Data Modeller & Developer – Databricks / Azure in Milton Keynes

We are seeking an experienced Data Modeller & Developer with strong expertise in dimensional data modelling, star schema design, SQL and hands‑on Databricks development to play a key technical role in the development of a modern enterprise data and reporting architecture.

Location: Milton Keynes

Working arrangement: Hybrid – 3 days per week onsite

Employment: Permanent

Working within the financial services division of a major international organisation, you will be responsible for designing robust, scalable data models and reporting solutions as the business transitions from a legacy data warehouse environment to a modern Microsoft Azure data lake architecture.

This is a technically focused position requiring a thorough understanding of business data, data structures, schema design and the practical application of Databricks within a cloud-based data architecture. You will take business reporting requirements and translate them into detailed data models, transformation logic and technical specifications, working closely with an offshore data engineering team responsible for implementing the underlying data pipelines and backend infrastructure.

You will need the technical depth to understand how data is sourced, structured, transformed and consumed, enabling you to make informed design decisions, identify potential technical challenges and guide the development of reliable, reusable data solutions.

The role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to a significant data transformation programme, influencing the design and development of the organisation's future data and reporting capabilities.

The Company

Our client is the financial services division of a major international organisation, with a UK team of approximately 350 people.

The business offers an exceptionally collaborative and supportive working environment, where colleagues work closely across departments and are encouraged to share ideas, challenge existing approaches and contribute to continuous improvement.

With a strong emphasis on employee development, teamwork and mutual respect, this is an organisation that genuinely values its people. The successful candidate will join a welcoming, highly professional team and play an important technical role in the ongoing modernisation of the company's data infrastructure.

The Role

Working within the Finance & Management Information team, you will take responsibility for the technical design and development of data models, semantic layers and reporting structures that support financial, operational and regulatory reporting.

A central part of the role will involve supporting the migration of existing data sources and reporting capabilities from a legacy Cognos and SQL-based data warehouse to a Microsoft Azure data lake environment.

You will interpret business requirements and user stories, determining how data needs to be structured, transformed and modelled to deliver the required reporting and analytical outputs.

Working closely with an offshore data engineering team, you will define the technical requirements for backend data engineering activities, providing the detailed models, specifications and guidance needed to support implementation.

This position requires someone who is comfortable working at the intersection of data modelling, data engineering and business intelligence, with the technical understanding and practical Databricks experience to consider the complete data flow from source systems through to reporting and analytics.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop robust, scalable dimensional data models, including star schemas, fact and dimension tables, relationships and semantic layers to support business intelligence, financial reporting and analytical requirements.
• Translate business requirements and user stories into detailed technical specifications, defining the data structures, transformations, calculations and reporting logic required.
• Develop logical and physical data models, including appropriate measures, KPIs and critical data elements.
• Apply data modelling best practices to ensure consistency, accuracy, performance and reusability across reporting solutions.
• Define data quality requirements, validation criteria and transformation logic to support reliable and trusted reporting.
• Design reusable data structures that support multiple reporting and analytical applications, reducing duplication and improving efficiency.
• Apply hands‑on Databricks development experience and strong SQL skills to design, develop and validate data models, transformation logic and reporting structures within a modern Azure data lake environment.
• Work with Azure Data Lake and medallion architecture principles to define how data should be organised, transformed and made available for downstream reporting.
• Collaborate closely with offshore data engineers, providing detailed technical specifications and guidance for the implementation of data pipelines, transformations and integration processes.
• Review proposed technical solutions, identify potential architectural or data quality issues and contribute to technical problem-solving.
• Support the migration of data sources, reporting structures and associated Cognos reports from the existing data warehouse to the new Azure data lake environment.
• Contribute to architectural decisions relating to data integration, modelling, performance and the development of scalable data assets.

Business Intelligence & Reporting

• Design and develop reporting data models and semantic layers to support Power BI dashboards, financial reporting and management information.
• Develop and maintain reporting solutions using Power BI, Power BI Report Builder and DAX.
• Define and implement calculations, measures and KPIs to ensure consistent interpretation of data across reporting applications.
• Review existing reporting structures to identify opportunities for simplification, automation and improved performance.
• Support the development of reporting solutions for financial, operational, regulatory and risk-related requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Management Information team to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of business data.

Technical Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with data engineers, BI developers, data governance specialists and other technical colleagues to ensure effective delivery of data solutions.
• Provide technical guidance on data modelling, schema design and reporting architecture.
• Contribute to improvements in data governance, data quality and technical standards.
• Support the development and mentoring of a Data Apprentice.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, scalability and maintainability of existing data and reporting solutions.

About You

We are looking for a technically accomplished data professional with strong experience in dimensional data modelling and demonstrable hands‑on Databricks development experience.

You will be highly analytical, methodical and comfortable working through complex business data requirements, with the ability to translate reporting needs into well-defined technical designs.

Of particular importance is your ability to understand the relationship between the underlying data architecture and the reporting outputs it must support. You will be capable of designing appropriate data structures and transformation requirements, drawing on your practical Databricks experience to work effectively with data engineering colleagues responsible for their implementation.

Technical Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in dimensional data modelling, including star schema design, fact and dimension tables, data relationships and schema optimisation.
• Demonstrable hands‑on coding experience within Databricks, with a practical understanding of data transformation, processing and modelling within the platform.
• Strong SQL development skills, including complex queries and data transformation logic.
• Experience interpreting business data requirements and translating them into logical and physical data models, technical specifications and reporting structures.
• Experience collaborating with data engineering teams to implement data models and transformations within cloud-based data platforms.
• Good understanding of Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory and medallion architecture principles.
• Experience with Power BI, semantic modelling, DAX and reporting development.
• A good understanding of ETL/ELT processes, data integration and data quality principles.
• Experience working on data warehouse modernisation, migration or cloud data transformation programmes would be particularly advantageous.
• Knowledge of Cognos would be beneficial but is not essential.

Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work through complex technical challenges.
• A methodical and structured approach to solution design, with excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently, take ownership of technical deliverables and make informed design decisions.
• Effective communication skills when collaborating with data engineers and other technical colleagues.
• A proactive and curious approach to technology, with an interest in improving existing data structures and processes.
• Comfortable working in an agile development environment where requirements and technical priorities may evolve.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to play an important technical role in a significant enterprise data transformation programme, helping shape the architecture and reporting capabilities of a modern Azure-based data platform.

You will have the opportunity to apply your expertise in dimensional data modelling, Databricks and business intelligence to complex technical challenges, working alongside an experienced data engineering and MI team.

The position offers considerable technical variety, opportunities to influence solution design and the chance to contribute to the development of scalable data capabilities within a highly collaborative, supportive and well-established organisation.

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