Lead Data Products Engineer

Nationwide Building Society; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Nationwide Building Society is seeking an experienced data engineering leader to shape enterprise-wide engineering strategy and lead delivery of complex, business-critical data solutions. You will work across teams and technologies including Databricks, dbt, Azure, Python and SQL, driving modernisation, security, resilience and alignment with business objectives.

The role combines technical leadership with coaching and mentoring to raise engineering capability, establish high standards, and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in data engineering and cloud platforms (Databricks, dbt, Azure).
• Proven delivery of large-scale, enterprise-grade data solutions.
• Experience with Python, SQL, GitHub DevOps, and CI/CD.
• Deep knowledge of data architecture, governance, security, and resilience.
• Experience leading technical teams and shaping architectural direction.
• Ability to influence engineering strategy, standards, and practices.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience in regulated environments with complex risk and compliance.
• Passion for coaching and developing engineering talent.
• Forward-thinking with interest in data, analytics, cloud, and AI.

Responsibilities

• Shape enterprise-wide engineering strategy and lead delivery of data solutions.
• Provide technical leadership across products, platforms, and programmes.
• Influence architectural decisions and establish high engineering standards.
• Develop engineering capability through coaching and mentorship.
• Champion reusable engineering practices and AI innovations.

Skills

Databricks

dbt

Azure

Python

SQL

Leadership

Data governance

Tools

GitHub

CI/CD

Job description

We are looking for an experienced data engineering leader to shape enterprise-wide engineering strategy and lead the delivery of complex, business-critical data solutions. Working across multiple teams and technologies, including Databricks, dbt, Azure, Python, and SQL, you will drive the modernisation, simplification, and automation of our data landscape while ensuring solutions are secure, resilient, scalable, and aligned to business objectives.

You will provide technical leadership across products, platforms, and programmes, influencing key architectural decisions and establishing high engineering standards for quality, security, observability, and delivery. Working closely with senior stakeholders across technology, product, architecture, security, risk, and data governance, you will translate business strategy into clear engineering priorities and outcomes.

You will also play a key role in developing engineering capability through coaching, mentoring, and leadership, while championing reusable engineering practices and identifying opportunities to create value through emerging technologies, AI, and advanced analytics.

Success in this role means delivering lasting impact across the organisation by simplifying complex technology challenges, driving engineering excellence, and enabling teams to deliver secure, resilient, and scalable data solutions. Through your leadership, technology, data, and AI investments will translate into meaningful outcomes for customers, colleagues, and the Society.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job, you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part‑time, you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at our Northampton, Swindon or London office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What will you bring

You will bring significant experience in data engineering and modern cloud data platforms, including technologies such as Databricks, dbt, and Azure, together with a proven track record of designing and delivering large‑scale, production‑grade data solutions. You will possess strong technical expertise in Python, SQL, software engineering, DevOps, and CI/CD practices, alongside a deep understanding of data architecture, modelling, governance, security, resilience, and risk controls. Experience operating within regulated environments and navigating complex security, governance, and compliance requirements will be essential.

About you

Essential measurable experience:

• Extensive experience in data engineering and cloud platforms, including Databricks, dbt, and Azure
• Proven delivery of large‑scale, enterprise‑grade data solutions
• Experience of technologies such as in Python, SQL, GitHub DevOps, and CI/CD
• Deep knowledge of data architecture, governance, security, and resilience
• Experience leading technical teams and shaping architectural direction
• Ability to influence engineering strategy, standards, and best practices
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Proven ability to align technology solutions with business objectives
• Experience working in regulated environments with complex risk and compliance requirements
• Passion for coaching and developing engineering talent
• Strong judgement and decision‑making skills in complex environments
• Forward‑thinking with a keen interest in data, analytics, cloud, and AI innovation

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel – We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight – We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we're honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better – We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done – We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance‑related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we're owned by our members – those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don't see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you're inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you're one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for