Lead Data Engineer

Salary: £30,000 - 70,000 per year

Requirements

• We are looking for someone with strong experience designing and delivering cloud-based data solutions at scale.
• We need proven leadership experience, with the ability to inspire and develop technical teams.
• We need strong experience designing and building cloud-based, distributed data platforms.
• We require advanced Python and SQL skills, with experience in modern engineering practices such as CI/CD and TDD.
• We are looking for experience with big data frameworks such as Apache Spark or similar technologies.
• We need a solid understanding of data modelling, data warehousing, OLTP and data lake architectures.
• We are looking for experience working with cloud ecosystems such as AWS, Azure or GCP.
• We value familiarity with tools such as Kafka, Airflow, Hive, Delta, or similar technologies.
• We need a strong understanding of software engineering principles and production support.
• We are looking for experience with Linux, containerisation and enterprise scheduling tools.
• We value knowledge of data governance, security and data privacy principles including GDPR.
• We need a confident communicator who can present complex technical concepts to varied audiences.
• We are looking for a proactive, self-directed mindset with strong problem-solving skills.
• Desirable: experience within the airline or travel industry.
• Desirable: exposure to AI/ML solutions and productionisation.
• Desirable: experience with Databricks, Snowflake or modern lakehouse platforms.
• Desirable: infrastructure-as-code and serverless pipeline experience.
• Desirable: data lake migration and solution architecture experience.

Responsibilities

• We lead the design, delivery and implementation of robust, scalable data solutions across a wide range of business use cases.
• We champion the evolution and adoption of our distributed data platform and data products.
• We manage and develop a team of Data Engineers and Analytics Engineers, supporting their growth and ensuring high-quality delivery.
• We collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver enterprise-level data initiatives.
• We partner with Data Science and Analytics teams to unlock new opportunities and deliver end-to-end data products.
• We ensure solutions meet functional and non-functional requirements and align with wider IT standards.
• We drive continuous improvement through automation, optimisation and enhanced ways of working.
• We stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and bring innovation into the organisation.
• We provide technical leadership, manage technical debt and shape implementation and QA approaches.
• We act as a deputy for the Data Engineering Technology Manager when required.

Technologies

• AI
• Airflow
• AWS
• Azure
• Big Data
• CI/CD
• Cloud
• Databricks
• GCP
• Hive
• Support
• Kafka
• Linux
• Python
• SQL
• Security
• Serverless
• Snowflake
• Spark
• TDD
• Network

More

We are easyJet, a FTSE listed low-cost airline serving tens of millions of customers each year across more than 1,207 routes and 38 countries in Europe. Our Data Engineering team sits at the heart of our ambition to become a truly data-driven airline, working closely with Data Science, Analytics, Architecture and wider IT teams to shape enterprise data capabilities. This is a full-time role based in Luton, with 40 hours per week and hybrid working, spending 60% of our time per month in the office. We offer up to 20% maximum bonus, Private Medical Insurance, 7% pension contributions, excellent staff travel benefits, 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, an annual credit towards an easyJet holiday, and various flexible benefits and extras. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace and welcome candidates from all backgrounds, with reasonable adjustments available throughout the recruitment process.

last updated 36 week of 2026