Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer ( Databricks ) London - Hybrid - Remote Permanent £100,000 - £130,000 plus up to 20% bonus based on performance and commercial contribution About the Role We’re looking for a Lead Data Engineer to spearhead some of our clients most strategic Databricks engagements. This is a senior client-facing leadership role, blending hands-on technical delivery with architectural design and pre-sales influence. You'll be leading high-performing squads, guiding complex transformations, and working directly with senior stakeholders to bridge business needs and engineering excellence — particularly in industries like manufacturing, utilities, and aviation. This is a key hire to support our clients expanding Databricks practice, to build capacity for future growth. What You’ll Be Doing * Act as the technical lead on client engagements, owning design and delivery of data solutions in Databricks. * Architect robust, scalable data platforms using the medallion architecture. * Translate business requirements into scalable workflows, advising on data governance, quality, and security. * Design and implement complex data pipelines using tools like Delta Live Tables (DLT) and Unity Catalog. * Guide teams in implementing best practices across engineering, DevOps, and model deployment. * Support pre-sales activity, including shaping proposals, estimates, and technical roadmaps. * Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and oversight to squads of Senior and Associate Engineers. * Collaborate closely with Platform Engineers and Platform Architects to align infrastructure with data needs. * Contribute to growing the Databricks capability – from delivery frameworks to internal tooling and capability development. * Lead a team of data engineers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment. * Evaluate new data engineering technologies and strategies, assessing their relevance and fit for the organisation’s strategic goals. * Work closely with the commercial team to scope projects and develop proposals that align technical capabilities with client requirements. Essential Skills & Experience * 8+ years in data engineering, with at least 2+ in a technical leadership role * Proven experience designing and leading Databricks-based data platforms * Deep understanding of the medallion architecture, data lakehouse design, and transformation workflows * Hands-on expertise with DLT, Unity Catalog, and model deployment frameworks * Strong communication and consulting skills – able to lead client conversations and manage stakeholders * Experience in agile delivery environments and cross-functional teams * Commercial awareness – comfortable contributing to pre-sales, growing accounts, and engaging with commercial targets Desirable Skills * Experience in physical asset-heavy industries (e.g. utilities, manufacturing, aviation) * Familiarity with platform and DevOps collaboration, especially on AWS or Azure * Certifications in Databricks or cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) * Background in consulting or client delivery environments Why Join? * Join a consultancy that’s doubling down on Databricks with enterprise-grade delivery * Be the go-to technical leader on projects with real-world business impact * Shape the future of our Databricks workforce strategy and delivery model * Career progression into Delivery Lead, Practice Lead, or Pre-Sales Specialist * Competitive compensation and strong bonus structure, aligned with delivery and commercial impact To find out more about this high profile Lead Data Engineering position, click apply