Head of Data Engineering

Fairmont Recruitment Technology; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Head of Data Engineering – Azure / Microsoft Fabric is required for a UK-based role with a strong focus on leadership and technical depth. You will own the data engineering strategy, drive a Microsoft Fabric programme and manage a team of five to six engineers, balancing hands-on review with high-level governance.

The role emphasises credible technical leadership, collaboration with senior stakeholders, and the ability to shape an engineering roadmap in a growing organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a data engineering function at scale.
• Proven ability to translate business priorities into an engineering roadmap.
• Strong communication with board-level and investors.

Responsibilities

• Own data engineering strategy, programme delivery and architecture.
• Lead platform reliability, standards, governance and supplier management.
• Recruit, mentor and capacity plan for the data engineering team.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to align data initiatives with business priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Technical strategy

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure

Python

PySpark

SQL

Job description

Head of Data Engineering – Azure / Microsoft Fabric

£90,000–£100,000 | Mainly remote | Up to four days on-site per month

This is a Head of Data Engineering opportunity for a large, growing organisation that is making a significant investment in its data platform and engineering capability.

This person will lead a high-profile Microsoft Fabric programme, managing a team of approximately five to six permanent and contract data engineers. The programme has strong visibility across the organisation, so the role needs someone who can combine credible technical leadership with confident communication at board and investor level.

You will take ownership of the data engineering strategy, programme delivery, technical standards, architecture, platform reliability, suppliers, team recruitment and future capacity planning. You will also work closely with senior stakeholders to turn business priorities into a clear and achievable engineering roadmap.

This is a leadership role, but you’ll remain close enough to the technology to review designs, challenge architecture decisions and support the team with complex delivery issues.

The environment includes:

• Microsoft Fabric and the wider Azure data platform
• Python, PySpark and SQL
• Enterprise-scale datasets and complex source systems
• Lakehouse, warehousing and data pipeline development
• CI/CD, testing, monitoring and engineering standards
• Data governance, quality, security and platform reliability
• A mixture of internal engineers, contractors and external suppliers

Previous Microsoft Fabric experience would be useful but is not essential. You will need a strong Azure data engineering background and enough technical depth to lead experienced engineers, challenge decisions and set appropriate standards.

The ideal person will already be operating as a Head of Data Engineering. Strong Data Engineering Managers who are ready to step into a broader leadership role will also be considered.

This would suit someone looking for:

• Ownership of an important and highly visible data programme
• The opportunity to recruit and shape their own engineering team
• Exposure to senior leadership, board members and investors
• A growing organisation with a collaborative and supportive culture
• Mainly remote working, with up to four days on-site per month