Head of Data Engineering

Devonshire Hayes Recruitment Specialists Ltd.; City Of London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment firm is seeking a Head of Data Engineering to lead data and AI capabilities for their B2B regulatory technology platform. The role requires proven experience in engineering management, hands-on data engineering expertise, and strong programming skills. Ideal candidates will have a track record in delivering innovative data-driven products within regulated industries and will possess excellent communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in engineering management with a focus on building and scaling data teams.
• Hands-on expertise in data engineering practices and the full data lifecycle.
• Strong programming skills and experience with data pipeline frameworks.
• Track record of delivering innovative, data-driven products.
• Understanding of data governance, quality, and privacy standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision and execution of the data strategy.
• Collaborate with product management and subject-matter experts.
• Drive the execution of data initiatives across functional teams.

Skills

Engineering management

Data engineering practices

Cloud data platforms

Programming in Python, Java, or Scala

Data pipeline frameworks (Spark, Airflow, dbt)

Data governance

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Snowflake

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic and Head of Data Engineering – (Data & AI) to lead our data and artificial intelligence capabilities for our B2B regulatory technology SaaS platform. In this pivotal role, you will drive the vision and execution of our data strategy, ensuring robust data foundations to power innovative, data-driven products for the highly regulated industries we serve.

• Proven experience in engineering management, with a focus on building and scaling data teams in a SaaS or technology-driven environment.
• Hands‑on expertise in modern data engineering practices, cloud data platforms, and the full data lifecycle (ingestion, processing, modelling, analytics, and ML/AI deployment).
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, Java, or Scala, and experience with data pipeline frameworks (e.g., Spark, Airflow, dbt) and cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• A track record of delivering innovative, data‑driven products from concept to production, ideally in a regulated industry (finance, legal, compliance, etc.).
• Deep understanding of data governance, quality, security, and privacy standards.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate cross‑functionally and translate technical concepts for non‑technical stakeholders.
• Experience working with product management and subject‑matter experts to shape product strategy and deliver impactful solutions.
• A passion for developing talent, fostering a high‑performance culture, and leading by example.

Nice to have:

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit‑learn) and deploying models in production environments.

• Familiarity with regulatory technology and compliance requirements.
• Experience in a fast‑paced, scale‑up, or start‑up environment.
• Experience working with Snowflake cloud data platform.