GCP Data Engineer (Contract)

Contract Data Engineer - Google Cloud | Scientific Data | Research-Focused Organisation London (2-3 days a week onsite) £750 per day (Inside IR35) | 6-month contract The Company Harnham is partnering with a leading research and technology organisation that's leveraging data and AI to accelerate scientific innovation. They're looking for an experienced Data Engineer to join on a 6-month contract and help build and optimise data pipelines supporting large-scale scientific and R&D initiatives. The Role You'll be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust data pipelines on Google Cloud. Working closely with other engineers and scientists, you'll ensure the delivery of clean, scalable data solutions that power high-impact research. Key Responsibilities • Build and maintain data pipelines using modern tools on Google Cloud, including Python, Spark, SQL, BigQuery, and Cloud Storage. • Ensure data pipelines meet the analytical and scientific needs of key applications. • Deliver high-quality, production-grade code with testing and documentation. • Develop, measure, and monitor key performance metrics across tools and services. • Collaborate with technical peers and participate in code reviews to maintain engineering excellence. • Work cross-functionally with allied teams to deliver end-to-end, production-ready data solutions. Your Skills and Experience • 2+ years of experience as a Data Engineer (or equivalent) with a relevant degree in a computational, numerate, or life sciences field. • Strong experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP). • Excellent programming skills in Python and SQL. • Experience with Spark and DevOps tools (Terraform, GitHub Actions, etc.). • Strong understanding of modern development practices (git/GitHub, CI/CD, agile). • Experience with automated testing frameworks such as pytest. Preferred Qualifications • Experience working with biological or scientific datasets (e.g. genomics, proteomics, or pharmaceutical data). • Knowledge of bioinformatics or large-scale research data. • Familiarity with Nextflow, Airflow, or Google Workflows. • Understanding of NLP techniques and processing unstructured data. • Experience with AI/ML-powered applications and containerised development (Docker). Contract Details • Day Rate: £750 (Inside IR35) • Location: London - 3 days per week onsite • Duration: 6 months (potential to extend) How to Apply If you're a skilled Data Engineer with experience in cloud and scientific data environments, and you're looking for a hands-on contract where your work has real-world impact, apply now or get in touch with Harnham for more details.