At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and deliver a cloud-native data platform while leading the adoption of modern data practices.
- Company: Rapidly modernising SaaS platform with a focus on AI engineering and innovative data solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible remote work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and mentor fellow engineers in a collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data platforms and influence strategic decisions across the business.
- Qualifications: Deep experience with AWS data stack and proven ability in cloud-native platform design.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 100000 £ per year.
Reporting to the Head of Data for this global, rapidly modernising SaaS platform, this business is scaling its data capabilities to support native AI engineering and agentic workflows. We’re looking for a Senior AWS Data Engineer who wants to shape the future of their data platform, modern analytics stack, and the way data powers decisions across the business. This is a hands‑on, architecture‑shaping, strategy‑influencing role for someone who thrives at the intersection of engineering excellence, data modelling, platform design and cross‑functional leadership. You’ll own the full data lifecycle from ingestion to modelling to consumption, and play a pivotal role in building a reliable, governed, cloud‑native data ecosystem.
What you’ll be doing:
- Architect and deliver a cloud‑native data platform across ingestion, modelling, warehousing and BI
- Lead adoption of DBT, ELT patterns, AWS DMS, Redshift, Athena, Iceberg
- Build high‑quality models (Kimball, Data Vault, OBT) and set the standards for testing, documentation and governance
- Shape BI strategy and ensure consistent, trusted metrics across the business
- Mentor engineers and partner with Principal Engineers, Product and Analytics to deliver high‑value data products
- Evolve the AWS‑native platform: Redshift, Athena, S3 lake patterns, Iceberg
- Modernize DataOps: CI/CD for dbt and infra, automated testing, GitHub Actions
- Build high‑reliability ingestion pipelines with strong SLAs and schema‑change resilience
- Retire legacy pipelines and uplift performance, cost and governance
- Ensure strong security, compliance and data governance across the platform
Key requirements:
- Deep experience across the modern AWS data stack
- Proven ability to design and scale cloud‑native data platforms
- Mastery of modelling, ELT, warehouse architecture and BI tooling
- A collaborative, pragmatic leadership style with a passion for high‑quality data ecosystems.
£95k - £100k. London & 90% remote. 12-month Fixed Term Contract.
Senior Data Engineer – DBT, AWS (native), AWS DMS, ETL, Warehouse Architecture, Redshift, IaC (Terraform) in Watford employer: Smart Sourcer
Join a forward-thinking SaaS platform that is at the forefront of data innovation, where your expertise as a Senior Data Engineer will directly influence the evolution of our cloud-native data ecosystem. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and professional growth, we offer a dynamic work culture that values engineering excellence and strategic input, all while providing the flexibility of 90% remote work from London. Here, you will not only shape the future of data but also enjoy competitive remuneration and the opportunity to mentor and lead within a rapidly modernising environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Engineer – DBT, AWS (native), AWS DMS, ETL, Warehouse Architecture, Redshift, IaC (Terraform) in Watford
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with folks in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the data engineering game. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just tell them what you can do; show them! Create a portfolio of your projects, especially those involving DBT, AWS, and ETL processes. Having tangible examples of your work can really set you apart from the crowd.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for those technical interviews by brushing up on your AWS knowledge and data modelling techniques. Practice common interview questions and be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled challenges in past projects. Confidence is key!
✨Apply Through Our Website
We want to see your application! Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Senior Data Engineer role. It’s the quickest way for us to get your details and start the conversation.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Engineer – DBT, AWS (native), AWS DMS, ETL, Warehouse Architecture, Redshift, IaC (Terraform) in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Data Engineer role. Highlight your expertise in AWS, DBT, and data modelling to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re excited about this role and how you can contribute to our data platform. Share specific examples of your past work that demonstrate your leadership and technical skills.
Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on relevant projects, don’t hold back! Include links or descriptions of your previous work with ETL processes, cloud-native platforms, or BI strategies to give us a taste of what you can bring to the table.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smart Sourcer
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the AWS data stack, especially DBT, Redshift, and AWS DMS. Brush up on your knowledge of ETL processes and warehouse architecture. Be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects and how they can be applied to shape the future of the company's data platform.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of challenges you've faced in data engineering and how you overcame them. This role is all about building reliable data ecosystems, so highlight your experience with high-reliability ingestion pipelines and schema-change resilience. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Collaboration
Since this position involves mentoring engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams, be ready to discuss your leadership style. Share instances where you’ve successfully led a team or project, and how you foster collaboration among different departments to deliver high-value data products.
✨Prepare Questions That Matter
Interviews are a two-way street, so come prepared with insightful questions about the company’s data strategy, their approach to modernising DataOps, and how they ensure data governance. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your career goals.
