Lead Data Engineer - Hybrid

Senior Data Engineer (Hands-On / Technical Lead Focus)

Hybrid working - Central London

Ashdown Group are partnering with an innovative, data-led organisation who are recruiting a Senior Data Engineer to take ownership of core data architecture and lead from the front technically.

This is a hands-on senior role for someone who enjoys building robust data systems while mentoring others and raising engineering standards.

You will design, build, and optimise scalable data pipelines and models across Snowflake, Databricks, and cloud environments (AWS/GCP). Working closely with Data Science, Product, and Analytics teams, you’ll ensure reliable, high-performance data flows that power AI and analytics products.

Alongside deep technical delivery, you’ll be responsible for leading the junior engineers and near shore partners as well as contribute to architectural direction and best practices.

• Design and maintain scalable data architectures across Snowflake and Databricks
• Lead schema design, dimensional modelling, and SQL performance optimisation
• Build robust ETL/ELT pipelines
• Develop resilient API ingestion workflows
• Implement data quality frameworks and enforce data contracts
• Build CI/CD pipelines and automated testing for data workflows
• Orchestrate pipelines using Airflow, Prefect, or Dagster
• Improve observability, monitoring, and lineage across data systems
• Mentor junior engineers and elevate engineering standards

Management of technical teams and near shore partners

• 5+ years’ hands-on Data Engineering experience
• Expert-level SQL and advanced data modelling
• Strong Python
• Experience with Snowflake and Databricks
• Cloud experience
• Experience with orchestration tools (Airflow, Prefect)
• CI/CD and Data Ops experience for data platforms

This role will suit someone who is looking to remain hands on , whilst leading and mentoring a small team and near shore technical services providers. There is a lot of transformation work and this will be a technically influential position with a chance to work on AI-driven, high-impact products. Additionally you will have the opportunity to mentor and help scale engineering capability

If you’re a technically strong Senior Data Engineer who enjoys leading through expertise and building scalable, production-grade data systems, we’d love to hear from you

This is a hybrid based role - 3 days in London office and 2 days working remotely.

Salary up to £90,000 and generous benefits