Senior data Engineer 2 (contract)

Microsoft; Atherstone; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

12-month contract

Job summary

Allegis Global Solutions is seeking a senior data engineering contractor to modernise an existing Azure data platform for Microsoft. You will lead Unity Catalog migration, redesign data orchestration, and reduce cloud spend while guiding architecture, reviews, and delivery.

The role demands 8–15+ years in data engineering, strong Azure Databricks experience, and a track record of production-grade data platforms. Hybrid, 12-month contract with on-site three days a week in Atherstone.

Qualifications

• Azure Databricks (expert level)
• Azure Data Factory (ADF)
• SQL
• Python
• Apache Spark
• Cloud platform optimisation and cost reduction
• Data platform migrations or modernization programmes
• Git and modern code review practices
• CI/CD implementation
• Monitoring, observability, and incident management

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of a data platform modernization programme.
• Own the design and execution of Unity Catalog migration across key data domains.
• Define and implement modern orchestration patterns, replacing legacy workflows.
• Improve performance and reduce costs across Databricks clusters, Spark jobs, storage, and scheduling.
• Establish engineering standards for CI/CD, testing, monitoring/observability, data quality and production readiness.
• Review architecture decisions and critical pull requests.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Work closely with platform, product, analytics, and business stakeholders.
• Deliver migrations with minimal business disruption.

Skills

Azure Databricks

Azure Data Factory

SQL

Python

Apache Spark

Cloud cost optimisation

Data platform migrations

Git & code reviews

CI/CD

Monitoring & observability

Data quality

Production readiness

Tools

Unity Catalog migration

Power BI

Tableau

Lakehouse architecture

Job description

Please note that this is a contract role providing services to Microsoft through external staffing partners of Allegis Global Solutions (AGS). If you are selected for this role, you will be employed by AGS and will not be an employee of Microsoft.

Role Summary

This is a hands-on senior data engineering contractor role focused on modernising an existing Azure data platform. The person will lead a Unity Catalog migration, redesign data orchestration processes, improve platform reliability, and reduce cloud spend. They will provide technical leadership while remaining heavily involved in architecture, code reviews, and delivery. This is best suited to someone who has already led Azure Databricks transformation projects in production environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of a data platform modernization programme.
• Own the design and execution of Unity Catalog migration across key data domains.
• Define and implement modern orchestration patterns, replacing legacy workflows.
• Improve performance and reduce costs across Databricks clusters, Spark jobs, storage, and scheduling.
• Establish engineering standards for:
  • CI/CD
  • Testing
  • Monitoring and observability
  • Data quality
  • Production readiness
• Review architecture decisions and critical pull requests.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Work closely with platform, product, analytics, and business stakeholders.
• Deliver migrations with minimal business disruption.

Must-Have Skills (Non-Negotiable)

Technical

• Azure Databricks (expert level)
• Azure Data Factory (ADF)
• SQL
• Python
• Apache Spark
• Cloud platform optimisation and cost reduction
• Data platform migrations or modernization programmes
• Git and modern code review practices
• CI/CD implementation
• Monitoring, observability, and incident management

Experience

• Led delivery of production-grade Azure data platforms.
• Successfully delivered large migration or transformation projects.
• Experience making measurable improvements in performance, reliability, and cloud costs.
• Comfortable operating as a technical lead rather than only an individual contributor.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Unity Catalog migration experience
• Gaming industry experience
• Game telemetry / event-streaming data experience
• Power BI
• Tableau
• Lakehouse architecture expertise
• Data reliability engineering (DRE) background

Experience Level Guidance

Ideal Level

• 8-15+ years in Data Engineering / Data Platform Engineering
• 3-5+ years working heavily with Azure Databricks
• Previous Technical Lead, Lead Data Engineer, Principal Data Engineer, or Data Platform Architect experience

Additional Details

• Location: Atherstone, England
• Duration: 12 months
• Shift Timings: Hybrid (Hours minimum 10-4pm; 3 days / week onsite)
• Pay Range: £255/day to £287/day (PAYE)
• Weekly Schedule: 40 hours

As a workplace, Allegis Global Solutions focuses on relationships – with each other, our clients and our candidates. In fact, serving others is one of our core values. We support open communication and recognize that giving constructive criticism can be even harder than receiving it. We appreciate the fearless and the passionate, who force us to be better. Everything we do sits on a pillar of diversity, equity and inclusion - diverse perspectives, backgrounds and ideas achieve innovation and make us successful.

Please note that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. These tools may analyze application materials and assist our team in identifying candidates whose qualifications best match the requirements of the role. If you have questions about our use of AI in the hiring process, or would like more information, please contact us.

Pay Rate Range

255 - 287 GBP daily