Data Engineer in Guildford

We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe. We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.

The Role & Key Responsibilities

From your first day with us you will be part of a policing family making a real difference. It is our mission to identify and protect vulnerable people, prevent and respond to harm and keep people safe. Make data matter where it matters most. Join a policing organisation committed to identifying and protecting vulnerable people, preventing and responding to harm and keeping people safe. As a Data Engineer, you’ll support the delivery of trusted, high-quality data that powers critical decisions across the organisation. We’re transforming our cloud and data platforms and are looking for an enthusiastic early-career Data Engineer to help grow our data capability using modern cloud technologies, including Microsoft Fabric. This is an opportunity to learn, develop, and contribute to meaningful, real-world outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Support the design, build and maintenance of secure, scalable cloud data solutions.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines using SQL, Python and Fabric Data Factory within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem.
• Assist with the modernisation of our data warehouse and contribute to Lakehouse architecture initiatives.
• Work closely with Senior Data Engineers to deliver reliable data pipelines.
• Monitor and troubleshoot legacy data pipelines, resolving issues and supporting performance optimisation.

Skills & Experience

• Some hands‑on experience or strong foundational knowledge in data engineering and cloud platforms (Microsoft Fabric or Azure desirable).
• Working knowledge of SQL and/or Python, with an interest in developing advanced skills.
• Understanding of data modelling concepts and modern data architectures (e.g. Lakehouse or Medallion approaches).
• Familiarity with version control (Git) and an interest in CI/CD practices.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and eagerness to learn from experienced data engineers.
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within a team environment.
• A proactive, solution‑focused mindset with a genuine interest in building a career in data engineering.

Important

This role requires Management Vetting requiring 5 years continuous residency in the UK. Additionally, you will need to be a UK Citizen or have either indefinite leave to remain or permanent settled status. We cannot offer sponsored or accept spousal visas and any applications that do not meet these requirements will be rejected.

Why Work With Us?

Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We’re invested in supporting people to balance their life with work and we encourage flexible working. We are open to conversations about job shares and part time working. We encourage agile working, giving you the opportunity to manage your own diary and work wherever you give the best service to the public. This may include flexi‑time and home working.

We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits:

• Career progression
• Contributory pension scheme (LGPS)
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Discounts for everyday spend
• On‑site gyms and a range of sports clubs
• Generous and supportive parental leave
• Financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support
• Discounted contributory healthcare scheme

For further information about this role please contact Carole Jowett, Data Engineering Team Lead via Carole.Jowett@sussex.police.uk.

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people. It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we’ll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement. We are committed to being an anti‑racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti‑racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.