Lead Data Engineer

AMWINS UK; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance firm in London is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to build a dedicated Data Engineering team. This hands-on role requires leadership and technical skills in SQL, Python, and Azure technologies. The ideal candidate will have a passion for building data platforms from scratch and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment. Hybrid working is offered, expecting 2-3 days in the office.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Investment in growth and development

Qualifications

• Must have hands-on coding experience, not just management.
• Experience in leading and mentoring engineers.
• Ability to thrive in a low-maturity, high-potential environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 4-5 Data Engineers in a greenfield environment.
• Own the data platform, defining technical frameworks from scratch.
• Build a data platform with autonomy while addressing challenges.

Skills

Hands-on coding appetite

Team leadership experience

Advanced SQL skills

Python expertise

Proficiency in PySpark

Familiarity with Databricks

Experience with Azure stack

Job description

Lead Data Engineer

Amwins Global Risks | London | Permanent

The Opportunity

Amwins Global Risks is building their first dedicated Data Engineering team as part of an ambitious new Data Strategy. This is a rare chance to join a top 10 Lloyd's contributor at the ground floor of their data transformation journey.

This role is perfect for a hands-on technical leader who thrives in entrepreneurial environments - someone who wants to own and build a data platform from the ground up rather than inherit established systems.

The Role in Context

• New team creation: Leading 4-5 Data Engineers in a greenfield environment
• Low data maturity starting point: All the challenges and opportunities that come with building from scratch
• High autonomy: You'll own the data platform and have the freedom to establish technical frameworks
• Reporting to: Ben Sutton, Head of Reporting & Analytics (DataIQ Future Leaders 2025 recipient)
• Technology stack: Azure (Data Factory, Data Lake, DevOps) + Databricks

Key Selling Points

✅ Own the entire data platform - not just maintaining someone else's work

✅ Define technical standards from the ground up

✅ Small but mighty team - high impact, collaborative environment

✅ Hands-on leadership - split between coding and team management

✅ Established, stable company with global reach (800+ employees, 150+ countries)

✅ Investment in growth - flat structure that values expertise and relationships

Ideal Candidate Profile

Must-haves:

• Hands-on coding appetite - this isn't a pure management role
• Team leadership experience - comfortable managing and mentoring engineers
• Advanced skills: SQL, Python, PySpark, Databricks, Azure stack
• Enjoys building from scratch - thrives in low-maturity, high-potential environments

Deal-breakers:

• ❌ Candidates who've "moved away" from hands-on engineering
• ❌ Those uncomfortable with people management responsibilities
• ❌ Anyone seeking established, mature data environments

Target Markets & Approach

Sectors to explore:

• Financial Services (beyond insurance)
• Don't limit to Lloyd's/London Market - we're open to strong engineers from any industry
• Technology companies with strong data engineering practices
• Scale-ups where candidates have built teams/platforms from scratch

Ideal background:

• Principal/Lead Data Engineers looking for more ownership
• Senior Data Engineers ready to step into leadership
• Technical leaders who've built data platforms in challenging environments

Logistics

• Hybrid working: 2-3 days in London office (potentially more initially)
• Start date: Flexible - new role allows for proper onboarding

Key Interview Themes

1. Hands-on technical skills - expect coding discussions/challenges
2. Leadership philosophy - how they'd build and mentor a new team
3. Problem-solving in low-maturity environments - comfort with ambiguity
4. Ownership mindset - examples of building systems from scratch