Lead Data Engineer

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Lead Data Engineer to join our growing data team. In this role, you will lead a small team of Data Engineers and Analysts, driving the design, development, and maintenance of scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions on the Microsoft Azure platform. You will provide hands-on technical leadership while shaping the strategic direction of the data infrastructure to support analytics, reporting, and business intelligence across the organisation.

Location: Stockton on Tees
Department: Data & Analytics
Employment Type: Full-Time / Permanent / Hybrid

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Data Engineers/Analysts, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Design, build, and optimise data pipelines, data models, and data warehouses using Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, and Azure SQL.
• Ensure the reliability and performance of data pipelines and infrastructure.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and analysts to deliver impactful dashboards and reports using Power BI.
• Provide technical guidance and support, acting as a subject matter expert on Azure data tools and best practices.
• Develop and maintain ETL processes using SQL, SSIS, and Azure Data Factory.
• Integrate data from diverse sources including internal databases, APIs, and third-party providers.
• Monitor and tune performance of data components, ensuring data quality, consistency, and timeliness.
• Automate deployment and data processing tasks where appropriate.
• Document data flows, lineage, and transformation logic to support transparency and maintainability.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of experience in data engineering and ETL development.
• Advanced proficiency in T-SQL, SSIS, and Azure Data Factory.
• Strong experience with data modelling, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.
• Proven ability to lead and manage a small technical team.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a passion for automation and operational excellence.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Microsoft Azure Data Engineer certification.
• Experience with Azure Synapse Analytics and Power BI.
• Familiarity with data governance, data quality frameworks, and metadata management.

• Personal Drive – Resilient and committed to achieving goals through persistent effort.
• Innovation – Generates new ideas and solutions through original thinking.
• Results Focus – Aligns team efforts with business objectives to deliver measurable outcomes.
• Teamwork – Builds strong team dynamics and contributes to collective success.
• Decision Making – Makes sound judgments and decisions at the right pace.
• Relationship Building – Develops and maintains strong internal and external networks.
• Performance Management – Sets and reviews performance goals aligned with business strategy.
• Integrity – Demonstrates ethical behaviour and lives the organisation’s values.