Senior Data Engineer

Cardiff, Southampton

Job Summary
Can you design and deliver modern data engineering solutions that support agile, fast-paced organisational needs?

Do you thrive on solving complex data challenges and collaborating with diverse technical and business stakeholders?

If so, we'd love to hear from you
The Senior Data Engineer leads multi-functional delivery teams to deliver robust data services for their department, other government departments and private sector partners. They create, inspire, innovate, and lead by example in best practice for data products and services within their teams. They build the data engineering capability by providing technical leadership, data pipelines, standards, and data flows to meet priorities for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). They work with other senior team members to identify, plan, develop and deliver data services. They support junior members of the team in their development, and manage Data Engineers, Data Engineering apprentices, and PhD student placements.

Joining Our Department Comes With Many Benefits, Including

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below

Find out more about what it's like working at MCA: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job Description
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for designing, architecting and building data flow solutions.
• Responsible for the build of data streaming systems applying knowledge of systems integration.
• Be a technical expert in current data engineering technologies and share knowledge with other data engineers.
• Demonstrate curiosity about new and emerging technologies and make recommendations about how these could benefit the MCA's data platform.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership across data projects and programmes.
• Identify and address user needs and build relationships across organisations.
• Contribute to creating an agile, fast paced organisation by promoting innovation as we investigate and adopt modern technologies and modernise our approach to policy making, enforcement and customer service.
• Provide leadership and inspiration to promote the benefits of the change.
• Work closely with senior colleagues within the Directorate of Information & Technology in the deployment of the Agency's technical experts and administrators in their technical, educational and regulatory roles.
• Assist with the development and delivery of the data roadmap for the MCA.
• Champions data engineering across the MCA, Department for Transport (DfT) and wider government.
• Work closely with external suppliers, technical experts, DfT data community.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, not all criteria may be assessed during the recruitment process; this job advert outlines exactly which ones will be.

Your Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

• Responsible for designing, architecting and building data flow solutions.
• Responsible for the build of data streaming systems applying knowledge of systems integration.
• Be a technical expert in current data engineering technologies and share knowledge with other data engineers.
• Demonstrate curiosity about new and emerging technologies and make recommendations about how these could benefit the MCA's data platform.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership across data projects and programmes.
• Identify and address user needs and build relationships across organisations.
• Contribute to creating an agile, fast paced organisation by promoting innovation as we investigate and adopt modern technologies and modernise our approach to policy making, enforcement and customer service.
• Provide leadership and inspiration to promote the benefits of the change.
• Work closely with senior colleagues within the Directorate of Information & Technology in the deployment of the Agency's technical experts and administrators in their technical, educational and regulatory roles.
• Assist with the development and delivery of the data roadmap for the MCA.
• Champions data engineering across the MCA, Department for Transport (DfT) and wider government.
• Work closely with external suppliers, technical experts, DfT data community.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, not all criteria may be assessed during the recruitment process; this job advert outlines exactly which ones will be.

Person specification

You Will Need The Following Experience

• Experience in delivering successful and high-value data engineering initiatives using an agile approach.
• Demonstrable hands-on technical experience in delivering data engineering projects working through complex business problems and partnering with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience in data engineering and/or software architecture and development using Python, in a cloud environment.
• Strong knowledge of technical design, implementation and security.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Strong experience of a broad range of data management processes and technologies, both traditional and big data.

Additional Information
The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £44,241. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £13,159.

Working Hours, Office Attendance And Travel Requirements
Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role
is suitable
for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of
60%
of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Visa Sponsorship
Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. Therefore, this role is not open to applications from those who require sponsorship – candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Data development process. (Skill level: Practitioner)
• Data integration design. (Skill level: Practitioner)
• Problem Management (Skill level: Working)
• Programming and build (data engineering) (Skill level: Practitioner)

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The Selection Process For This Role Will Be
Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement.

Stage 2: Interview and Technical Assessment.

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – You Will Be Asked To Provide a CV (unlimited Word Count) And Personal Statement (750 Words). Please Provide Evidence Of Your Experience Of The Following

• Experience in delivering successful and high-value data engineering initiatives using an agile approach.
• Demonstrable hands-on technical experience in delivering data engineering projects working through complex business problems and partnering with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience in data engineering and/or software architecture and development using Python, in a cloud environment.

The sift will take place from the 19th December 2025.

Stage 2: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours - Changing and Improving, Working Together, Delivering at Pace.
• Experience
• Technical - DDaT Framework - Senior Data Engineer

You will also be required to complete a technical assessment to assess against DDaT Framework - Senior Data Engineer. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take online via MS Teams from the 12th January 2026. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process
We will also hold a 12 month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

AI Tools and Platforms
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email for assistance.

Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Iason Koulas
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email:

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here