nextech Careers.
✨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 Nextech Careers.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Lead Data Engineer at Nextech Careers, 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 Lead Data Engineer in London
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 Nextech Careers, 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 Nextech Careers. 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 Nextech Careers
✨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 Nextech Careers!
✨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.
