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