Senior Data Engineer

At Oakland, we help businesses unlock the power of their data. Whether it's data strategy, governance, engineering, analytics, or AI, we work with our clients to turn data into real, impactful results. Our team is made up of friendly, hands-on experts who love solving problems and making a difference. We don’t just advise, we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, working alongside our clients every step of the way.

Founded in 1986 out of our Leeds HQ, we work with a diverse range of clients across all sorts of industries including Utilities, Telecommunications, Media, Financial Services, Public Sector, and many more! Our projects range from multi-year data transformations to specific, shorter-term assignments, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to diversify your skillset.

We meet high standards for social and environmental impact, transparency, and accountability. We believe businesses should be a force for good, so we make sure our decisions don’t just benefit the bottom line but also our people, communities, and the planet.

And it’s not just us saying we’re a great place to work... we were recently named a Top 5 Best Consultancy to work for in the UK through Best Companies! We’re all about creating an environment where people can grow, do meaningful work, and enjoy the journey.

In April 2025, Oakland was acquired by Softcat, a leading provider of IT infrastructure services to corporate and public sectors. By combining Oakland's deep expertise in data and AI consulting with Softcat's extensive portfolio and market presence, we can deliver unparalleled value and innovation to our clients. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we’re looking forward to achieving great things together.

The Role

As a tech-agnostic consultancy, Engineers at Oakland develop broad and adaptable skillsets. As a Senior Data Engineer, you'll be an experienced engineer who remains hands-on while also providing technical leadership across projects, teams, and clients.

You'll have the ability to quickly understand new technologies, evaluate their suitability, and guide teams towards pragmatic, scalable solutions. No two projects are the same, so we encourage our Engineers to become technology polyglots and select the right tools for each client's needs.

Alongside delivering high-quality engineering outcomes, you'll play a key role in shaping technical direction, mentoring colleagues, contributing to solution architecture, and supporting client stakeholders through complex technical challenges.

Our work spans data platform implementations, business intelligence, software engineering, AI solutions, and cloud transformation projects, giving you the opportunity to work across a wide range of technologies while being part of a talented community of 25+ Engineers.

We expect you to have:

• Significant experience designing, building, and supporting scalable engineering solutions.
• Experience working within cloud environments (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
• A strong understanding of engineering best practices, including testing, code quality, version control, and design patterns.
• Experience leading technical workstreams, owning technical decisions, and providing guidance to other engineers.
• The ability to work directly with clients to gather requirements, translate business needs into technical solutions, and communicate complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, and supporting the development of junior and mid-level engineers.

It would be nice to have any of the below:

• Experience designing and implementing modern data platforms using technologies such as Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, Databricks, or similar.
• Experience with solution and/or data architecture
• Front-end software engineering experience, including building web applications with React (or similar frameworks).
• Strong DevOps and platform engineering experience, including Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD, observability, and tools such as Docker, Terraform, and Kubernetes.
• AI engineering and architecture experience, including GenAI, LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, and prompt engineering.
• Experience supporting pre-sales activities, technical discovery workshops, estimations, and proposal creation.

Certifications (Desirable):

• Azure certifications such as DP-700, DP-600, AZ-305, or AI-focused certifications such as AI-900 and AI-103.
• Snowflake SnowPro Core or SnowPro Specialty or Advanced certifications
• Equivalent certifications in cloud, data, AI, architecture, or software engineering technologies.

Blended Working:

We operate a blended working model, with colleagues spending at least two days per week in the office, aligned to project team requirements. Occasional travel to client sites may also be required.

This balance helps us stay connected, learn from each other, and build strong relationships - both within our team and with the businesses we support.

Benefits that put you first

At Oakland, we believe in taking care of our people - both inside and outside of work. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:

• Health & Wellbeing – Enjoy Private Healthcare from day one for you and your household, including dental cover, physiotherapy, mental health support, and access to a range of wellbeing services to keep you feeling your best.
• Discretionary Bonus – Your hard work won’t go unnoticed. When we do well, you’ll do well.
• Generous Pension – We invest in your future with a 10% employer contribution, plus flexible options so you can adjust to your investment preferences.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme – Drive greener with tax-efficient options to get behind the wheel of an electric car.
• Giving Back – Support causes you care about with our Payroll Giving Scheme and Matched Charitable Giving program.
• Bike to Work Scheme – Save money, stay active, and enjoy tax savings on a new bike.
• Family-Friendly Policies – We support all paths to parenthood with:
• Enhanced Maternity Pay – 16 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half pay.
• Enhanced Paternity Pay – 2 weeks full pay, 2 weeks half pay.
• Adoption, Surrogacy & Shared Parental Leave.
• Fertility Treatment Support – Because your family matters.
• Time to Recharge – 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (and your allowance grows the longer you’re with us!).
• Learning & Development – We invest in you with:
• Personalised development plans tailored to your goals.
• Full support for certifications.
• Access to The Oakland Academy for a suite of learning materials.
• An annual Personal Learning Budget to upskill in ways that matter to you.
• Refer & Earn – Know someone great? If they join us, you’ll get a referral bonus as a thank you.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Oakland

At Oakland, we believe that diverse perspectives drive better outcomes for our people, our clients, and our business. Our commitment to DEIB isn’t just about policies; it’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.

We are building a truly inclusive Oakland where you can be yourself, no matter your background, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes you, you.

Fair & Inclusive Hiring

Every interviewer completes recruitment and unconscious bias training, and our hiring process is skills-based and structured to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates.

Support Throughout the Interview Process

If you require any reasonable accommodations to make your interview experience more accessible, our Talent team is here to help. Just let us know.