Senior Data Engineer

County Durham - Flexible working arrangements

2 Year Fixed Term

We are looking for a Senior Data Engineer on a 2 year fixed term appointment to play a key role in designing, building and maintaining a modern data environment that supports analytics, reporting and wider business decision-making.

The role will focus on developing scalable data pipelines, robust data models and reliable data platforms, ensuring that data is accurate, accessible, secure and fit for purpose.

This position will work closely with stakeholders across the business to translate data requirements into technical solutions, improve data quality and availability, and support the continued evolution of the organisation’s data capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the wider technology and digital strategy as part of the broader management team.
• Support and mentor colleagues within the data and wider technology function, helping to build a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders, third-party suppliers and external partners where needed.
• Promote continuous improvement, innovation and best practice across data engineering and analytics services.
• Act as a positive role model within the team, encouraging knowledge sharing, accountability and a service-led mindset.

Core Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain scalable and efficient ETL/ELT pipelines to ingest, transform and load data from a variety of source systems into central data platforms.
• Develop and maintain data models, schemas and structures that support analytics, reporting and operational insight.
• Work with business stakeholders, analysts and reporting teams to gather requirements and translate them into technical data solutions.
• Integrate and prepare data for use across data warehouses, lakehouses, data lakes and modern data platforms such as Microsoft Fabric.
• Produce curated data models for analytical tools including Power BI.
• Support the development of statistical and predictive data models, including machine learning use cases where relevant.
• Maintain and enhance the organisation’s data and analytics platform to ensure performance, reliability and scalability.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual data flows and reporting processes, improving efficiency and repeatability.
• Drive improvements in data quality, reliability and performance across the data estate.
• Implement data quality controls, validation processes and cleansing routines to maintain data accuracy, consistency and integrity.
• Ensure data solutions comply with information security, governance and data protection requirements, including GDPR.
• Apply agile delivery principles to define, estimate and deliver changes in line with business priorities and deadlines.
• Keep up to date with emerging technologies, tools and best practice within data engineering and analytics.

Person Specification

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong experience with programming and query languages such as SQL, Python, R, Scala or Hive.
• Experience using data modelling, ETL/ELT and visualisation technologies such as Power BI, DAX, Synapse and Microsoft Fabric.
• Proven experience in a Data Engineer or similar role, delivering data platforms and services including data models, schemas, warehouses, lakehouses and/or data lakes.
• Experience working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams to deliver data solutions.
• Experience contributing to or leading data-focused projects and initiatives.
• ITIL Foundation certification would be advantageous.

Knowledge

• Strong practical knowledge of modern data engineering tools, frameworks and best practice.
• Good understanding of data architecture principles and concepts such as medallion architecture, star schemas and slowly changing dimensions.
• Awareness of machine learning techniques and their application within a data environment would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of GDPR, data governance and data protection best practice.
• Understanding of agile delivery methodologies, product backlogs and user story development.
• Familiarity with data and analytics methods used to support reporting and insight generation.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.