Senior Data Engineer

At Oakland, we help businesses unlock the power of their data. Whether it's data strategy, governance, engineering, analytics, or AI, we work with our clients to turn data into real, impactful results. Our team is made up of friendly, hands-on experts who love solving problems and making a difference. We don’t just advise, we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, working alongside our clients every step of the way. Founded in 1986 out of our Leeds HQ, we work with a diverse range of clients across all sorts of industries including Utilities, Telecommunications, Media, Financial Services, Public Sector, and many more! Our projects range from multi-year data transformations to specific, shorter-term assignments, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to diversify your skillset. We meet high standards for social and environmental impact, transparency, and accountability. We believe businesses should be a force for good, so we make sure our decisions don’t just benefit the bottom line but also our people, communities, and the planet. And it’s not just us saying we’re a great place to work... we were recently named a Top 5 Best Consultancy to work for in the UK through Best Companies! We’re all about creating an environment where people can grow, do meaningful work, and enjoy the journey.

The Role

As a Senior Data Engineer at Oakland, you’ll lead the delivery of high-quality data solutions for our clients. You’ll take ownership of projects end-to-end - setting the technical direction, getting stuck into the build, and making sure what we deliver is solid, scalable, and genuinely useful. No two projects are the same, so you’ll be working across different industries, technologies, and problem spaces. It’s a mix of hands-on engineering and leadership - supporting others, making key decisions, and helping projects land well. Our work covers Data Strategy, Data Management, Data Platforms, AI, and Analytics. You’ll be joining a consultancy that prides itself on shaping solutions that deliver business value and lasting impact, and you'll be working alongside a talented team of 25+ Engineers & Architects, sharing ideas, supporting each other, and helping raise the bar across the team. We’re tech-agnostic and client-first - we use whatever works best, whether that’s our own platform or tools from partners like Microsoft, AWS, Databricks, Snowflake, etc.

What We’re Looking For

You’re an experienced Data Engineer who’s comfortable owning things from start to finish. You’ve delivered complex projects before and know what “good” looks like - from code quality to architecture, to working with stakeholders. You may be at mid-level, and feel ready for a step up, or you may already be at a Senior level, looking for a new challenge. You’re still hands-on (this isn’t a pure leadership role), but you’re also happy leading workstreams, guiding others, and making calls when needed. At this level, we’d expect you to:

• Design and build robust, scalable data solutions
• Take the lead on projects or key pieces of work
• Set and maintain high engineering standards
• Support and mentor other Engineers
• Work directly with clients to understand problems and shape solutions

You don’t need to know every tool, but you should be adaptable and open to learning - we work across a pretty broad ecosystem of technologies.

The Skillset

We’re looking for a mix (not all!) of the experience and skills below:

• Strong experience with Python and SQL
• Solid experience designing and building cloud-based data solutions (Azure preferred, AWS/GCP also fine)
• Experience building and maintaining complex data pipelines at scale
• Hands-on experience with modern platforms such as Fabric, Snowflake, or Databricks
• An understanding of data modelling, architecture, and how platforms fit together
• Experience with DevOps practices (CI/CD, testing, monitoring)
• Experience working from requirements through to delivery
• Comfortable working with clients and stakeholders
• Relevant certifications from Microsoft, AWS, Snowflake, and GCP are desirable, but not essential

Blended Working: We operate a blended working model, with colleagues spending at least two days per week in the office, aligned to project team requirements. Occasional travel to client sites may also be required. This balance helps us stay connected, learn from each other, and build strong relationships - both within our team and with the businesses we support.

Benefits that put you first

At Oakland, we believe in taking care of our people - both inside and outside of work. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:

• Health & Wellbeing – Enjoy Private Healthcare from day one for you and your household, including dental cover, physiotherapy, mental health support, and access to a range of wellbeing services to keep you feeling your best.
• Discretionary Bonus – Your hard work won’t go unnoticed. When we do well, you’ll do well.
• Generous Pension – We invest in your future with a 10% employer contribution, plus flexible options so you can adjust to your investment preferences.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme – Drive greener with tax-efficient options to get behind the wheel of an electric car.
• Giving Back – Support causes you care about with our Payroll Giving Scheme and Matched Charitable Giving program.
• Bike to Work Scheme – Save money, stay active, and enjoy tax savings on a new bike.
• Family-Friendly Policies – We support all paths to parenthood with:
• Enhanced Maternity Pay – 16 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half pay.
• Enhanced Paternity Pay – 2 weeks full pay, 2 weeks half pay.
• Adoption, Surrogacy & Shared Parental Leave.
• Fertility Treatment Support – Because your family matters.
• Time to Recharge – 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (and your allowance grows the longer you’re with us!).
• Learning & Development – We invest in you with:
• Personalised development plans tailored to your goals.
• Full support for certifications.
• Access to The Oakland Academy for a suite of learning materials.
• An annual Personal Learning Budget to upskill in ways that matter to you.
• Refer & Earn – Know someone great? If they join us, you’ll get a referral bonus as a thank you.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Oakland

At Oakland, we believe that diverse perspectives drive better outcomes for our people, our clients, and our business. Our commitment to DEIB isn’t just about policies; it’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive. We are building a truly inclusive Oakland where you can be yourself, no matter your background, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes you, you.

Fair & Inclusive Hiring – Every interviewer completes recruitment and unconscious bias training, and our hiring process is skills-based and structured to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates.

Support Throughout the Interview Process – If you require any reasonable accommodations to make your interview experience more accessible, our Talent team is here to help. Just let us know.