Data Engineer

Inara; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology-driven NGO is seeking a Data Engineer to build the first graph-based intelligence platform. The role involves designing data pipelines and knowledge graphs, requiring strong hands-on experience with GCP, Neo4j, Python, and Postgres. This is a mid-senior level position offering the chance to shape a transformative data architecture. Candidates with a passion for AI-driven solutions and collaboration will thrive. Attractive salary of £65,000 - £85,000, with a potential for more depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with GCP, Neo4j, Python, and Postgres.
• Familiarity with AI/NLP/LLM integration and data visualisation tools such as Tableau.
• Ability to design and maintain complex data pipelines across structured and unstructured sources.
• Confident in independently driving end-to-end delivery.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain graph-based ETL pipelines for structured and unstructured data.
• Prototype and deploy knowledge graph models linking various entities.
• Provide technical mentorship to teams for data architecture leverage.

Skills

GCP

Neo4j

Python

Postgres

AI/NLP/LLM integration

Data visualisation tools

Designing complex data pipelines

Collaboration skills

Job description

Data Engineer | Build the First Graph-Based Intelligence Platform

Industry: NGO, Tech for Good

Salary: £65,000 - £85,000 (potentially some wiggle room)

Confidentiality: NDA required before client details can be shared

Our client is embarking on a genuinely transformative journey and you could be the one who builds the foundation of their entire next-generation data intelligence capability.

This is your chance to design and deliver the organisation’s first-ever graph‑based data architecture, shaping how critical intelligence is captured, connected, and exploited.

If you want a role where you own the direction, set the standards, and build something with long‑term impact, this is it.

What You Will Do

You’ll operate at the core of our customer’s mission, engineering the systems and frameworks that will power advanced research, analysis, and decision making. Expect a role where you’ll build, shape, optimise, and innovate every single day.

1. Build Next‑Generation Data Pipelines

You will:

• Design and maintain graph‑based ETL pipelines capable of pulling together structured and unstructured data everything from text corpora to company registries, shipping manifests, and financial records.
• Develop robust extraction workflows, integrating third‑party data sources and provider tools.
• Implement data lineage, versioning, and schema governance to ensure full traceability and reproducibility across the entire intelligence lifecycle.

2. Engineer Knowledge Graphs From the Ground Up

You will:

• Prototype and deploy knowledge graph models linking organisations, facilities, transactions, activities, and more.
• Build clean, maintainable interfaces and APIs for seamless querying across graph and relational environments.
• Integrate visualisation tools (Tableau, MapLibre, bespoke UIs, etc.) to support contextual analysis and intelligence workflows.

3. Shape the Future of AI‑Driven Intelligence (Longer Term)

You will:

• Prototype and test Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers enabling Natural Language Querying (NLQ) and Natural Language Generation (NLG).
• Support experimentation with NLP and LLM‑driven enrichment alongside analysts and researchers.

This is a place where AI meets real‑world intelligence, and you’ll be helping build that bridge.

4. Enable, Support and Uplift the Wider Team

You will:

• Provide technical mentorship to analytical and research teams so they can truly leverage the architecture you build.
• Establish best practices for data governance, quality assurance, and documentation.
• Help shape the roadmap for scaling future data engineering capabilities.

What You Will Deliver

You’ll be responsible for delivering the foundational assets of a world‑class intelligence data environment, including:

• A fully operational graph‑based data pipeline handling heterogeneous sources
• A scalable knowledge graph schema and entity‑relationship model
• A robust lineage and governance framework
• A future‑focused roadmap for team and capability growth

Key Skills and Experience

• Strong hands‑on experience with GCP, Neo4j, Python, and Postgres.
• Familiarity with AI/NLP/LLM integration and data visualisation tools such as Tableau.
• Ability to design and maintain complex data pipelines across structured and unstructured sources.
• Confident working independently, taking ownership of projects, and driving end‑to‑end delivery.
• Comfortable collaborating with analysts and researchers and contributing to best practices in governance and documentation.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you will directly contribute to:

• The creation of an intelligence data system that is stable, scalable, queryable, and resilient
• Dramatically improving how fast, traceable, and reliable data‑driven insights can be produced
• Laying the groundwork for a full data engineering function, aligned with strategic growth and evolving mission priorities

You’ll work closely with the Technical Tradecraft Lead, collaborate with research teams, and engage with key integration partners and data providers.

Why This Role Is Truly Appealing

• Build something from scratch
• Own major architectural decisions
• Work across knowledge graphs, graph databases, NLP, and emerging AI interfaces
• See your work used in real operational intelligence
• Define standards, direction, and future hiring
• Have autonomy and real technical influence

This will be one of the most exciting opportunities you’ll see this year.

This is not just another data engineering role, it is a greenfield initiative with mission‑level impact.

Not Sure You Tick Every Box? Apply Anyway.

Studies show that women often apply only when they meet 100% of the criteria, whereas men tend to apply at 60%.

If you feel you have most of what we’re looking for and believe you’d thrive here, we want to hear from you.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Information Technology and Research

Industries

Information Services and IT System Data Services

Location

London, England, United Kingdom