Data Engineer (SFIA 4)

Zaizi is looking for a Senior Data Engineer to design, build and operate modern data pipelines and analytics platforms for digital services across the UK public sector. You will work as part of multidisciplinary, agile teams to enable organisations to collect, process and use data effectively, supporting operational reporting, analytics and insight. The role is hands‑on and delivery‑focused, with responsibility for applying sound data engineering practices rather than promoting any single technology or cloud provider. This role suits someone who can work independently on well‑defined problems, exercise judgement in selecting appropriate tools and approaches, and contribute to the continuous improvement of data platforms and ways of working in line with GDS standards, government data principles, and secure‑by‑design practices.

Requirements

• Design, build and maintain reliable data pipelines to ingest, transform and serve data from multiple sources.
• Develop analytics‑ready data models that support reporting, operational insight and downstream analysis.
• Support the full data lifecycle, including data retention, archiving and decommissioning, in line with data policy and statutory obligations.
• Apply data quality, testing and monitoring practices to ensure data is trustworthy and fit for purpose.
• Understand user and business needs and translate them into practical, well‑engineered data solutions.
• Contribute to shared data standards, documentation and data dictionaries.
• Work collaboratively with delivery teams and customers to identify opportunities where better use of data can improve outcomes.

Technical

• Strong commercial experience in building and operating data pipelines using modern data engineering patterns (batch and, where appropriate, event‑driven).
• Strong SQL skills and experience with at least one programming language commonly used in data engineering (e.g. Python).
• Experience with data integration, transformation and orchestration tools.
• Designing and working with analytical data stores (e.g. data warehouses, lakehouse‑style architectures).
• Applying software engineering and DevOps practices to data (version control, automated testing, CI/CD).
• Working with cloud platforms, while remaining technology‑and‑vendor‑agnostic.
• Using and contributing to open‑source tools and frameworks.

Competencies

• Able to work effectively in cross‑functional, multidisciplinary teams.
• Operates at senior level: works independently on defined tasks, applies judgement, and supports others through good engineering practice.
• Strong communication skills, able to explain data concepts to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Committed to continuous improvement in data engineering practices and platform maturity.
• Comfortable in customer‑facing environments, building trust and credibility.
• Understands and respects UK Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT / GDAT) standards, including security, privacy and governance expectations.

SC Clearance

Zaizi works with UK Central Government departments on a range of projects. To be able to work on our customer projects, employees must be Security Cleared to a standard acceptable to our Government customers. Due to this restriction we can currently only recruit candidates who have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship and who have lived in the UK for the last 5+ years continuously.

Benefits

• 25 days paid holiday, plus bank holidays
• Vitality medical insurance
• Workplace Pension 5% employer contribution
• Group Life Assurance
• Cycle scheme
• 5 days a year for approved Training
• WFH equipment allowance
• Buy / Sell Holiday
• 2 days paid volunteering days

Other benefits

• Flexible working
• Work on exciting projects – make a difference
• Empowered to make decisions
• Encouraged to fail fast and learn quickly
• 1-2-1 and team coaching / training available to all our staff

For further information contact- Nat Hinds-Head of Talent Kayla Kirby-Talent Acquisition Specialist