Lead Data Engineer

Impactive IT; West Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Impactive IT is hiring a Lead Data Engineer to own and evolve the enterprise data platform. The role combines hands‑on leadership with active technical delivery, guiding 3–4 Data Engineers and influencing architecture, data modelling and governance across the data stack.

You will drive modern data architectures, pipelines and analytical datasets, working closely with BI, Analytics and senior stakeholders to shape the strategy and roadmap for advanced analytics, AI and digital use cases.

Qualifications

• Strong SQL and Python/PySpark skills required.
• Experience with modern cloud data platforms (Microsoft Fabric or similar).
• Solid data engineering and architecture background with data modelling experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 3-4 Data Engineers
• Own the design and evolution of the enterprise data platform
• Make technical decisions around architecture, tooling and engineering approaches
• Oversee data pipelines, transformations and analytical datasets
• Drive modern architecture including Lakehouse, Medallion and Data Product approaches
• Establish strong engineering practices across CI/CD, testing, version control and automation
• Champion data quality, governance, monitoring and platform reliability
• Work closely with BI, Analytics, Architecture and senior business stakeholders
• Help shape the longer‑term data platform roadmap and technology strategy

Skills

SQL

Python/PySpark

Data engineering

Data architecture

Data modelling

Lakehouse/Modern data platform

CI/CD/automation

Leadership/mentoring

Stakeholder collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Snowflake

Databricks

GitHub Actions

Job description

Location: Hybrid, nearby to one of their offices in Leeds/Manchester/London

Impactive are excited to be supporting a global consultancy who are looking to hire a Lead Data Engineer to take ownership of their data engineering capability and help shape the future of their enterprise data platform.

This is a genuinely hands‑on leadership opportunity, managing a team of 3-4 Data Engineers while remaining technically involved and making key decisions around architecture, engineering standards and technology.

You’ll be responsible for the evolution of a modern data platform, working across Microsoft Fabric, data pipelines, data modelling, integration, governance and engineering best practice, whilst helping build the foundations for increasingly advanced analytics, AI and digital use cases.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead and mentor a team of 3-4 Data Engineers
• Own the design and evolution of the enterprise data platform
• Make technical decisions around architecture, tooling and engineering approaches
• Oversee data pipelines, transformations and analytical datasets
• Drive modern architecture including Lakehouse, Medallion and Data Product approaches
• Establish strong engineering practices across CI/CD, testing, version control and automation
• Champion data quality, governance, monitoring and platform reliability
• Work closely with BI, Analytics, Architecture and senior business stakeholders
• Help shape the longer‑term data platform roadmap and technology strategy

What they're looking for:

• Strong SQL and Python/PySpark
• Experience with Microsoft Fabric or a similar modern cloud data platform
• Strong data engineering and data architecture experience
• Experience with data modelling, ideally Medallion, Star or Snowflake
• Understanding of CI/CD, testing, version control and automation
• Previous experience leading, mentoring or technically guiding engineers
• Someone comfortable balancing hands‑on technical delivery with strategic ownership

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to lead from the front technically, rather than move into a purely managerial role, with genuine ownership over the direction of the data platform.