Lead Data Engineer in Essex

Lead Data Engineer in Essex

Essex Full-Time 60000 - 75000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and optimisation of our modern data platform using Microsoft Fabric.
  • Company: Join Ground Control, a forward-thinking company committed to innovation and inclusivity.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, performance bonuses, private GP service, and holiday buy scheme.
  • Other info: Flexible hybrid working and strong support for professional development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on data quality and business decision-making while leading a talented team.
  • Qualifications: Advanced SQL skills and experience with Microsoft Fabric are essential.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 ÂŁ per year.

Location: Billericay

Salary: Competitive

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Data Engineer to design, build, and optimise our modern data platform using Microsoft Fabric. This is a senior technical leadership role where you will shape how data is structured, governed, and consumed across the business, enabling high‑quality reporting, analytics, and decision‑making. You will act as the technical authority for data engineering, leading on architecture, standards, and delivery while ensuring data is reliable, scalable, secure, and aligned to business needs.

What you'll do:

  • Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines using Microsoft Fabric (Lakehouse, Data Engineering, Data Warehouse, Data Integration)
  • Define and enforce data architecture standards, best practices, and governance across the platform
  • Develop and optimise advanced SQL queries, transformations, views, and data models
  • Lead the design of analytical data models to support Power BI and self‑service reporting
  • Own data quality, monitoring, documentation, and operational reliability across the platform
  • Translate business requirements into scalable, well‑structured data solutions
  • Lead and develop a team of three data engineers, managing workload, priorities, and escalations
  • Define KPIs, standards, and delivery expectations for the team
  • Drive data modernisation initiatives, including migration and consolidation of legacy systems into Fabric
  • Support stakeholder engagement and reporting on progress, risks, and delivery outcomes

What you’ll get:

  • Autonomy to lead and shape a modern Microsoft Fabric data platform
  • Real ownership of architecture, standards, and data strategy across the business
  • Opportunity to lead and develop a small engineering team
  • Visible impact on data quality, reporting, and business decision‑making
  • Involvement in both BAU delivery and major transformation projects
  • Support for Microsoft certifications and ongoing professional development
  • Hybrid working and a competitive package with company benefits

What We’re Looking For:

  • Advanced hands‑on SQL expertise (including performance tuning and optimisation)
  • Strong experience with Microsoft Fabric (architecture, design, implementation)
  • Proven experience designing and supporting data models for analytics / Power BI
  • Experience modernising or migrating legacy data platforms
  • Strong understanding of data engineering principles, governance, and data quality
  • Experience designing and supporting production‑grade data solutions
  • Ability to lead technical delivery and act as escalation point for complex issues
  • Experience working with stakeholders to gather and translate requirements

Desirable:

  • Experience leading or managing small technical teams
  • Microsoft certifications (e.g. DP-600, DP-700, DP-900, DP-300)
  • Experience in DevOps / CI‑CD for data engineering
  • Experience in regulated or complex enterprise environments

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary – aligned with your skills and experience
  • Performance‑linked bonus: Bonus opportunities aligned to your level and contribution
  • Pension scheme – helping you plan for the future
  • Recognition schemes – celebrating and rewarding great work
  • Private GP service – fast, convenient access to medical support
  • Life insurance – providing added peace of mind
  • Holiday buy scheme – purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave

Equal Opportunities Statement

At Ground Control, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010. We actively support and promote an inclusive culture, ensuring fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process and across all stages of employment, including training, development, promotion, pay, and termination. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and employees, and to creating a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation. We expect all colleagues to uphold our values of dignity, respect, and inclusion. We take a zero‑tolerance approach to any form of discriminatory behaviour and are committed to continuous improvement through training, inclusive policies, and accountability at all levels.

Lead Data Engineer in Essex employer: UKund Control

At Ground Control, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Billericay where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a Lead Data Engineer, you will enjoy the autonomy to shape our modern data platform while leading a talented team, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development, including support for Microsoft certifications. Our commitment to inclusivity and employee well-being is reflected in our competitive salary, performance-linked bonuses, and comprehensive benefits package, making us a rewarding place to advance your career.
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Contact Detail:

UKund Control Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Data Engineer in Essex

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the data engineering field, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving Microsoft Fabric and SQL. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and set you apart from the crowd.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common data engineering questions and scenarios. Practice explaining your thought process when designing data solutions, as this will demonstrate your expertise and leadership capabilities.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Ground Control.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Engineer in Essex

Microsoft Fabric
SQL Expertise
Data Architecture
Data Governance
Data Quality
Data Modelling
Power BI
Data Pipeline Development
Technical Leadership
Stakeholder Engagement
Data Modernisation
Performance Tuning
Team Management
DevOps / CI-CD

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Microsoft Fabric and data engineering principles, as these are key to what we’re looking for. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in designing and optimising data solutions.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about data engineering and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your leadership experience and how you can contribute to our team.

Showcase Your Technical Skills: We want to see your technical prowess! Include any relevant certifications, especially those related to Microsoft technologies. If you’ve worked on modernising data platforms or have advanced SQL expertise, make sure to highlight these achievements.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at UKund Control

✨Know Your Microsoft Fabric Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in Microsoft Fabric, especially its architecture and design principles. Brush up on how to build and maintain scalable data pipelines, as this will be a key focus during your interview.

✨Showcase Your SQL Skills

Prepare to demonstrate your advanced SQL expertise. Be ready to discuss performance tuning and optimisation techniques, and maybe even solve a few SQL problems on the spot to show off your skills.

✨Lead with Confidence

Since this role involves leading a small team, be prepared to talk about your leadership style and experiences. Share examples of how you've managed workloads and priorities, and how you’ve handled escalations in the past.

✨Translate Business Needs into Data Solutions

Think about how you can translate business requirements into effective data solutions. Prepare to discuss past projects where you successfully aligned data strategies with business goals, showcasing your understanding of data governance and quality.

Lead Data Engineer in Essex
UKund Control
Location: Essex

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