Data Engineer - 7660

Cambridge University Press; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Private medical and PHI

Discretionary annual bonus

Group personal pension

Life assurance

Green travel schemes

Job summary

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is seeking a Data Engineer to join the Applied AI team in Cambridge. You will design, build and maintain scalable data platforms and pipelines powering AI-driven assessment solutions, working with cross-functional teams to ensure secure, high-quality data and scalable analytics.

You should have a degree in computing or CS, strong Python/SQL skills, and experience with ETL frameworks, Git, and cloud/databases.

Qualifications

• Experience designing, building and maintaining data pipelines and data platforms.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL and at least one ETL/ELT framework.
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases and Git.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain scalable data platforms and pipelines.
• Collaborate with ML engineers, validation specialists and stakeholders.
• Ensure data quality, governance and monitoring across AI solutions.
• Produce technical documentation and contribute to Agile delivery.

Skills

Python

SQL

ETL/ELT framework

Education

Degree in computing engineering or computer science

Tools

Git

Apache Spark

Apache Airflow

Job description

Job Title: Data Engineer

Salary: £40,300 – £52,450

Location: Cambridge, UK – Hybrid

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is a world-renowned not-for-profit academic publisher and assessment organisation, proudly part of the prestigious University of Cambridge. With a legacy rooted in over 800 years of educational excellence, we are dedicated to unlocking the potential of learners and educators across the globe.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

Join our Applied AI team and help shape the future of assessment through data, innovation, and artificial intelligence. As a Data Engineer, you will work on impactful, large-scale data platforms and AI-driven solutions that support millions of learners worldwide, while growing your career in an organisation committed to Pursuing Potential through collaboration, continuous learning, and meaningful work that makes a real difference.

About the role

As a Data Engineer within the Applied AI team, you will play a key role in designing, developing, and maintaining the data platforms and pipelines that power AI-driven assessment solutions across Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Working closely with data engineers, machine learning engineers, validation specialists, and business stakeholders, you will ensure that reliable, high-quality, and secure data is available to support the development, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement of AI and analytics capabilities.

You will be responsible for building scalable data solutions, optimising data ingestion and transformation processes, and implementing data quality, governance, and monitoring practices. Accountable for delivering robust and maintainable data infrastructure, you will contribute directly to the organisation's strategy of leveraging artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making to enhance assessment quality, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes.

Through collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, you will help establish the data foundations that enable Applied AI to deliver impactful, trusted, and industry-leading AI solutions that shape the future of assessment.

Additional responsibilities and accountabilities include:

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of data engineering standards, frameworks, and best practices.
• Support the evaluation and adoption of new data and AI technologies where they provide business value.
• Participate in code reviews and knowledge-sharing activities to promote a culture of learning and engineering excellence.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation to support operational efficiency and knowledge transfer.
• Assist with incident investigation, root cause analysis, and implementation of preventative measures.
• Contribute to effort estimation, sprint planning, and Agile delivery activities.
• Support security, privacy, and compliance requirements by adhering to organisational policies and standards.
• Build effective working relationships with colleagues across Applied AI, Assessment Operations, and broader technology teams.
• Actively identify opportunities to improve data quality, operational efficiency, and user experience.
• Keep abreast of developments in data engineering, cloud platforms, and AI technologies, applying relevant learnings to improve team capabilities.

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition.

About You

You will have experience designing, building, and maintaining reliable data pipelines and data platforms, with a strong understanding of data engineering principles and cloud-based technologies. You will be proficient in Python, SQL, and at least one ETL/ELT framework, with the ability to develop scalable solutions that support data processing, analytics, and AI-driven applications. Experience working with relational and NoSQL databases, version control systems such as Git, and troubleshooting complex data workflows is essential.

You will be a collaborative and proactive communicator who can work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, contribute to Agile delivery teams, and take ownership of delivering high-quality outcomes. A degree in computing engineering, or computer science is required. Excellent written and spoken English communication skills are essential.

If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Experience with cloud-native data services on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
• Experience with data modelling, schema design, and data architecture best practices.
• Working knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools and practices.
• Experience with Apache Spark, Apache Airflow, or equivalent data processing and orchestration frameworks.
• Experience supporting machine learning, analytics, or AI-focused data platforms.
• Familiarity with data governance, metadata management, data lineage, and data quality frameworks.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing for data solutions.
• Experience working in Agile product development environments.
• A passion for continuous learning and applying emerging technologies to solve business challenges.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance technical excellence, delivery timelines, and business value.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long-term health condition, and who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable and/or appropriate, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov.uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.

Rewards and benefits

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Group personal pension scheme
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
• Green travel schemes

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be 27 October 2026. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place from the week commencing 16 November 2026.

If you are shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect:

• A 15-minute screening call with the Hiring Manager.
• First stage interview: in-person at our offices in Cambridge.
• Final stage virtual interview via MS Teams.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.