Junior Data Engineer

Fourth; Macclesfield; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holidays 25 days base

Hybrid working

Laptop & equipment

Healthcare expense claims

Pension & life insurance

On demand pay tools

Job summary

Fourth is seeking a Junior Data Engineer to join the Enterprise Data & Intelligence team. You’ll help build scalable ETL/ELT pipelines on Microsoft Fabric and Azure Data Factory under guidance from a Senior Data Engineer.

You’ll write T-SQL and Python, document workflows, and ensure data quality with basic validation. The role offers hybrid working and a path toward full data engineering responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Early-career professionals or up to 2 years of experience in data engineering or software engineering.
• Degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering or related field preferred, but equivalent experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines (batch) on Microsoft Fabric/Azure Data Factory under guidance.
• Write clean T-SQL and Python; document work and follow coding standards.
• Collaborate with Data Analysts; participate in reviews and team standards discussions.
• Grow toward independence by taking on larger pieces of pipeline work and learning Git/CI/CD basics.

Skills

SQL

Python

Relational DB

Azure

Git

Education

Degree in CS/related field

Tools

dbt

Azure Data Factory

Power BI

Job description

Our Story

In July 2019, Fourth joined forces with HotSchedules to become the global leader in end-to-end restaurant and hospitality management technology solutions. Together, the merged company now represents the world’s largest and only provider of end-to-end restaurant and hospitality management solutions for customers across the globe and of all sizes, from a single location or franchisee restaurant to a global restaurant or hotel chain. The combined company’s complete software-as-service (SaaS) solution suite including scheduling, time & attendance, applicant tracking, training, inventory management / procurement, HR / benefits and payroll services now serves customers in 120,000 locations worldwide and is supported by a dedicated, unified team across offices in the US, UK, Bulgaria, China, Australia, and UAE.

Interested in joining our smart, fun, and talented team?

Fourth is looking for a Junior Data Engineer to join our Enterprise Data & Intelligence team in Sofia.

What You’ll Be Working On

Guided Pipeline Development

• Build and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipeline components (batch) on Microsoft Fabric and Azure Data Factory, under the direction of the Senior Data Engineer.
• Write clean, well-documented T‑SQL and Python/PySpark for clearly scoped tasks, following team coding standards.
• Contribute to Bronze and Silver layers builds within the Medallion Architecture, with review before anything reaches production.

Data Quality & Documentation

• Write and run basic data validation and automated tests for the pipelines you build.
• Document your own work as you go: naming, lineage notes, and README-level context, so nothing you build becomes a knowledge silo.
• Flag data quality issues you encounter rather than silently working around them.

Learning & Collaboration

• Work alongside Data Analysts to understand how pipeline output is consumed downstream.
• Ask for and act on code review feedback; treat review comments as the primary mechanism for skill growth in this role.
• Participate in team standards discussions so you learn the reason behind conventions, not just the conventions.

Growth Toward Independence

• Progressively take on larger, less-scoped pieces of pipeline work as competence is demonstrated.
• Build working proficiency with Git-based version control and CI/CD basics for data assets.
• Use AI-assisted development tools (e.g. Copilot, Claude) to accelerate learning and delivery, under guidance on when to trust and when to verify their output.

What We’re Looking For:

This role is suitable for early-career professionals, or candidates with up to 2 years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, internships, academic projects, or relevant personal projects. A degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent demonstrable experience will also be considered.

Technical Skills

• Working knowledge of SQL (T‑SQL preferred) and Python
• Basic understanding of relational databases and data modelling concepts.
• Exposure to cloud platforms (Azure preferred) through coursework, personal projects, or prior internships.
• Familiarity with Git or another version control system.

Soft Skills

• Comfortable asking questions and surfacing uncertainty rather than guessing silently.
• Good documentation instincts and a willingness to write things down.
• Proactive and timely communication on progress and blockers.
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, or Synapse.
• Familiarity with dbt or another transformation framework.
• Exposure to tools like Apache NiFi, Fivetran, Boomi, etc.
• Basic exposure to Power BI or another BI tool.
• Personal projects, coursework, or internship experience involving data pipelines or ETL.
• Experience using AI productivity tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Cursor) in day-to-day technical tasks.

What You’ll Gain:

• Mentorship: Structured, hands‑on development under a Senior Data Engineer, with a defined path to full Data Engineer level.
• Foundation: Real production experience on Fourth's Azure/Microsoft Fabric data platform from day one.
• Visibility: Work on a newly formed, high‑visibility team building the data foundation for AI initiatives across the business.
• Growth: A clear, milestone‑based progression route rather than an open‑ended junior title.

Benefits

• Holidays. We all need to rest so you get 25 basic holidays with the option to grow up to 30 with service + your birthday off + bank holidays!
• Flexible working! Use our flexible working hours and hybrid working environments to manage it.
• Wellness activities and a lot of pampering included. On top of that, you can add gym subscription discounts.
• Laptop and equipment.
• Healthcare expense claim tools!
• Like in life, at work we also want you to grow with certifications.
• Annual meet ups!
• Enhanced parenting scheme!
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan provided.
• Pension and life insurance? Several, for you to choose what looks convenient.
• On demand pay tools for you to be able to access salary even before the end of the month!

All personal data provided by you in your application will be processed by Fourth LTD solely for our recruitment purposes.More information on Fourth LTD's privacy policy for job candidates is available here and by applying you confirm that you have read it.

Fourth is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without discrimination because of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, age, national origin, military status, religion, or disability or any other legally protected status.