Lead Data Engineer in Nottingham

About the Role

• Contract type: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time, 35 hours
• Location: Head Office, Nottingham (Hybrid working, minimum 2 days per week)
• Salary: Up to £90,000 depending on experience.

We’re on an exciting journey to build a brand-new greenfield Data Platform using Microsoft Fabric in Azure, unlocking next generation insights, innovation and personalised experiences for our members. As our Lead Data Engineer, you’ll take a hands‑on role in designing, building and running this capability from the ground up. Partnering with our Head of Data, you’ll set the technical foundations, create engineering standards and develop reusable frameworks that power enterprise grade integration, analytics, AI and regulatory reporting. This is a unique chance to influence the entire data ecosystem, from architecture and ingestion through to consumption and innovation, in a forward‑thinking organisation that champions curiosity, inclusivity and positive change.

What you will be doing as Lead Data Engineer:

• Build a Cutting-Edge Data Platform: Design, develop and operate a scalable, secure and high-performing Data Platform using Microsoft Fabric technologies such as OneLake, Lakehouse/Warehouse, Data Factory, Synapse, Power BI and Fabric pipelines.
• Create Robust Data Integration Frameworks: Develop and maintain ingestion and transformation processes connecting multiple internal and external sources including Sopra Banking Services, Salesforce, CACI and Experian.
• Select the Right Tools for Every Challenge: Choose the most suitable Fabric workloads for each use case, from Data Engineering and Spark to Real‑Time Analytics, Data Science and Power BI.
• Define Models and Structures for Insight: Implement data models, Lakehouse structures and orchestration patterns that enable self‑service BI, single customer view, regulatory reporting and AI/ML capabilities.
• Champion Data Security and Governance: Establish role‑based security patterns, ensure data quality, lineage and observability using Microsoft Purview and other governance tools.
• Embed Modern Engineering Practices: Lead the adoption of DataOps and DevOps principles with Azure DevOps, Git integration, infrastructure‑as‑code and automated CI/CD pipelines.
• Mentor and Inspire Engineering Excellence: Guide and support a growing team of Data Engineers, promoting best practices, code reviews and continuous improvement.
• Drive Innovation and Strategic Thinking: Act as the technical authority for Microsoft Fabric, stay ahead of emerging features and help shape the Society’s long‑term data strategy.

About you:

• Extensive Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of Microsoft Fabric components including OneLake, Lakehouse/Warehouse, Delta Lake, Direct Lake, Data Factory, Spark (PySpark/Scala) and Power BI (DAX and semantic modelling).
• Advanced Programming and Data Engineering Skills: Proficient in Python, SQL and T‑SQL with experience in PySpark; familiarity with KQL for real‑time analytics and robust ELT design using medallion architectures.
• Proven Experience in Modern Data Platforms: Track record of building and operating Azure‑based data platforms, ideally in greenfield or transformational contexts, with integration across on‑premise, cloud and third‑party sources.
• Strong Cloud and Governance Knowledge: Hands‑on experience with Azure services (ADLS Gen2, Event Hubs, Key Vault, Purview) and governance tools for data quality, lineage and compliance; awareness of AWS/GCP is a plus.
• Expertise in Engineering Best Practices: Skilled in CI/CD, infrastructure‑as‑code and automation using Azure DevOps; experienced in setting coding standards, reviewing designs and embedding reusable frameworks.
• Leadership and Mentoring Ability: Proven capability to lead or mentor small technical teams, fostering collaboration, code quality and continuous improvement across multi‑workstream deliveries.
• Inclusive and Purpose‑Led Approach: Collaborative, curious and quality‑driven, with strong communication skills to simplify complex topics and align decisions with member‑first values and responsible innovation.
• Qualifications and Continuous Learning: Degree or equivalent experience in a technical discipline; Microsoft certifications (DP‑203, DP‑600, PL‑300) or willingness to achieve; commitment to ongoing professional development and learning.

Reward & Benefits:

• Competitive Package: Fair salary benchmarked against market data, annual discretionary bonus, and 29 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Health & Wellbeing: Access to Medicash healthcare, mental health first aiders, and a suite of wellbeing resources to support you inside and outside of work.
• Work‑Life Balance: 35‑hour working week for full‑time roles, with flexibility to help you perform at your best.
• Career Growth: Ongoing personal and professional development, we’ll support your ambitions and help you grow your potential.
• Inclusive Culture: Be part of a friendly, values‑led team that genuinely cares about doing the right thing for colleagues and customers.
• Giving Back: Use two paid volunteering days each year to support causes close to your heart, through our Samuel Fox Foundation.
• Sustainability Focus: Join a business committed to reducing its carbon footprint and making a positive impact on the environment.
• Free access to Octopus Money: Financial coaching & tools that help you plan, manage, and make the most of your money.

Embracing Diversity Together:

We proudly embrace and celebrate diversity as a fundamental cornerstone of our values. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is not just essential for our success but is also a reflection of the vibrant communities we serve. Our commitment to diversity extends beyond our internal culture to the way we approach advertising and engage with our customers. Our commitment means actively working to eliminate barriers and biases that may hinder equal opportunities within our organisation. We strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of background, have an equal chance to thrive and advance in their careers. We acknowledge that diversity is not just a goal to be achieved but a continuous journey toward creating an environment that embraces differences and promotes equal opportunities for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that encourages collaboration, creativity and a sense of belonging for every member of our community.

About Us:

We are a mutual, which means we don’t have shareholders. Instead, we’re owned by our members and use our money to do good, investing in our community, responsible causes, and – well, you. So, we’re always striving to do the right thing for our team, communities and members. Although our history spans over 170 years, our purpose of helping our members save, plan for and protect their financial futures is enduring. At The Nottingham Building Society, we are dedicated to overcoming obstacles and turning challenges into opportunities. At the heart of our mission is our unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers and building better futures by helping our customers achieve the significant milestone of owning their own home.