At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of data platforms and guide clients towards AI-native solutions.
- Company: Join Simple Machines, a global leader in data and AI consultancy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel opportunities and a focus on innovation in data technology.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data platforms and make a significant impact across Europe.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in data engineering, strong consultancy experience, and cloud-native platform expertise.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 € per year.
We are looking for a senior data leader to join Simple Machines in London as part of our Global Data Practice leadership team. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role focused on helping shape the future direction of our data platform capability across the UK and Europe. The individual will play a key role in defining our propositions, strengthening our technical capability, and helping clients modernise their data ecosystems for an AI-native future. The role requires someone equally comfortable operating at executive, architectural, commercial, and delivery levels. We are looking for a leader who understands where enterprise data platforms are heading over the next five years, not where they were five years ago.
Key Responsibilities:
- Part of the Global Data Practice leadership team
- Helping define and evolve Simple Machines’ data platform propositions, technical direction, and strategic positioning
- Advising enterprise clients on modern data platform strategy, architecture, operating models, and AI readiness
- Supporting organisations as they evolve from traditional centralised data platforms toward AI-native, real-time, and data product-oriented operating models
- Working closely with Engagement Managers and senior leadership across major strategic initiatives
- Leading architecture and technical direction for complex enterprise data platform and transformation programs
- Acting as a senior technical counterpart across strategic client engagements and partner relationships
- Pre-sales, proposal development, technical solution shaping, and executive stakeholder engagement
- Building trusted relationships with strategic technology partners and staying current with emerging platform capabilities and market direction
- Supporting recruitment, mentoring, capability uplift, and practice development across the broader engineering organisation
- Leading major client initiatives across data engineering, platform modernisation, AI enablement, and operational data systems
- Contributing to thought leadership, market positioning, and growth initiatives across the UK and Europe
Requirements:
- 10+ years’ experience across data engineering, data platforms, analytics engineering, or data architecture
- Proven consultancy and enterprise client-facing experience
- Strong pre-sales, proposal development, and solution shaping capability
- Demonstrated experience architecting and delivering modern cloud-native data platforms at enterprise scale
- Strong experience developing solutions centred around data products and reusable enterprise data capabilities
- Deep understanding of data mesh principles, federated governance, and scalable domain-oriented data ownership models
- Experience designing platforms and architectures to support AI-native use cases, machine learning systems, agentic workflows, and intelligent software platforms
- Strong understanding of real-time and event-driven architectures, including streaming data systems and low-latency processing patterns
- Experience building platforms that support governed, discoverable, reusable, and operationalised data products across large organisations
- Familiarity with contemporary data stack technologies and modern engineering practices
- Strong understanding of platform architecture, distributed data systems, orchestration, governance, and scalable data product design
- Experience with technologies and ecosystems such as GCP, AWS, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, Kafka, Spark, dbt, Kubernetes, Airflow, ML/AI enablement, or similar modern platform tooling
- Strong commercial acumen and ability to engage credibly with senior technical and business stakeholders
- Experience leading major enterprise initiatives and high-performing engineering teams
- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-performance consultancy environment
Ideal Profile:
We are looking for someone who combines strong technical depth with commercial and strategic capability. This is not purely a delivery management role, nor is it purely architectural. The ideal person will have a strong point of view on the future of enterprise data platforms, modern data operating models, and the convergence of data engineering and AI enablement. They should be comfortable moving between executive conversations, whiteboarding architecture, shaping proposals, mentoring teams, and helping clients navigate complex transformation programs.
Additional Notes:
- Immediate requirement
- London-based role with expectation of 2-3 days per week in the office
- Occasional travel across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand required
- Senior leadership opportunity within a globally distributed specialist consultancy focused on data, AI, and modern software engineering
Director - Data Platform Engineering in London employer: Simple Machines
At Simple Machines, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our London-based team thrives in a fast-paced environment where senior leaders are empowered to shape the future of data platforms while enjoying opportunities for professional growth and mentorship. With a focus on modernising data ecosystems and enabling AI capabilities, we provide our employees with the tools and support needed to excel in their careers and make a meaningful impact across the UK and Europe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director - Data Platform Engineering in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or conferences related to data platforms and AI. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio or blog where you share insights on data engineering, modern platforms, or AI trends. This not only showcases your knowledge but also helps you stand out to potential employers looking for thought leaders.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s data strategy. Research their current projects and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your responses to show how you can help them evolve their data platform capabilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who can help shape the future of data platforms. Your next big opportunity could be just a click away!
We think you need these skills to ace Director - Data Platform Engineering in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Director - Data Platform Engineering. Highlight your experience in data engineering and architecture, and don’t forget to showcase your consultancy skills. We want to see how you can shape the future of our data platform!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this strategic leadership role. Share your vision for modern data platforms and how your experience aligns with our goals at Simple Machines. Let’s see your passion for data!
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:In your application, make sure to highlight your technical skills and experience with cloud-native data platforms. Mention any relevant technologies like GCP, AWS, or Azure that you've worked with. We’re looking for someone who knows their stuff and can lead complex initiatives!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Simple Machines!
How to prepare for a job interview at Simple Machines
✨Know Your Data Landscape
Before the interview, brush up on the latest trends in data platforms and AI-native solutions. Understand where enterprise data is heading and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with these trends. This will show that you’re not just knowledgeable but also forward-thinking.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams through complex data transformations or architectural changes. Highlight your ability to mentor others and build trusted relationships, as this role requires strong leadership across various levels of an organisation.
✨Be Ready for Technical Deep Dives
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions about data architecture, cloud-native platforms, and real-time processing. Brush up on your knowledge of tools like GCP, AWS, and Kafka, and be prepared to explain how you've used them in past projects.
✨Engage with Strategic Thinking
Demonstrate your commercial acumen by discussing how you've shaped proposals or influenced strategic decisions in previous roles. Be ready to articulate your vision for the future of data platforms and how you can contribute to the company's growth initiatives.
