Data Engineer

Lead Data Analytics Engineer – Data Platform Transformation

£500 per day (Inside IR35)

12-month contract

Hybrid working – Central London

A major UK organisation is undertaking a large-scale data warehouse re-architecture and migration programme and is looking for a Lead Analytics Engineer to join on a long-term contract.

This is a hands-on, highly cross-functional role where you will work across multiple business and technical teams to solve complex data problems. You will play a key role in shaping the next generation of data assets, helping move from legacy architecture to a simpler, more scalable, and analytics-friendly platform.

This programme is not a lift-and-shift migration. It focuses on rethinking how data is modelled, accessed, and used, with an emphasis on clarity, scalability, and enabling faster, better decision-making.

We are particularly interested in individuals who have thrived in less structured, fast-moving environments—where ownership, problem-solving, and adaptability are critical.

What You’ll Do

• Work across multiple teams and business domains to understand problems and deliver effective data solutions
• Design and build scalable, well-structured data models in a modern warehouse environment
• Translate complex requirements into clear, maintainable SQL-based transformations
• Lead data migrations, including historical backfills and zero-downtime cutovers
• Collaborate closely with Analytics Engineers, Data Scientists, Product, and Engineering teams
• Help define and evolve data standards, modelling approaches, and best practices
• Enable teams by delivering high-quality, trusted datasets that are easy to use and understand
• Clearly articulate trade-offs in tooling and design decisions, explaining not just what to use, but why

Technical Environment

• dbt (SQL-first modelling)
• Airflow orchestration
• BigQuery (or similar cloud data warehouse such as Snowflake)
• Data sourced from transactional, operational, and product systems
• Mix of open-source, cloud, and internal tooling

Required Experience

• Strong experience in data modelling, ETL/ELT, and building scalable data pipelines
• Advanced SQL skills and deep understanding of data warehousing principles
• Experience working with large-scale datasets
• Hands-on experience with dbt and modern data stack tooling
• Experience designing data solutions that support analytics and reporting use cases
• Background can be from any industry (not limited to financial services), provided strong data engineering/analytics experience

What We’re Looking For

• Experience working in dynamic, less structured environments (e.g. startups, scale-ups, or transformation programmes)
• Strong cross-functional mindset—comfortable working across teams to solve problems
• Ability to rationalise technical decisions, clearly explaining the reasoning behind tools and approaches
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical audiences
• Clear, concise communicator—able to explain complex ideas simply and effectively
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable taking ownership in ambiguous situations