Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to create scalable data products using Python, SQL, and AI.
- Company: Join Virgin Media O2, a forward-thinking tech company focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and access to a benefits portal.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in data monetisation while mentoring a talented team.
- Qualifications: Strong Python and SQL skills with experience in data engineering leadership.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We have a great new role for a Head of Data Engineering to join our Data Monetisation team. This is a brand new role responsible for leading the data engineering function and building scalable, privacy-safe external data products that drive commercial value from complex data assets. This is a hands‑on senior role, owning engineering strategy, architecture and delivery within a commercially focused data product environment. The role is 60% leadership/strategy and 40% hands‑on working with Python, SQL, GCP, AI solutions.
As Head of Data Engineering, you will be responsible for leading and mentoring a team of 4 in the creation and maintenance of our strategic data products, operating within data monetisation and AI application, developing high value customer signals and data segments derived from a complex, multi‑source data ecosystem. You will define the architectural strategy for our extensible and reusable data platform and act as the team’s delivery lead, managing the agile workflow and roadmap priorities in coordination with senior management and key stakeholders. Working primarily in the Google Cloud ecosystem, you will make high level decisions on data platforms, governance, data privacy and lead the evaluation and adoption of new technologies to drive innovation across the team.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and own the technical strategy and architecture for the data product platform, ensuring systems are extensible, reusable and scalable.
- Lead the team’s agile process, facilitating stand‑ups, managing the backlog and setting roadmap priorities with senior stakeholders.
- Mentor a team of Product Data Engineers, providing technical guidance, support and fostering professional growth.
- Drive high standards for data quality, output accuracy, platform SLAs, data privacy and governance.
- Evaluate, prototype and recommend new technologies and tooling to continuously improve team efficiency and product capabilities.
- Maintain an understanding of data consumers and paying customers to ensure product development is aligned with high value business outcomes.
- Ensure data lineage, accessibility, privacy and security are correctly implemented throughout the data lifecycle.
Qualifications
- Technical leadership of remote engineering teams.
- Strong Python and SQL skills; writes clean, maintainable, production‑grade code.
- Architecture ownership for complex, scalable data and ML/AI solutions.
- End‑to‑end data platform design (ingestion, modelling, analytics).
- Google Cloud (or equivalent) experience including BigQuery, Analytics Hub, Cloud Functions, dbt.
- Commercial mindset with evidence of data product adoption, cost and delivery awareness.
- Clear communicator across technical/non‑technical audiences, up to C‑suite.
- Experience building external‑facing SaaS or data products with partners.
- Working within data contracts, privacy and regulatory constraints.
- Effective delivery in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments (Agile, Jira, Confluence).
- Coaching engineers with strong hands‑on Python and SQL capability.
Nice to Have
- Built new products from scratch (greenfield over legacy).
- Worked with sensitive data in regulated industries (e.g., telco).
- Experience with data cleanrooms (Google, Snowflake or equivalent).
Benefits
Access to the company benefits portal via the main intranet site.
Equal Opportunities
Virgin Media O2 is an equal opportunities employer and we’re working hard to remove bias and barriers for our people and candidates. We support and encourage you to be your authentic self throughout your application journey with us.
Head of Data Engineering - Data Monetisation (Hands on Python, SQL, Cloud, AI) in Birmingham employer: Virgin Media O2
Contact Detail:
Virgin Media O2 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Data Engineering - Data Monetisation (Hands on Python, SQL, Cloud, AI) in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the data engineering space. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone in the industry. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your Python and SQL projects. Whether it's a GitHub repo or a personal website, having tangible examples of your work can really set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss your experience with cloud technologies and data governance. Practice common interview questions and think about how you can demonstrate your leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications that way!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Data Engineering - Data Monetisation (Hands on Python, SQL, Cloud, AI) in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Head of Data Engineering role. Highlight your hands-on experience with Python, SQL, and cloud technologies, as well as any leadership roles you've held.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams, developed data products, or driven innovation in previous positions.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t shy away from detailing your technical expertise. Mention your experience with Google Cloud, data governance, and any relevant AI solutions you've worked on. We want to see your hands-on capabilities!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply through our website. This way, your application will go directly to us, and we can review it promptly. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin Media O2
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Python, SQL, and Google Cloud skills. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've used these technologies, as well as any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This role is hands-on, so demonstrating your technical prowess is key!
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of Data Engineering, you'll be leading a team, so it's important to articulate your leadership philosophy. Think about examples where you've successfully mentored others or led a project. Be prepared to discuss how you manage agile processes and set priorities with stakeholders.
✨Understand the Business Impact
This role is all about driving commercial value from data. Familiarise yourself with how data products can impact business outcomes. Be ready to share insights on how you've aligned data strategies with business goals in previous roles, and how you plan to do this in the new position.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making process. Think through potential challenges you might encounter in this role, such as data privacy issues or technology adoption, and how you would address them effectively.