Head of Data Engineering

Intec Select; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider is seeking a Head of Data Engineering to lead a high-performing team in Chatham. This role involves shaping data transformation initiatives from the ground up and requires expertise in Azure-based data platforms and event-driven architectures like Kafka. The ideal candidate has proven leadership experience and extensive background in regulated industries. The position offers a competitive salary between £120,000 and £140,000, along with bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

40% bonus

40% LTIP

£7.5k car allowance

Comprehensive benefits package

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience managing a Data Engineering function of ~40 engineers.
• Hands-on experience implementing event-driven architecture using Kafka.
• Extensive background in regulated industries, preferably finance or banking.
• Experience in large-scale data engineering projects and cloud migration initiatives.
• Expertise in data migration from SQL Server to Azure Cloud Services.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing Data Engineering team.
• Oversee the design, build, and optimisation of data pipelines.
• Embed strong governance, documentation, and lifecycle management standards.
• Partner with IT and business stakeholders for secure, scalable cloud configurations.
• Champion innovation by exploring new tools and technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Data Engineering

Azure Data Platforms

ETL/ELT

Kafka

Tools

Databricks

Synapse

SQL Server

Job description

Head of Data Engineering

Our long-standing financial services client is seeking a Head of Data Engineering to lead a high-performing team responsible for delivering a complex data transformation.

Looking for a true greenfield challenge? This is your chance to shape a transformation from the ground up, build cutting-edge data solutions, and lead a high-performing team that’s driving change across the business.

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring hands‑on experience owning and delivering Azure‑based data platforms (Databricks, Synapse), alongside strong technical capability in designing and implementing data ingestion pipelines (ETL / ELT) and introducing event‑driven architectures (Kafka) to support scalable, real‑time solutions.

Our client offers a competitive salary of £120,000–£140,000, plus 40% bonus, 40% LTIP, £7.5k car allowance, and a comprehensive benefits package. The role is hybrid, based in Wolverhampton or Chatham.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing Data Engineering team, setting the vision, priorities, and best practices.
• Oversee the design, build, and optimisation of data ingestion, processing, and storage pipelines.
• Embed strong governance, documentation, and lifecycle management standards across the function.
• Partner with IT, architecture, and business stakeholders to ensure secure, scalable cloud configurations.
• Champion innovation, exploring new tools, technologies, and approaches to enhance capability and efficiency.

Core Requirements

• Proven leadership experience managing a Data Engineering function of ~40 engineers (SQL and Azure).
• Recent, hands‑on experience implementing event‑driven architecture using Kafka (essential).
• Extensive background in regulated industries (finance or banking preferred).
• Strong experience in large‑scale data engineering projects, designing and developing ETL pipelines and leading cloud migration initiatives.
• Expertise in data migration from SQL Server to Azure Cloud Services.