Lead Data/Head of Data Engineer

Reading
1 month ago
Create job alert

Lead Data Engineer/Head of Data

Permanent

On behalf of a fantstic cleint we are resourcing for the following role

This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role reporting directly to the CTO. You'll shape and deliver a modern data and AI platform, lead a small team of data and analytics engineers, and embed machine learning, AI agents, and advanced analytics into real customer workflows.

The Role

You'll own the end-to-end data and AI capability - from platform architecture through to production ML systems - ensuring data and AI are applied thoughtfully, responsibly, and with clear business impact.

What You'll Do

Design and evolve a secure, scalable data & AI platform with Snowflake at its core

Build production-grade data pipelines, models, and data products for analytics and AI use cases

Design, train, and deploy ML models, embeddings, and vector stores to enable AI-driven experiences

Lead and mentor a small, high-impact team of data and analytics engineers

Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Infrastructure teams

Set standards for data quality, governance, security, and performance

Act as a trusted technical advisor to the CTO and senior leadership

What We're Looking For

Essential

Expert-level Snowflake experience (modelling, optimisation, advanced features)

Strong Python skills across data engineering, ML, and AI development

Proven experience delivering production ML systems

Hands-on experience with embeddings, vector databases, and LLM-driven systems

Deep understanding of modern data engineering practices (ELT, orchestration, versioning)

Nice to Have

Background in data science or applied ML

Experience building AI agents or intelligent automation

Familiarity with cloud-native architectures and MLOps

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senor / Lead Data Engineer

Head of DevOps and DataOps

Data Engineer

Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

New Data Engineering Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Companies Driving the Data Revolution

Data engineering is at the heart of the digital economy, transforming raw data into actionable insights, powering analytics, AI systems, and cloud infrastructure. As the UK and global markets continue to invest heavily in data platforms, pipelines, and real-time analytics, demand for skilled data engineers is growing rapidly. For professionals exploring opportunities on www.DataEngineeringJobs.co.uk , the critical question is: which companies are expanding, hiring, and shaping the future of data-driven business? This article highlights new data engineering employers to watch in 2026, including UK startups, scale-ups, and international firms expanding in the UK.

How Many Data Engineering Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Data Engineering Job?

If you’re aiming for a career in data engineering, it can feel like you’re staring at a never-ending list of tools and technologies — SQL, Python, Spark, Kafka, Airflow, dbt, Snowflake, Redshift, Terraform, Kubernetes, and the list goes on. Scroll job boards and LinkedIn, and it’s easy to conclude that unless you have experience with every modern tool in the data stack, you won’t even get a callback. Here’s the honest truth most data engineering hiring managers will quietly agree with: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can solve real data problems with the tools you know. Tools matter. But only in service of outcomes. Jobs are won by candidates who know why a technology is used, when to use it, and how to explain their decisions. So how many data engineering tools do you actually need to know to get a job? For most job seekers, the answer is far fewer than you think — but you do need them in the right combination and order. This article breaks down what employers really expect, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look capable and employable rather than overwhelmed.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Data Engineering Job Applications (UK Guide)

If you’re applying for data engineering jobs in the UK, the first thing to understand is this: Hiring managers don’t read every word of your CV. They scan it. They look for signals of relevance, credibility, delivery and collaboration — and if they don’t see the right signals quickly, your application may never get a second look. In data engineering, hiring managers are especially focused on whether you can build and operate reliable, scalable data systems, handle real-world data challenges and work effectively with analytics, BI, data science and engineering teams. This guide breaks down exactly what they look at first in your application — and how to shape your CV, portfolio and cover letter so you stand out.