Data Engineer

Metropolitan Police; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,531 - 55,103; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

28 days annual leave, rising to 33

Professional development opportunities

Generous family leave

Childcare support

Contributory pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Subsidised sports centre membership

Job summary

A major public safety organization is seeking a Data Engineer to design and maintain data pipelines, optimize databases, and collaborate on data analytics. The role is hybrid, with three days in the office, and offers a starting salary of £53,459 with opportunities for annual increases. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting.

Qualifications

• Experience in SQL, writing queries and designing databases.
• Familiarity with ETL processes and tools.
• Background in cloud platforms and relational databases.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain robust data pipelines.
• Optimize databases and ensure data quality.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver solutions.

Skills

SQL

ETL tools (Alteryx, SSIS, FME, Python)

Azure Data Factory or Data Bricks

Problem-solving skills

Batch or PowerShell scripting

Technical communication

Attention to detail

Tools

GIT

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Job Title

Data Engineer

Salary & Location

Salary: The starting salary is £53,459, which includes allowances totalling £2,928. The basic salary is £50,531, with annual increases up to £55,103, plus a location allowance of £1,928 and a non‑pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: The role can be based in Sidcup, Hendon, Bow or Lambeth with travel across the Met estate as required. It is offered as a hybrid work pattern, with 3 days expected in the office.

Security Clearance

Security Clearance: This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) level before taking up the post. More details are available at Metropolitan Police Vetting and UK Security Clearance.

Benefits

• Hybrid working arrangements for a healthy work‑life balance.
• 28 days annual leave (excluding public holidays), rising to 33 days after 5 years continuous service.
• Personal and professional development opportunities.
• Enrolment with the Met’s employee incentive partner, Edenred, giving access to a range of rewards and incentives.
• Access to a range of financial products via the Metropolitan Police Trading Service, including preferred credit facilities.
• Generous family leave for pregnancy, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave.
• Childcare support including nursery and play scheme discounts.
• Excellent contributory pension scheme.
• Access to the Bluelight Emergency Services discount card with a range of official discounts from large national retailers to local businesses including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more.
• A substantial range of health and wellbeing benefits including physiotherapy, 24/7 rehabilitation services and free eye tests.
• Subsidised sports centre membership to over 3,000 UK gyms and 80 London Fitness Centres, plus a range of sporting activities through the Met Police Sports and Social Clubs.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain robust data pipelines for analytics and operational use.
• Optimize databases and implement data validation and cleansing processes.
• Collaborate with analysts, scientists, and stakeholders to deliver data‑driven solutions.
• Support junior engineers and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Help transition our data infrastructure to Microsoft Azure.
• Occasionally support operational policing through overtime.

Qualifications

• You’re confident with SQL – writing queries, building stored procedures, and designing databases is second nature.
• You’ve worked with ETL tools like Alteryx, SSIS, FME or Python, and you know how to move and transform data efficiently.
• You have experience building solutions in cloud platforms like Azure Data Factory or Data Bricks, or you’re keen to get stuck in.
• You understand how relational databases and data warehouses work, and you’ve had a hand in designing them.
• You’re comfortable solving problems independently whether it’s debugging a script or figuring out why a pipeline isn’t behaving.
• You’ve written batch or PowerShell scripts before and know how to automate tasks when needed.
• You can explain technical ideas clearly, whether you’re talking to a fellow engineer or someone who’s never seen a line of code.
• You’re self‑motivated, detail‑focused, and always looking for ways to improve how things are done.

Preferred Qualifications

• You’ve used version control tools like GIT and understand the value of keeping things organised and collaborative.
• You’ve worked with automated testing and know how to build reliable, repeatable processes.
• You’re familiar with Agile ways of working and enjoy being part of a fast‑moving, iterative team.
• You’ve handled geospatial data or dabbled in machine learning, or maybe even both.
• You’ve built dashboards or reports using tools like Power BI, Power Query or Tableau.
• You’ve worked in a SharePoint environment and know how to make the most of it.
• You’ve written code in Java, Scala or other programming languages and enjoy exploring new tech.

EEO Statement

We view diversity as fundamental to our success. To tackle today’s complex policing challenges, we welcome applications from all of our London communities.