At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to design and build innovative data solutions for a sustainable future.
- Company: Join South West Water, a leader in the UK water sector committed to environmental sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, healthcare benefits, and an annual bonus scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse culture that values inclusion and celebrates uniqueness.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming data into actionable insights for essential services.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading data engineering teams and delivering cloud-based data platforms.
Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose. South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and support farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife. Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career. Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.
At South West Water, we’re transforming how we use data to deliver essential services, improve customer outcomes, and support a sustainable future. We’re looking for a Data Engineering Manager to lead our data engineering capability, someone who can combine technical expertise, leadership, and strategic thinking to unlock the full value of our data.
The Role
As our Data Engineering Manager, you’ll lead and develop a high-performing team of Data Engineers, driving the design, build, and operation of reliable, scalable data platforms and products. You’ll play a key role in shaping how we deliver modern, cloud-based data engineering while ensuring the stability and evolution of legacy systems. Working closely with stakeholders across the organisation, you’ll help turn complex data into actionable insights that support business decisions and long-term strategy.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead & Develop Talent – Build, coach, and mentor a motivated data engineering team, fostering growth and high performance.
- Drive Delivery – Plan and prioritise work aligned with business objectives and platform roadmap.
- Design & Build Modern Data Solutions – Deliver high-quality pipelines, data models, and products using tools such as Databricks and Microsoft Fabric.
- Manage Legacy Systems – Oversee maintenance and modernisation of SQL Server and SSIS environments.
- Champion Best Practice – Embed strong engineering standards including CI/CD, testing, security, and documentation.
- Improve Data Reliability – Continuously enhance data quality, stability, and performance.
- Collaborate Widely – Work across architecture, analytics, governance, and business teams to deliver impactful solutions.
- Ensure Operational Excellence – Balance innovation with platform reliability, cost efficiency, and performance.
- Influence Strategy – Contribute to future platform decisions, tooling, and ways of working.
- Measure Success – Define and track KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience leading and developing data engineering or technical teams.
- Strong background in delivering production-ready data platforms and pipelines.
- Experience with cloud data platforms (ideally Azure Databricks).
- Knowledge of legacy environments (SQL Server, SSIS) and migration approaches.
- Track record of delivering complex, outcome-focused data initiatives.
- Strong stakeholder engagement across technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience with DevOps / CI-CD practices for data platforms.
- Understanding of governance, security, and data quality in enterprise environments.
Qualifications
Required:
- Degree in Computer Science, IT, or equivalent experience.
- Hands-on expertise in modern data engineering (ELT, lakehouse, medallion architecture, orchestration).
Desirable:
- Microsoft Fabric or Azure Databricks certification.
- ITIL Foundation or Managing Professional.
- Agile / Scrum certification.
What you’ll get
Join us and help deliver a reliable, high-quality service for our customers across the South West. We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work and dedication. As our Data Engineering Manager, you'll enjoy:
- Competitive Salary – Based on experience and skills.
- Annual Bonus Scheme – Recognising company performance.
- Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future.
- Flexible Working Options – We value work-life balance and offer flexible hours and hybrid working where possible.
- Healthcare Benefits – Access to employee assistance programs.
- Employee Discounts – On various products and services.
- Annual Leave – Take time to recharge with our holiday entitlement.
Closing Date: 23rd June 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness. Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
Data Engineering Manager employer: South West Water
At South West Water, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters growth and innovation. As a Data Engineering Manager, you'll lead a talented team in a role that not only drives impactful data solutions but also contributes to our mission of sustainability in one of the UK's most beautiful regions. With competitive salaries, flexible working options, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we empower our employees to thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Engineering Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at South West Water on LinkedIn or through industry events. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experience. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams and delivered data solutions in the past. We want to see your passion for data engineering!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! Think of examples where you've tackled complex data challenges and turned them into actionable insights. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate your strategic thinking.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at South West Water.
We think you need these skills to ace Data Engineering Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Data:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for data engineering shine through! Share specific examples of how you've used data to drive decisions or improve processes. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely excited about transforming data into actionable insights.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Data Engineering Manager role. Highlight your experience with cloud platforms like Azure Databricks and your leadership skills. We want to see how your background aligns with our goals at South West Water!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at South West Water!
How to prepare for a job interview at South West Water
✨Know Your Data Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your data engineering knowledge, especially around modern data solutions like ELT and cloud platforms such as Azure Databricks. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies and how you've applied them in real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Data Engineering Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've built, coached, and motivated teams in the past. Highlight any specific strategies you've used to foster high performance and collaboration among your team members.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Be prepared to talk about how your work in data engineering has driven business outcomes. Think of specific projects where your data solutions have led to improved customer experiences or operational efficiencies. This will show that you understand the bigger picture and can align technical work with business goals.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since you'll be collaborating with various teams, practice discussing how you've engaged with both technical and non-technical stakeholders in previous roles. Be ready to share examples of how you've communicated complex data concepts in an accessible way, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
