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.

Required Skills & Experience

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.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Key Behaviours & Competencies

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