At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build AI-ready data infrastructure for high-profile government projects.
- Company: Fast-growing data consultancy focused on secure, scalable solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical insurance, remote-first culture, and annual training allowance.
- Other info: Opportunity for real ownership in a rapidly growing company.
- Why this job: Join a team of top engineers working on mission-critical national security projects.
- Qualifications: 5-6+ years in data engineering or architecture with strong AWS experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 140000 £ per year.
Sanderson G&D are partnering exclusively with a fast-growing data consultancy specialising in designing, building, and operating AI-ready data infrastructure for some of the UK's most complex and sensitive programmes. They work across government and national security, delivering secure, scalable, cloud-native solutions that handle data at scale — in real time and in batch. They are growing and looking for senior data professionals across three disciplines.
- Data/AI Architect — Shape data strategy and architecture across high-profile, secure programmes. You'll design and implement scalable, cloud-native solutions on AWS and other platforms, provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams, and engage directly with senior stakeholders to translate requirements into actionable technical plans.
- AI Platform Engineers — Lead the development of backend services for a government client, with a focus on high availability, low latency, and scalability. You'll design, build, and deploy backend features, own continuous deployment pipelines, and operate within agile, cross-functional delivery teams.
- Data & AI Engineers — Build and maintain secure batch and real-time data pipelines for government clients. You'll work across data ingestion, modelling, and pipeline development, ensuring data is available, reliable, and aligned to target architectures.
What We're Looking For
Across all three roles, the following experience is relevant:
- 5–6+ years in a senior data engineering, architecture, or platform role
- Strong hands-on experience with AWS (EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, Redshift, Glue, Athena)
- Experience with real-time and batch data processing — Apache Flink, Kafka, Spark, or similar
- Proficiency in one or more of: Python, Java, Scala
- Experience with data modelling, ETL processes, and distributed systems
- Comfortable working in agile and DevOps environments
- Experience in sensitive or regulated data environments is highly desirable
- eDV eligibility is an essential requirement — candidates must be a sole UK national
Why This Opportunity?
This is not a typical consultancy. The bar to get in is high — deliberately so. You will be working alongside some of the best data engineers in the country, on platforms that genuinely matter. These are not internal IT projects. This is mission-critical infrastructure that underpins national security. Beyond the work itself, this is a business that is growing quickly, investing heavily in its technology, and giving its people real ownership of that journey. If you want to be at the leading edge of secure data infrastructure — surrounded by engineers who take their craft seriously — it is worth a conversation.
Benefits include:
- Pension
- Private Medical Insurance (company provided, with buy-up for family)
- Annual wellbeing allowance
- Virtual GP
- Employee Assistance Programme (mental health, legal support, and more)
- Annual training allowance (post-probation)
- Tech scheme and voluntary benefits including dental, critical illness, and travel insurance
- Remote-first working culture
Further Details
Location: Cheltenham
Salary: £80,000 – £140,000 depending on role and experience
Clearance: eDV eligibility essential — sole UK nationals only
Data and AI Specialists in Cheltenham employer: Sanderson Government & Defence
Join a fast-growing data consultancy in Cheltenham that is at the forefront of designing and operating AI-ready data infrastructure for critical government programmes. With a remote-first working culture, competitive salary packages, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing and professional development, this company offers a unique opportunity to work on mission-critical projects alongside some of the best data engineers in the UK. You'll enjoy a supportive environment that values your expertise and provides real ownership in shaping the future of secure data solutions.
Contact Details:
Sanderson Government & Defence Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data and AI Specialists in Cheltenham
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the data and AI field! Attend meetups, webinars, or even local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a portfolio showcasing your projects and achievements. Whether it's a GitHub repository or a personal website, let your work speak for itself. This is especially important in tech roles where practical skills are key!
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and understanding the latest trends in data and AI. Practice common interview questions and be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don't forget to apply directly 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 engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Data and AI Specialists in Cheltenham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Data and AI Specialist. Highlight your experience with AWS, data processing, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about data and AI, and how you can contribute to our mission-critical projects. Keep it concise but impactful — we love a good story!
Showcase Relevant Projects:If you've worked on any projects that demonstrate your expertise in data engineering or AI, make sure to include them. We want to see real-world examples of your skills in action, especially those involving secure and scalable solutions.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sanderson Government & Defence
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially AWS services like EC2, S3, and Lambda. Brush up on your experience with real-time and batch data processing tools like Apache Flink or Kafka, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, focusing on how your solutions contributed to successful outcomes in sensitive or regulated environments.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since the role involves engaging with senior stakeholders, practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that’s easy to understand. Think about examples where you’ve successfully translated technical requirements into actionable plans, and be ready to share those experiences.
✨Emphasise Your Teamwork and Agile Experience
Highlight your experience working in agile and DevOps environments. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver projects, and share any specific methodologies you’ve used to ensure high availability and scalability in your work.
