Senior Data Engineer

Become part of a mission-driven digital team helping to build secure, resilient services used by millions across the UK. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), in partnership with Inspire People, is seeking a Senior Data Engineer with strong Python and SQL, large scale data processing, data integration techniques, decentralised version control systems and testing experience. Based in Swansea on a permanent SEO appointment, this role offers hybrid working (minimum 60% office-based in Swansea) and a salary of £44,241 - £58,997 plus c.29% employer pension contribution plus excellent Civil Service benefits.

Shape the Future of Digital Services at DVLA

Do you have a background in data or software engineering, analysis or data science? If you are a data enthusiast with a strong technical understanding and interest in engineering reliable and maintainable data products, we would love to hear from you.

We are seeking a Senior Data (Product) Engineer to join DVLA's data platform team to help deliver high-impact data products enabling better decisions, insights and services across the DVLA. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing data engineering projects, ensuring the efficient processing and management of data across the organisation.

The role requires good understanding of data modelling and processing but focuses on practical ability to implement solutions using a range of technologies and languages including SQL, Python, Databricks, Apache Spark, Lakehouse and various RDBMS.

This is a senior, hands-on role. You will develop and support more junior team members whilst working on a modern data platform, collaborating with engineering product teams delivering services and working closely with reporting teams and data scientists to help understand and optimise digital services. You will help set direction and standards for data product engineering, ensuring that data products are well-designed, reliable, secure and aligned to user needs. While you will not be responsible for building or operating the underlying data platform, you will work in close partnership with platform teams to ensure data products are delivered efficiently and sustainably.

As a Senior Data (Product) Engineer you will:

• Design and lead the implementation of data flows to connect operational systems for data storage, analytics and business intelligence applications
• Recognise opportunities to reuse existing data flows
• Build data products using streaming systems
• Optimise code to ensure processes perform optimally
• Lead work on data modelling and storage approaches
• Operate the production data products you build
• Design and assure robust data models and integrations that meet standards, improve data quality and enable reuse across teams
• Proactively find and address performance issues in data products
• Support more junior data engineers within the team and help others apply standards, patterns and good practice for data engineering

Essential skills for the Senior Data (Product) Engineer include:

• Python and SQL languages
• Large scale data processing
• Data integration techniques such as API, ELT and ETL
• Decentralised version control systems such as git and mercurial Testing
• Programming and build skills with the ability to deliver a reliable solution to a business problem
• Ability to combine multiple data sources into a single dataset or model
• Ability to use data analysis and synthesis to understand a problem

In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Generous employer contribution of 28.9%, depending on chosen pension scheme
• Digital communities with clear career frameworks
• On-site gym plus personal training available, on-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
• 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year up to 30, plus bank holidays and an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff
• Free parking

Why Join DVLA?

DVLA is responsible for delivering safe, secure and reliable national motoring services at scale, supporting millions of drivers, vehicles and transactions across the UK. DVLA Digital is on a long-term transformation journey to modernise services, platforms and technology while maintaining public trust and safety. This is an opportunity to work on high-impact data products that enable better decisions, insights and services across the DVLA while helping shape standards for data product engineering across teams.

To apply, please click 'Apply at advertiser's site' or contact Andrew Medhurst at Inspire People for further information.