Senior Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Build and develop the Investment Data Platform while collaborating with a dynamic team.
  • Company: Join USS, a leading pension scheme dedicated to creating a secure financial future.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and health benefits including private healthcare.
  • Other info: Flexible culture with opportunities for personal development and community support.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in data engineering and shape the future of investment management.
  • Qualifications: Experience in data engineering and cloud technologies is essential.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Business Area: Operations

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

About the role

In your role as Senior Data Engineer you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to assist in the development and build of the Investment Data Platform (IDP). This senior position is essential to advancing USSIM's data strategy project and wider agenda, aligning with the organisation's strategic objectives and shaping the technology, people and processes required to embed a data driven culture.

  • Developing a Fabric Data Lakehouse for the Investment Management business, implementing scalable and secure ETL/ELT frameworks to ingest, transform and deliver data, across a medallion architecture.
  • Knowledge share across a small team of data engineers, fostering strong data engineering practices aligned to industry standards.
  • Working in partnership with architects, support the design and implementation of best practices in development and data disciplines.
  • Partnering with business stakeholders, technology, data and analytics teams, to translate business needs into scalable solutions.
  • Working with the Data Oversight and Information Security teams to ensure compliance with data security and privacy requirements, implementing secure-by-design engineering practices.
  • Advocating and educating colleagues and stakeholders on data engineering capabilities, gaining stakeholder buy-in to the value and potential of the data platform's capabilities.
  • Providing technical support and troubleshooting production issues.
  • Analysing business requirements and document technical solutions and processes.

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

  • Significant practical data engineering experience delivering scalable data platform solutions on cloud technologies e.g. Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Azure, Snowflake.
  • Strong technical proficiency in data engineering and cloud technologies e.g. Python, Spark, SQL/NOSQL, PowerShell, Azure Data Factory, Azure DevOps.
  • Professional experience in modern data warehousing, data lakes and lakehouse architectures.
  • Agile practitioner with experience working with scrum teams, sprints, backlogs.
  • Experience working in Investment Management, with a good understanding of the data which underpins Investment Management activities.
  • Understanding and first-hand experience working with data masters, market data sources, data quality/cataloguing/lineage tools.
  • Microsoft certified in Fabric Analytics Engineer such as DP-600 or DP-700.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, operating at different levels across the organisation.
  • Self-starter, enthusiastic, and hands-on individual who wants to make a difference in a team working environment.

Desirable

  • Understanding of both business and data architecture practices, with experience working with data models and toolsets such as Bizzdesign and ER/Studio.
  • Understanding of data governance, data quality and data security practices, and experience in adopting and embedding these capabilities within platform deliveries.
  • Qualification in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Data Science.

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team.

Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

  • Great starting salary
  • Generous annual leave package
  • Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
  • Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
  • Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
  • Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
  • Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
  • Employee Volunteer Day's to support the communities where you work and live
  • Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them 'front and centre' of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

  • Integrity
  • Collaboration
  • Excellence

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025).

USSIM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.

Senior Data Engineer employer: Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd

At USS, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work environment that fosters professional growth and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, we provide generous benefits, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for personal development, ensuring that every team member can thrive both in and out of the workplace. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion.

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Contact Details:

Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Data Engineer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the data engineering field, especially those who work at USS or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on the role.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with cloud technologies and data platforms. We want to see how you can contribute to our Investment Data Platform!

Tip Number 3

Show off your passion for data! During interviews, share examples of how you've used data to solve problems or improve processes. This will help us see your enthusiasm and fit for our team.

Tip Number 4

Don’t hesitate to apply through our website, even if you don’t tick every box. If you’re excited about the role and have relevant experience, we want to hear from you! Your unique perspective could be just what we need.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Engineer

Data Engineering
Cloud Technologies
Microsoft Fabric
Databricks
Azure
Snowflake
Python

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with cloud technologies and data engineering practices, as these are key to what we're looking for.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're excited about this position and how you can contribute to our team. Share specific examples of your past work that relate to the Investment Data Platform and data-driven culture.

Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t shy away from listing your technical proficiencies in Python, SQL, and any relevant cloud technologies. We want to see how your skills can help us advance our data strategy project!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd

Know Your Tech Stack

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, and Azure. Brush up on your Python, SQL, and ETL/ELT frameworks, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.

Showcase Your Experience

Prepare to discuss specific projects where you've implemented scalable data solutions. Be ready to explain your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.

Understand the Business Context

Familiarise yourself with the investment management sector and the data that drives it. Being able to speak knowledgeably about how data impacts business decisions will set you apart and show that you can align with the company's strategic objectives.

Communicate Effectively

Practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand. Strong communication skills are essential for this role, so be prepared to demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between tech and business.