Lead Data Engineer

Digital Waffle; Guildford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established professional services business is hiring a Lead Data Engineer to build and optimize its cloud data environment in Guildford. This hands-on role combines technical delivery with team management, ideal for a passionate individual looking to guide engineers while working with modern tools like PySpark, Databricks, and Azure. The position offers a salary of £80,000 - £90,000 and the chance to impact cutting-edge data projects directly.

Benefits

Salary £80,000 - £90,000

Onsite role – Guildford HQ, 5 days per week

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge data projects

Role combining delivery with people management

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Data Engineer or Senior Data Engineer with team leadership.
• Strong technical expertise with PySpark, Databricks, Azure, and Data Lake.
• Deep understanding of data architecture and ETL processes in cloud environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimise scalable data pipelines and architecture.
• Translate business needs into technical requirements and data-driven solutions.
• Manage and mentor engineers, helping them grow while contributing directly.

Skills

PySpark

Databricks

Azure

Data Lake

Data architecture

ETL processes

Problem-solving

Job description

Role

Data Engineer

Overview

A well-established professional services business is hiring a Lead Data Engineer to play a key role in building and optimising its modern cloud data environment. This is a technical, hands‑on role with team management responsibilities – ideal for someone who wants to stay close to the tech while guiding and developing a growing team.

Location

Guildford – 5 days per week onsite

Salary

£80,000 - £90,000

What you’ll be doing

• Design, build, and optimise scalable data pipelines and architecture
• Work hands‑on with SQL, PySpark, Databricks, Azure, and Data Lake to deliver high‑performance solutions
• Translate business needs into technical requirements and data‑driven solutions
• Ensure best practice in data governance, quality, and security
• Manage and mentor engineers, helping them grow while contributing directly to delivery
• Support the company’s AI roadmap by developing and scaling the data environment

What you’ll need

• Proven experience as a Data Engineer or Senior Data Engineer with some team leadership responsibilities
• Strong technical expertise with PySpark, Databricks, Azure, and Data Lake
• Deep understanding of data architecture and ETL processes in cloud environments
• The ability to balance coding and technical delivery with people management
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the energy to thrive in a fast‑paced environment

What’s on offer

• Salary £80,000 - £90,000
• Onsite role – Guildford HQ, 5 days per week
• The chance to work on cutting‑edge data projects within a modern data stack
• Play a central role in building the foundations that will fuel the company’s AI roadmap
• A brilliant opportunity for a highly energetic, ambitious technical professional who is passionate about data and ready to step up into a role combining delivery with people management