Lead Data Engineer

Datatech Analytics; Greater London; 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 the data engineering function. You will shape the team, set standards and create foundations for growth.

Ownership of critical pipelines and data products will be yours, with direct influence on engineering practices and delivery outcomes. You will mentor engineers, drive recruitment, and ensure robust data architectures, tooling and deployment automation.

Qualifications

• Experience building a Data Engineering function or 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.
• Judgement to balance delivery demands with maintainability and quality.
• Experience integrating AI outputs into production data pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the Data Engineering function, setting standards and practices.
• Mentor engineers, lead recruitment and line management.
• Develop SQL-led transformation pipelines and Python orchestration.
• Establish CI/CD, code review, testing and Git workflows.
• Drive data modelling, deployment controls and production reliability.
• Integrate AI outputs into production data pipelines with validation.

Skills

Data engineering leadership

Line management

SQL skills

Python skills

Data modelling

Cloud infrastructure

CI/CD workflows

AI integration

Tools

Git workflows

Job 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.