Lead Data Engineer

Answer Digital; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible annual leave

Bonus based on company performance

Continuous training and development

Flexible Pension

Healthcare cash plan

Hybrid and flexible working

Job summary

Answer Digital is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to drive cloud-based data solutions across client engagements. You will lead and mentor teams, support clients in using data to decide, and contribute to our Data Engineering Academy.

The role spans public and private sectors, with healthcare experience a real advantage. You’ll work on scalable, secure data solutions, automate ETL processes, and develop CI/CD pipelines while building strong stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or guiding others and supporting clients to use data for better decision making.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL and other relevant backend languages.
• Experience mentoring junior data engineers, promoting knowledge sharing and growth.
• Enthusiasm for developing junior talent and helping grow the capability.
• Healthcare data experience is a real advantage.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement cloud-based data solutions with focus on scalability and security.
• Automate data processes and integrate ETL workflows.
• Turn data work into actionable client insights using BI techniques.
• Implement and oversee CI/CD pipelines for efficient deployment of data services.
• Cultivate stakeholder relationships to ensure successful, high-quality delivery.
• Provide visible leadership within the Data capability and contribute to non-client initiatives.

Skills

Python

SQL

Leading teams

Mentoring juniors

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Azure

AWS certifications

Healthcare data

Tools

Azure

AWS

Job description

We are looking to recruit a Lead Data Engineer to play a vital role in supporting the digital transformation journeys of our clients.

We're looking for someone with experience guiding others, and supporting clients to use data for better decision making. We have some exciting plans for our Data capability, and we're looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for growing the cap, including supporting our Data Engineering Academy. We work across a broad range of sectors and domains, spanning both public and private, though healthcare currently makes up a significant part of our client portfolio, so relevant experience in this area is a real advantage. As a consultancy, the stack you work with will vary from client to client, so we value strong foundations, along with the adaptability to work without deep specialism in any one tool. You should also bring an enthusiasm for leveraging new AI technologies, both to enhance your own workflow and improve the outcomes we deliver for clients.

What you’ll be doing

Day to day, you'll be designing and implementing cloud-based data solutions, with a focus on scalability and security. You'll apply advanced scripting skills to automate data processes and integrate ETL workflows, and use business intelligence tools and techniques to turn that work into actionable insights for clients. You'll also implement and oversee CI/CD pipelines to keep deployment of data services efficient and reliable. Alongside the client-facing work, you'll cultivate strong stakeholder relationships to help ensure successful, high-quality delivery. Within the Data capability itself, you'll take a visible leadership role, whether that's supporting colleagues, contributing to non-client initiatives, or representing the capability in wider planning discussions.

What you’ll bring to Answer

• Experience leading or guiding others, and supporting clients to use data for better decision making.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL and other relevant backend languages.
• Experience mentoring junior data engineers, promoting knowledge sharing and professional growth.
• Enthusiasm for developing junior talent and helping grow the capability.

It would be great if you also had experience in some of these, but if not we’ll help you with them:

• Understanding the role of a consultancy and sharing an interest in helping solve our clients' problems.
• Data engineering related Azure or AWS certifications.
• Advocating and applying best practices in software design patterns, principles, and architecture patterns.
• Staying abreast of the latest trends in data engineering.
• Healthcare data standards (SNOMED, FHIR, HL7), or a wider interest in healthcare data projects.
• Participating in the organisation and delivery of Data Engineering Academies.
• Business development activities such as contributing to bids and proposals.

The perks of being @ Answer

We’re an Employee-Owned Company. After 12 months – through the Employee Ownership Trust you will be part of the ownership of Answer; a major factor in driving engagement, retention and growth for our people

• Flexible annual leave (buy/sell and carry forward)
• Twice a year income-tax free bonus based on company performance - it’s a reward for being a part of our EOT journey
• Continuous training and development - if you want to learn, we’ll provide the support you need
• Flexible Pension - we match your own contributions up to 5%
• A flexible Healthcare cash plan so you can fund the care you value most
• A packed social calendar including; end of year party (partners invited) and Summer away days, monthly and quarterly company team socials.
• Parking at Head Offices in central Leeds, plus Cycle2Work & Green Car Lease schemes to help get you here
• The chance to give back – get involved nationally and regionally with partnerships to get people from different backgrounds into tech, as well as lots of charity and community events
• Hybrid and flexible working – you can vary your working when and where you work, to allow you to collaborate better, feed your creativity, and take the time and space to focus when you need to

Diversity and Inclusion

At Answer we proudly embrace diversity and inclusion - we want to create a safe environment for everyone to bring their true selves to work.

We will do everything we can to support your application. If you require any adjustments to be made to your application (whether that’s support with our interview questions, adjusting how we interview, or financial support with our hiring process) then please speak to Lesley Waghorn, Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant ([e-mail])

A bit more about us.

Answer Digital is a highly successful digital transformation consultancy headquartered in Leeds. We’re a company on a fast growth trajectory with a reputation of delivering large-scale, operational critical solutions.

People are at the heart of everything we do - so much so we’re owned by our people. It sets us apart from most digital businesses you’ll meet and defines our culture and values. Our people are invested in everything we do, because we are invested in them.

Don't believe us? Well check out our glassdoor and here what our people have to say

Our Interview Process

We pride ourselves on having a fair but flexible recruitment process, we want to create a platform where you can show us your best. For us, keeping it simple means you can focus on understanding if our people, values and the work we do are right for you. Our typical process can be broken down into 3 stages;

• Recruiter call: This normally lasts 15-30 minutes. We will talk to you about Answer Digital, the type of work we do, and an overview of the role. We’ll ask you some questions about your current situation and why you’re interested in working here. Here, we’d advise asking any “people” questions, anything about our culture, career progression or approach to flexible working.
• Skills based interview: This interview will be with 2 people, normally from the team you’re applying to work with. We can do this stage remote or in person, whichever you’d prefer. This interview will involve questions around your experience, the skills you’ve gained and the work you’ve done. We’ll also ask questions about the role and challenges you might face and how you’d face them. Here, we’d recommend asking questions about the role, the day to day responsibilities and what life in the team is like.
• Cultural/Value interview: This interview will be with 2 of our Leadership team, either our Directors or Capability Leads. It will focus on our culture and values, talking about our values and what they mean to us as well as understanding what values are important to you and how you like to work. This interview is about making sure Answer is right for you, as much as the other way around. Here, we advise you to ask as many questions around our business model, our ambitious growth plans and anything to do with Answer as a business.