Technology Specialist - Digital Twin

Digital Catapult; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Pension match 10%

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Life insurance 4x salary

Hybrid work model

Gym discounts

EAP & wellbeing

Job summary

Digital Catapult is seeking a data engineer to extend and maintain the data backbone for UK Digital Twin Centre projects. You will transform sensor and device data into scalable data platforms, shaping data architectures and pipelines from concept to delivery.

The role focuses on ETL, data modelling, and cloud data services, with autonomy to drive architectural decisions and collaborate with partners across projects.

Qualifications

• Strong software/data engineering background with core Python and SQL
• Experience designing and building data pipelines/ETL processes
• Familiarity with cloud data services and platforms (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake)
• Knowledge of data modelling and relational/non-relational databases
• Experience with telemetry/IoT or streaming data
• Ability to work autonomously and collaborate with partners and teams

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain ETL pipelines from sensors and devices into digital twin platforms
• Design data architectures, data lakes, relational/non-relational databases
• Clean, transform, and structure data, guiding storage and database technologies
• Develop telemetry and data integration pipelines for scalable solutions
• Evaluate emerging data technologies to improve performance and maintainability
• Collaborate with industry partners and multidisciplinary teams to translate requirements into technical solutions

Skills

Python

SQL

ETL pipelines

Cloud services

Data modelling

IoT / streaming

Autonomy & collaboration

Tools

Azure

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

Your role will be to extend and maintain the data backbone of the UK Digital Twin Centre's projects and programmes. You'll transform complex, real-world data from sensors, devices and industrial systems into reliable, scalable data platforms that enable impactful digital twin solutions. Working across a range of digital twin initiatives, you'll help shape data architectures, pipelines and services from initial concept through to delivery.

WHAT YOU’LL DO (Duties)

• Design, build, and maintain ETL pipelines that bring data from sensors, devices and other sources into digital twin platforms.
• Design and manage data architectures, including the selection and optimisation of data lakes and relational and non-relational databases, while contributing to data modelling, governance and wider architecture decisions across UKDTC projects
• Clean, transform, and structure data, making sound decisions on data architecture, storage, and database technologies.
• Develop and optimise telemetry and data integration pipelines to support reliable, scalable digital twin solutions.
• Evaluate emerging data technologies and recommend approaches that improve performance, scalability and maintainability.
• Collaborate with industry partners and multidisciplinary teams to understand challenges and translate requirements into practical technical solutions.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR (Experience)

• Technical Background: A strong software engineering, data engineering, or related technical background, with core proficiency in Python and SQL. (Familiarity with other languages like Java or JavaScript is a bonus, but not essential).
• Pipeline Expertise: Experience designing and building data pipelines, ETL processes, and data integration solutions.
• Cloud Platforms: Experience with cloud data services and platforms, such as Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent technologies.
• Data Modelling: Knowledge of data modelling and hands‑on experience working with both relational and non‑relational databases.
• IoT/Streaming: Experience working with telemetry, IoT, or streaming data.
• Collaboration & Autonomy: Comfortable working autonomously, shaping technical solutions, and collaborating effectively with partners, clients, and multidisciplinary teams.

Salary: c. £35,000 - 45,000 pa (subject to experience) + discretionary bonus + competitive benefits package

Deadline for applications: Friday September 11 2026, 3 pm (we do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so you are encouraged to submit your application at the earliest opportunity)

Pre-Employment Background Checking Process

Due to the nature of our work across government and publicsector contracts, includingworking with sensitiveinformation, allapplicants will needtosuccessfully complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearanceprocess priorto startingemployment.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We recognise and value the advantages and opportunities that come with having people from diverse backgrounds working with us and it is our ambition to build an organisation which is representative and reflective of UK society.

We welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates, candidates from minority and underrepresented groups and from candidates with more or less experience, provided the requisite skills can be demonstrated.

As members of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Please do speak with us about adjustments that could support you through our interview process.

Digital Catapult is an equal opportunities employer.

• We are in the UK’s Top 100 Best Workplaces and placed in the UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech and Large Organisations.
• Digital Catapult is aDisability Confident Committed Level 1 Employer.
• Excellent holiday package: 25 days annual leave, Bank Holidays and 3 days between Christmas and New Year:
• Double-matched pension up to 10% of your salary;
• Discretionary company bonus
• 4% of your salary to use towards selecting benefits that work for you, including health cash plan, Private Medical Insurance; buying holiday, topping up your pension;
• E-Vehicle Scheme; Cycle2Work; Tech Scheme; Gym Discounts; Give As you Earn; PerkPal;
• Life insurance 4x salary;
• Free to access EAP & Financial Wellbeing advice;
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave;
• Hybrid working - with great offices to work from 2 days per week with some roles needing to be onsite more regularly to ensure the successful delivery of our work;
• Investment in your ongoing learning and development with us;
• Company social events throughout the year and free office snacks!

We have a vibrant and engaging culture where all voices are heardand a variety of employee led affinity groups who champion initiatives and provide opportunities for feedback to be shared.

We use moments in the year to educate everyone at Digital Catapult on different aspects of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to raise awareness.

We also enjoy socialising and having fun together through a variety of company-wide events held throughout the year including our football team, running and climbing groupsand volunteering activities.