AWS Data Engineer
Senior Data Engineer | Kafka | AWS Aurora | SQL | Kubernetes | Hybrid | Inside IR35
Location: UK (Hybrid)
Contract: Initial 3–4 Months (Likely Extension)
IR35: Inside IR35
Senior Data Engineer
We're recruiting for an experienced Senior Data Engineer to join a leading organisation on an exciting data transformation programme. This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in designing and delivering modern, cloud-native data platforms that power business-critical digital services. Working within a collaborative Agile environment, you'll lead the development of scalable data solutions, real-time streaming platforms, enterprise data warehouses, and API-driven integrations while mentoring junior engineers and driving engineering best practices.
Role Purpose
As a Senior Data Engineer, you will lead the design, build, and operation of scalable, secure, and high-performance data platforms. You'll own end-to-end data pipelines, streaming platforms, and enterprise data stores, ensuring they meet business requirements, DDaT standards, and non-functional requirements. You will also provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and deliver robust data architectures covering data ingestion, streaming, storage, processing, and consumption.
- Architect, develop and support real-time data pipelines using Apache Kafka.
- Design and optimise relational databases using AWS Aurora (Postgres).
- Build and maintain enterprise-grade data warehouse solutions and analytical data models.
- Deploy, manage and optimise containerised data services using Docker and Kubernetes.
- Design and implement scalable API-based data ingestion solutions integrating operational systems, SaaS platforms, and partner applications.
- Define conceptual, logical and physical data models while ensuring data quality, governance, and lineage.
- Collaborate with development and integration teams to define API contracts, schemas, versioning strategies, and resilient integration patterns.
- Optimise SQL performance, pipeline throughput, reliability, and scalability.
- Implement monitoring, alerting, and operational support for data platforms.
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across the engineering team.
- Produce and maintain high-quality technical documentation aligned with DDaT standards.
Essential Skills
- Expert SQL development and performance tuning
- Strong hands-on experience with Apache Kafka
- AWS Aurora (Postgres)
- Enterprise Data Warehousing
- Dimensional and Transactional Data Modelling
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- REST API Integration
- JSON and Schema Validation
- API resilience including retries, timeouts and idempotency
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
Desirable Skills
- Experience with API Gateways or Integration Platforms
- OpenAPI / Swagger
- OAuth2 and token-based authentication
- Event-driven architectures combining APIs and Kafka
- Data observability and monitoring tools
- Experience working within Public Sector or regulated environments
- Knowledge of data governance, security and privacy principles
- Exposure to analytics and reporting platforms
Experience Required
- Significant experience in Senior Data Engineering roles
- Proven experience delivering scalable cloud-native data platforms
- Strong background in enterprise data architecture and engineering
- Experience leading technical delivery and mentoring engineers
- Experience working within Agile multidisciplinary teams
- Experience working within UK delivery environments
Ways of Working
- Agile, collaborative and multidisciplinary environment
- Strong ownership mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
- Active contribution to engineering standards and communities of practice
Security Clearance
Candidates must be eligible to obtain BPSS or SC Clearance, depending on client requirements.
Why Apply?
- Opportunity to work on a high-profile data transformation programme
- Modern technology stack including Kafka, AWS Aurora, Docker and Kubernetes
- Collaborative engineering culture with opportunities to influence technical decisions
- Initial 3–4 month contract with a strong likelihood of extension
- Hybrid working arrangement
If you're an experienced Senior Data Engineer looking to make an impact on large-scale cloud data platforms, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today with your latest CV.