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- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of scalable data platforms while mentoring a small team.
- Company: Join SMG, a forward-thinking company that values innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, wellbeing fund, learning opportunities, and flexible working.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of growth, equity, and fun while making a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data engineering in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in data engineering with skills in SQL, Python, and cloud platforms.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Hybrid - minimum of 1 day pw in London
Salary: From ÂŁ70,000 + 10% discretionary bonus
Level: Lead-level, with ownership of data engineering standards, platform architecture, and a small team
About the Role
We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer to join our SMG Platform team. In this role, you will lead the design, delivery and evolution of scalable, secure, and high-performing data platforms, combining hands‑on engineering with architectural oversight. You’ll shape how data is integrated, governed and activated across the business, enabling analytics, AI and commercial decision‑making at scale.
If you love variety, thrive in a fast‑paced environment, and embrace change with energy, this could be your right role.
Why SMG?
At SMG, we hire for the future, which is fast‑moving and changing shape. We’re looking for brilliant, diverse talent who want to grow with us—people who are curious, ambitious, and eager to learn, whether as specialists or across teams. Our culture is everything. If you’re someone who stays honest, stays hungry, stays foolish, and has fun, you’ll feel right at home here. We value those who take ownership of their growth and bring fresh perspectives. That’s why we’re committed to equity, inclusion, and building a place where everyone feels empowered to grow.
At SMG, it’s not just about filling a role but building the future together.
- 10% discretionary bonus
- ÂŁ1,800 yearly wellbeing fund (on top of your salary!)
- Free Headspace subscription
- £500 yearly “Learning Fund” for learning
- 4 extra Wellbeing Days off per year
- 4pm finishes every Friday
- Flexible and hybrid working
Are We What You’re Looking For?
We move fast, adapt quickly, and like to challenge each other. We’re looking for people who enjoy the buzz of change, the satisfaction of building something better, and the joy of working with a close‑knit, values‑driven team. This isn’t for everyone, but if you thrive in this environment, we’d love to meet you!
A Little Bit About You
You’ll bring:
- Strong experience in data engineering or data platform roles with hands‑on expertise in SQL, Python and distributed processing frameworks (e.g. Spark)
- Proven track record designing and operating modern cloud data platforms (e.g. Snowflake, Databricks)
- Deep understanding of cloud environments (Azure/AWS) and associated data services
- Experience implementing secure data practices including access control, encryption, and audit logging
- Knowledge of CI/CD, infrastructure‑as‑code (e.g. Terraform), and Git‑based workflows
- Experience building high‑quality, well‑documented data products for analytics and BI use cases
- Strong stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into business value
- Experience mentoring or leading engineers while remaining hands‑on with development
Some additional nice to haves:
- Experience with orchestration tools (Airflow, Azure Data Factory) and dbt
- Familiarity with BI tooling such as Power BI
- Exposure to MLOps, feature stores, or AI/ML data platforms
- Knowledge of GDPR and secure data sharing practices
- Experience within retail, commerce media or AdTech environments
Don’t meet every single requirement? We still want to hear from you. If you believe you’d thrive in this role, your unique perspective might be just what we’re looking for.
What You’ll Be Doing
Your days will be dynamic. You might find yourself:
- Designing and building scalable data pipelines across ingestion, transformation and delivery layers
- Defining and implementing reusable data engineering patterns and best practices
- Optimising performance and cost across cloud‑based data platforms
- Establishing CI/CD, testing frameworks, and data quality standards
- Leading and mentoring a team of Data Engineers while contributing hands‑on to complex builds
- Collaborating with BI, Analytics, Product and AI teams to deliver reliable data products
- Driving data platform observability, monitoring, lineage and SLA reporting
- Leading incident response and improving platform reliability through post‑incident reviews
- Supporting secure data sharing, governance, and compliance with internal and client requirements
- Enabling analytics and AI teams with clean, well‑structured and governed datasets
Our Values: Stay honest. Stay hungry. Stay foolish. Have fun.
Lead Data Engineer employer: SMG
Contact Detail:
SMG Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry meetups. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions and showcasing your hands-on experience. We want to see how you’ve tackled real-world problems, so bring examples that highlight your skills!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for data engineering! Discuss trends in the industry, share your thoughts on cloud platforms, and demonstrate your eagerness to learn and grow with us at SMG.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’d be a perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your hands-on expertise in SQL, Python, and cloud platforms like Snowflake or Databricks. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to show us your personality and passion for data engineering. Share specific examples of your past projects and how they align with our mission at SMG. Let us know why you're excited about this opportunity!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a lead-level position, don’t forget to mention any experience you have in mentoring or leading teams. We love candidates who can inspire others while still being hands-on with development. Tell us how you've made an impact in your previous roles!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you get all the updates. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining the SMG family!
How to prepare for a job interview at SMG
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Lead Data Engineer, you'll need to showcase your expertise in SQL, Python, and distributed processing frameworks like Spark. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud platforms such as Snowflake and Databricks, and be ready to discuss how you've designed and operated modern data platforms.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves mentoring a team, so be prepared to share examples of how you've led engineers in the past. Highlight your hands-on experience while also demonstrating your ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
✨Emphasise Your Problem-Solving Abilities
Expect questions about how you've tackled challenges in data engineering. Prepare specific examples where you've optimised performance or implemented secure data practices. This will show that you can think critically and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
✨Align with Our Values
At SMG, we value honesty, curiosity, and fun. During the interview, reflect on how these values resonate with you. Share experiences that demonstrate your commitment to growth and collaboration, as this will help you connect with the team and culture.