Lead Data / Software Engineer (£90k–£120k) – FinTech We’re looking for a Lead Data Engineer with a strong software engineering background to help build and scale a modern, configuration-led data platform using Databricks and Snowflake. This role is ideal for someone who started as a software engineer and has moved into data platforms / distributed systems, and now wants to combine hands‑on engineering with team leadership and ownership. You’ll play a key role in shaping both the technical direction and team growth, as the business transitions from legacy Python workflows and MySQL databases to a cloud‑native, engineering‑led architecture. The Role This is a hands‑on leadership position with both technical and managerial responsibilities. You’ll:

Act as a technical leader for the data platform Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers Remain hands‑on in system design and development Drive engineering standards, delivery, and best practices

Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership

Design and build scalable backend systems and data‑intensive applications Define and drive architecture decisions across the data platform Develop and optimise data pipelines and services (Python, PySpark) Ensure systems are robust, testable, observable, and production‑grade Own performance, scalability, and reliability across Databricks and Snowflake Contribute to long‑term platform strategy and technical roadmap Lead and manage a team of engineers (including juniors and mid‑levels) Provide mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance Support hiring and onboarding as the team scales Conduct code reviews and promote high engineering standards Foster a strong engineering culture and collaborative environment Balance delivery with team development and wellbeing

Delivery & Collaboration

Work closely with product, DevOps, and domain stakeholders Translate complex regulatory and business requirements into scalable solutionsTake ownership of key systems and ensure high‑quality delivery

Required Experience

Background in software engineering, with progression into data engineering or data platforms Experience acting as a Lead Engineer, Tech Lead, or Engineering Manager Strong programming skills in Python (or similar backend language) Experience building distributed systems or data‑intensive platforms Strong experience with Spark / PySpark or similar frameworks Advanced SQL and experience with large‑scale datasets Clean code, testing, CI/CD System design and architecture Observability and monitoring Proven experience mentoring and developing engineers Comfortable balancing hands‑on work with leadership responsibilities Experience with Databricks, Snowflake, or modern data platforms Exposure to event‑driven architectures (Kafka, etc.) Experience with AWS or cloud‑native environments Background in FinTech or regulated environments Experience scaling teams or building functions from early stages Track record of modernising legacy systems into cloud‑native architectures

Summary This is a high‑impact leadership role for an engineer who:

Is a software engineer at heart, working in data Enjoys building scalable systems and platforms Wants to lead a team while staying hands‑on Is excited to shape both technology and people

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