At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build AI-ready data infrastructure for high-profile government projects.
- Company: Fast-growing data consultancy focused on national security and complex programmes.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical insurance, remote-first culture, and annual training allowance.
- Other info: Opportunity for rapid career growth in a dynamic, secure environment.
- Why this job: Join a team of top engineers and work on mission-critical data solutions.
- Qualifications: 5-6+ years in data engineering or architecture with strong AWS experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 140000 £ per year.
About the Opportunity
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 Gloucester 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 Gloucester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at the consultancy on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing a role. Personal connections can make all the difference!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your AWS skills and data processing frameworks. Practice coding challenges and system design questions that are relevant to the roles you're applying for. We want you to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your projects! Whether it's a GitHub repo or a personal website, having a portfolio of your work can really set you apart. Highlight any experience with real-time data processing or cloud-native solutions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply 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 the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Data and AI Specialists in Gloucester
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, especially when it comes to designing scalable solutions or working in sensitive data 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 how you can translate technical requirements into actionable plans, and be ready to demonstrate this skill during the interview.
✨Cultural Fit Matters
This isn’t just about technical skills; they want to see if you’ll fit into their fast-paced, mission-critical environment. Research the company culture and be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs, particularly around ownership and innovation in secure data infrastructure.