Lead Data Engineer

Datatech Analytics; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Datatech Analytics in London is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to build and lead our Data Engineering function. You will shape the team, set standards and create foundations for the next growth phase, owning pipelines and data products.

You’ll work closely with technical and product leaders to mentor engineers, improve delivery, and stay hands-on with the most complex challenges. This is a rare opportunity to scale data capabilities in a fast-growing AI business.

Qualifications

• Experience building a Data Engineering function or improving a team’s practices.
• Proven line-management experience and mentoring engineers.
• Strong hands-on SQL and Python skills.
• Experience in data modelling, cloud infrastructure, and deployment automation.
• Ability balance delivery with maintainability and quality.

Responsibilities

• Establish engineering standards, tooling, and ways of working.
• Line management, mentoring, and recruitment.
• Develop SQL-led transformation pipelines and Python orchestration.
• Oversee code review, automated testing, Git workflows, and CI/CD.
• Design data models, deployment controls, and production reliability.
• Integrate AI outputs into production data pipelines.
• Adopt AI engineering tools with validation and quality controls.

Skills

SQL

Python

Data modelling

Cloud infrastructure

Deployment automation

Line management

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Automated testing

Job description

Lead Data Engineer

By | October 13, 2026

Datatech Analytics

Published October 13, 2026

Location: London, United Kingdom

Category: Data & Technology, Data Leadership, Data Science & AI, Data Visualisation, Marketing & Insight, Statistics

Job Type: Permanent

Job Ref: J13197

Salary: Up to £90,000

Description

Lead Data Engineer | Build and Lead the Function

Salary: Up to £90,000

Location: London | Four days per week in the office

Ref: J13197

A scaling AI-powered SaaS business is looking for a Lead Data Engineer to build and lead its Data Engineering function, shaping the team, setting the standards and creating the foundations for its next stage of growth.

You’ll have real ownership and a direct influence on how the business builds and delivers its data products. From improving engineering practices to delivering critical pipelines, you’ll see the results of your work in live products and the value they create for customers.

Working closely with technical and product leaders, you’ll develop engineers, bring structure to delivery and stay hands-on with the most complex technical challenges. It’s an opportunity to build a function you can be proud of, with strong engineering principles at its core.

What you’ll own:

• Engineering standards, tooling and ways of working.
• Line management, mentoring and future recruitment.
• SQL-led transformation pipelines and Python orchestration.
• Code review, automated testing, Git workflows and CI/CD.
• Data modelling, deployment controls and production reliability.
• Integration of AI outputs into production data pipelines.
• Practical adoption of AI engineering tools, supported by validation and quality controls.

What you’ll bring:

• Experience building a Data Engineering function or significantly improving an existing team’s practices.
• Proven line-management experience and a track record of developing engineers.
• Strong hands-on SQL and Python skills.
• Solid experience in data modelling, cloud infrastructure and deployment automation.
• The judgement to balance delivery demands with maintainability and technical quality.

This would suit a Lead Data Engineer or hands-on Data Engineering Manager who has raised engineering standards, developed people and made delivery more reliable.

If you're ready to bring that experience to a scaling AI business,