Senior Data Engineer

Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

Hybrid working

Career development opportunities

Staff discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working

Job summary

Maritime and Coastguard Agency is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to lead multi-functional teams delivering robust data services. You will design and build data flow solutions, architect streaming systems and provide technical leadership across projects.

The role involves mentoring junior members, managing Data Engineers and apprentices, and collaborating with government departments and private sector partners to advance MCA’s data platform.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering high-value data engineering initiatives using an agile approach.
• Hands-on technical experience delivering data projects addressing complex business problems.
• Proven experience in data engineering/software architecture and development using Python in cloud environments.
• Strong knowledge of technical design, implementation and security.
• Broad knowledge of data management processes and technologies, traditional and big data.

Responsibilities

• Design, architect and build data flow solutions.
• Build data streaming systems and integrate systems.
• Be a technical expert in current data engineering technologies and share knowledge.
• Explore new technologies and advise on benefits to MCA’s data platform.
• Provide technical leadership across data projects and programmes.
• Identify user needs and build relationships across organisations.

Skills

Agile methodologies

Python (cloud)

Data engineering

Data security

Big data technologies

Tools

Python

Job description

Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 18th August 2026

Location: Cardiff, Southampton (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

The base pay is £44,241 with an additional DDaT allowance up to £13,159

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

The Senior Data Engineer leads multi-functional delivery teams to deliver robust data services for their department, other government departments and private sector partners. They create, inspire, innovate, and lead by example in best practice for data products and services within their teams. They build the data engineering capability by providing technical leadership, data pipelines, standards, and data flows to meet priorities for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). They work with other senior team members to identify, plan, develop and deliver data services. They support junior members of the team in their development, and manage Data Engineers, Data Engineering apprentices, and PhD student placements.

Top Responsibilities

• Responsible for designing, architecting and building data flow solutions.
• Responsible for the build of data streaming systems applying knowledge of systems integration.
• Be a technical expert in current data engineering technologies and share knowledge with other data engineers.
• Demonstrate curiosity about new and emerging technologies and make recommendations about how these could benefit the MCA’s data platform.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership across data projects and programmes.
• Identify and address user needs and build relationships across organisations.

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

You will need the following experience:

• Experience in delivering successful and high-value data engineering initiatives using an agile approach.
• Demonstrable hands-on technical experience in delivering data engineering projects working through complex business problems and partnering with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience in data engineering and/or software architecture and development using Python, in a cloud environment.
• Strong knowledge of technical design, implementation and security.
• Strong experience of a broad range of data management processes and technologies, both traditional and big data.

Additional Information

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability-Base Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £44,241. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £13,159.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Tuesday 18th August 2026