Data Platform Engineer - 201482

Harnham; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 73,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Ownership over platform strategy

Exposure to AI initiatives

Job summary

Harnham is seeking a highly technical Data Platform Engineer to own a modern enterprise data platform within an exciting R&D environment in the UK. You will shape platform strategy, drive technical decisions, and enable AI and data product delivery across the business.

The role focuses on scalable Azure-based architectures, governance, and collaboration with Infrastructure, Security, and Network teams, with hands-on execution and strategic oversight.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with cloud-based data platforms.
• Expertise in Azure services and modern data architectures.
• Experience making architectural decisions and communicating rationale to stakeholders.
• Hands-on design, management and scaling of enterprise data platforms.
• Knowledge of governance, monitoring, security, and operational best practice.
• Experience with Azure Data Factory (ADF).
• Knowledge of Databricks or Microsoft Fabric beneficial.
• Exposure to Data Science or AI environments advantageous.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on technically.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical decisions relating to the enterprise data platform.
• Design and oversee scalable platform architecture across Azure technologies.
• Support and enable Data Engineers to deliver reliable data solutions.
• Collaborate with Infrastructure, Architecture, Security, and Network teams.
• Manage platform performance, reliability, governance, and operational excellence.
• Identify and resolve technical challenges including performance bottlenecks.
• Drive best practices across platform operations, deployment processes, monitoring, and supportability.
• Contribute to delivery of AI and data-driven products within a growing R&D environment.
• Provide hands-on expertise across cloud platforms, data services, and modern engineering practices.

Skills

Cloud data platforms

Azure services

Architectural decisions

Data platform design

CI/CD

Infrastructure as Code

Databricks

Microsoft Fabric

AI environments exposure

Tools

Azure Data Factory (ADF)

Databricks

Infrastructure as Code tooling

CI/CD tooling

Job description

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly technical Data Platform Engineer to take ownership of a modern enterprise data platform within a newly established and well-funded R&D environment. You will play a key role in shaping platform strategy, driving technical decisions, and enabling the delivery of innovative AI and data products across the business.

The Company

They are a global professional services organisation investing heavily in data, AI, and innovation. Their newly established R&D function brings together specialists across Data Engineering, AI Engineering, Data Science, and Product Engineering to build data-driven solutions that create tangible business impact.

Operating within a collaborative and flat team structure, they offer the opportunity to work closely with senior technical leaders while influencing the future direction of a growing data capability.

The Role

As a Data Platform Engineer, you will act as the technical owner of the data platform, ensuring it remains scalable, secure, and fit for future growth.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading technical decisions relating to the enterprise data platform.
• Designing and overseeing scalable platform architecture across Azure technologies.
• Supporting and enabling Data Engineers to deliver reliable and efficient data solutions.
• Working closely with Infrastructure, Architecture, Security, and Network teams.
• Managing platform performance, reliability, governance, and operational excellence.
• Identifying and resolving technical challenges including performance bottlenecks and platform constraints.
• Driving best practices across platform operations, deployment processes, monitoring, and supportability.
• Contributing to the delivery of AI and data-driven products within a growing R&D environment.
• Providing hands‑on expertise across cloud platforms, data services, and modern engineering practices.

Your Skills & Experience

• Strong commercial experience working with cloud-based data platforms.
• Deep expertise across Microsoft Azure services and modern data architectures.
• Experience making architectural decisions and communicating technical rationale to stakeholders.
• Hands‑on experience designing, managing, and scaling enterprise data platforms.
• Strong understanding of platform governance, monitoring, security, and operational best practice.
• Experience with Azure Data Factory (ADF).
• Knowledge of CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and cloud engineering principles.
• Experience with Databricks and/or Microsoft Fabric would be beneficial.
• Exposure to Data Science or AI environments would be advantageous.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands‑on technically.

What They Offer

• Salary of £73,000 to £84,000.
• Hybrid working with 2 days per week in the Newcastle office.
• Opportunity to join a newly established and highly visible R&D function.
• Significant ownership and influence over platform strategy and technical direction.
• Exposure to cutting‑edge AI, data science, and engineering initiatives.
• Collaborative, flat‑structured environment with strong opportunities for professional growth and progression.