Lead Data Engineer

Harrington Starr; Greater London; On-site; GBP 78,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Harrington Starr is seeking a Lead Data Engineer in London to own data architecture from the ground up for an AI-native platform. This high-growth, early-stage business offers significant ownership and equity, with a live product and real customer demand.

You will design scalable data pipelines (batch and real-time), work with vector databases and ML workflows, and collaborate with AI, Backend and Product teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and build the company’s core data architecture
• Build scalable batch and real-time data pipelines
• Create the infrastructure powering both the core platform and AI products
• Work with structured and unstructured data at scale
• Build data workflows supporting machine learning and AI applications
• Work with modern data stores, including vector databases
• Own data quality, reliability, monitoring and performance
• Define the tooling, standards and best practices for Data Engineering
• Work closely with AI, Backend and Product Engineering
• Help build and shape the future Data Engineering team

Job description

Lead Data Engineer | Up to £130,000 + Equity | London

I’m working with a high-growth, early-stage technology business that is looking for its first senior Data Engineering hire.

They’re building an AI-native platform designed to automate complex operational workflows across a huge traditional industry and data sits right at the heart of what they’re building.

The product is already live with early customers, feedback has been extremely strong, and they’re now entering the next stage of growth.

They’re looking for a Lead Data Engineer to come in and take ownership of the data architecture from the ground up.

This is a genuine 0→1 opportunity.

You won’t be inheriting a large data team or years of legacy technology. You’ll be making the decisions around how the data platform should be built, what technologies they use and the engineering standards that will underpin the business as it scales.

What you'll own

• Design and build the company’s core data architecture
• Build scalable batch and real-time data pipelines
• Create the infrastructure powering both the core platform and AI products
• Work with structured and unstructured data at scale
• Build data workflows supporting machine learning and AI applications
• Work with modern data stores, including vector databases
• Own data quality, reliability, monitoring and performance
• Define the tooling, standards and best practices for Data Engineering
• Work closely with AI, Backend and Product Engineering
• Help build and shape the future Data Engineering team

The opportunity

The attraction here is the level of ownership.

You’re joining early enough that some of the biggest architectural decisions are still to be made, but at a point where there is already a live product, customers and genuine demand.

As the first senior Data Engineering hire, you'll have the opportunity to put your fingerprints across the entire data platform and ultimately build a team around what you create.

They’re looking for someone who enjoys being hands-on, can operate with autonomy and wants more than simply owning one part of an established data platform.

Salary: Up to £130,000

Equity: Strong equity package

Location: London

If you’re a senior/lead Data Engineer who wants the opportunity to build something from the ground up, own the architecture and have real equity in what you’re creating, I’d be keen to speak.