Data Engineer

We are excited to offer an opportunity for an experienced Data Engineer. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in designing, building, and maintaining scalable data pipelines and platforms, with Databricks knowledge and experience as a must-have. You will work closely with our MI Data Team, so exceptional communication and collaboration skills are essential. A person with analytical thinking who enjoys solving puzzles and talking about them with like minded individuals will enjoy this role.

This position involves end-to-end data solution development, from ingesting and transforming large datasets to optimising data workflows and ensuring data quality. You will play a pivotal role in shaping our data architecture, enabling advanced analytics and machine learning initiatives, and mentoring the existing data team. In this role, you’ll influence key architectural decisions and contribute to data-driven products that deliver significant business impact, while advancing your technical and team skills.

• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and ETL processes using Databricks.
• Develop and optimize data models for analytics and reporting.
• Ensure high standards of data architecture, governance, and quality.
• Collaborate closely with the internal MI Data Team to align on requirements and deliver solutions.
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to best practices for data engineering.
• Work with cross-functional teams (data initiatives, analysts, software engineers) to deliver robust data solutions.

• Databricks for data engineering, analytics.
• Python for data processing and orchestration.
• Cloud-native architecture in AWS using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, Docker).
• Data storage solutions: relational (SQL) databases, data lakes.
• Workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, DataBricks Workflows).
• Agile methodologies tailored to squad requirements.
• Transitioning towards development using Test-Driven Development and CI/CD for data workflows.

• Proven experience with Databricks (including Spark and Delta Lake).
• Strong understanding of data architecture, ETL/ELT design, and data modeling.
• Demonstrable experience in designing and delivering complex data solutions from scratch.
• Robust programming skills in Python.
• Solid knowledge of SQL databases, RESTful APIs, and data integration techniques.
• Experience with AWS tools (S3, Lambda, Kinesis, Batch, DynamoDB, Athena, Glue, etc.)
• Exceptional communication skills for effective collaboration with stakeholders.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness and drive to take ownership and responsibility.
• Exposure to Agile development methodologies and best practices for data security and governance.
• Exceptional team player.
• Best Practices experience with both theory and implementation
• +5 years experience in Data Engineering roles.

• Hybrid working post-training (3 days a week in office, 2 day at home)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, this increases with your service
• Refer and Earn - Employee referral scheme and bonuses
• Family Friendly - Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay and gift hampers for new parents
• Employee Experiences - Social events and regular engagement activities, such as Christmas and Summer parties, in office events and competitions and long service awards. Activities for key inclusion events and wellbeing webinars. Internal employee recognition schemes such as employee of the month and end of year awards
• Training & Development Opportunities - A huge range of internal and external training available, including apprenticeships (levels 3,4 & 5)
• ESG & Sustainability - Cycle to work scheme, volunteering days, travel discounts and part of Manchester Liftshare Community platform
• Exclusive access to Westfield Health access to different healthcare benefits and services, giving you money back towards essential health costs such as optical and dental treatments. Also included - 24hr DoctorLine service, Gym Discounts, offers on a wide range of goods and services from hundreds of leading retailers, restaurants, and destinations.
• Mental health and Wellbeing Support - Employee Assistance Program providing up to 6 sessions of structured counselling and access to a variety of wellbeing resources including webinars, Health Checks, and podcasts. Access to mental health first aiders and much more
• Free breakfast, fresh fruit and tea & coffee provided daily

At Dals, we enable people and organisations to tackle critical language challenges every day. Our interpreting and translation services cover more than 500 languages, including BSL and other non-spoken languages. We connect clients and their service users with crucial expertise whenever and wherever they need it—because the world is a better, fairer place when everyone is understood.

Our people are our future, and we take care of them. Through community partnerships and social value initiatives, we continuously work to ensure Dals has a positive impact on the world.

We are proud to be:

• An Age Friendly Employer, welcoming applications from experienced professionals and supporting age diversity.
• A supporter of the Armed Forces Covenant, encouraging applications from veterans, reservists, and their families.
• A Disability Confident Employer, guaranteeing interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria and ensuring an inclusive recruitment process.
• A Mindful Employer, promoting mental health awareness and fair recruitment practices in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Applicants must be UK residents and have permission to work in the UK. A basic DBS check is required for this role.