At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build scalable data systems while collaborating with a talented team.
- Company: Join Zego, a forward-thinking company revolutionising motor insurance.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical insurance, share options, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model and a culture that celebrates diversity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and growth.
- Qualifications: 4+ years as a Data Engineer with experience in modern data stacks.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Zego, we know that traditional motor insurance holds good drivers back. It’s too complicated, too expensive, and it doesn't take into account how well you actually drive. That’s why, since 2016, we’ve been on a mission to change all of that. Our mission at Zego is to offer the lowest priced insurance for good drivers.
From van drivers and gig workers to everyday car drivers, our customers are our driving force — they’re at the heart of everything we do. We’ve sold tens of millions of policies so far, and raised over $200 million in funding. And we’re only just getting started.
We're looking for a Senior Data Engineer to be a key technical contributor within our data engineering function, helping to build and evolve our data platform to meet Zego's ambitious growth. This is a hands-on technical role — you'll design and build scalable, resilient, and secure data systems, while supporting the wider team through knowledge sharing and collaboration. You'll work closely with peers across Engineering, Data Science, Analytics, and Product to ensure our data infrastructure is efficient and reliable.
While this role doesn't involve line management, you'll be expected to contribute to technical excellence within the team by sharing knowledge, reviewing code, and supporting less experienced engineers.
What you will be doing
- Technical Delivery & Collaboration: Act as a strong technical contributor within the Data Engineering team. Support and help less experienced engineers grow through pairing, code review, and knowledge sharing. Promote best practices in data engineering, including testing, CI/CD, observability, and infrastructure as code.
- Platform & Architecture: Design, build, and maintain scalable and secure data pipelines, warehouses, and streaming systems. Ensure data is modelled and structured to meet the needs of analytics, data science, and operational use cases. Contribute to the evolution of our data architecture, ensuring it can support both current and future business needs.
- Collaboration & Delivery: Partner with teams across the business to understand requirements and translate them into robust technical solutions. Identify opportunities for optimisation, re-architecture, or tool improvements. Contribute to the delivery of the technical roadmap for data engineering.
What you will need to be successful
- Experience: 4+ years as a Data Engineer working on scalable data platforms, ideally in product-led or high-growth environments.
- Solid experience designing, building, and operating ETL/ELT pipelines and large-scale data architectures.
- Hands-on experience with modern data stacks — our tech includes Python, SQL, Snowflake, Apache Iceberg, AWS S3, PostgresDB, Airflow, dbt, and Apache Spark, deployed via AWS, Docker, and Terraform (experience with similar technologies is essential).
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, translating technical concepts into business value.
- Experience supporting other engineers through code reviews, pairing, and knowledge sharing.
- Pragmatic approach to balancing technical excellence with delivery needs.
- You will be someone who’s actively curious about how AI can enhance your work - keen to experiment, learn quickly, and apply tools that improve productivity, streamline tasks, or unlock new ways of thinking.
Nice to have:
- Experience building Data Mesh or Lakehouse architectures.
- Familiarity with Kubernetes, Docker, and real-time streaming technologies (e.g. Kafka, Kinesis).
- Exposure to ML engineering pipelines or MLOps frameworks.
Benefits
Joining Zego is a career-defining move. People go further here, reaching their full potential to achieve extraordinary things. We’re spread throughout the UK and Europe, and united by our drive to get things done. We’re proud of our company and our culture – a friendly and inclusive space where we can lift each other up and celebrate our wins every day.
Together, we’re setting the bar higher, delivering exceptional work that makes a difference. Our people are the most important part of our story, and everyone here plays a role. There’s loads of room to learn and grow, and you’ll get the freedom to steer your career wherever you want.
You’ll work alongside a talented group who embrace each other's differences and aren’t afraid of a challenge. We recognise our achievements, learn from our mistakes, and help each other to be the best we can be. Together, we’re making insurance matter.
How we work
We believe that teams work better when they have time to collaborate and space to get things done. We call it Zego Hybrid. While some of our team choose to come into our central London office once a week, we’re flexible - some people prefer being in once a month or even quarterly. It’s all about finding the right balance between collaborative face time and focused home-working, so we can achieve great results while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Our approach to AI
We believe in the power of AI to meaningfully improve how we work - helping us move faster, think differently, and focus on what matters most. At Zego, we encourage people to stay curious and intentional about how AI is leveraged in their work and teams to drive practical impact every day. This is your chance to do the most meaningful work of your career - and we’ll provide you with the tools, support, and freedom to do it well.
Benefits
We reward our people well. Join us and you’ll get a market-competitive salary, private medical insurance, company share options, generous holiday allowance, and a whole lot of wellbeing benefits. We also offer an annual flexible hybrid working contribution, which you can use to support with your travel to the office or towards your own personal development. And that’s just for starters! There’s more to Zego than just a job.
We’re an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.
Senior Data Engineer employer: Zego
At Zego, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to reach their full potential. As a Senior Data Engineer, you'll be part of a collaborative team that values knowledge sharing and innovation, all while enjoying flexible hybrid working arrangements in the heart of London. With competitive salaries, generous benefits, and ample opportunities for personal and professional growth, Zego is not just a workplace; it's a place where you can make a meaningful impact in the insurance industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Engineer
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Zego!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Senior Data Engineer at Zego.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Zego.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Senior Data Engineer at Zego, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Zego, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Zego. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zego
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Zego!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
