London | Full‑time | High‑autonomy, leadership‑grade role
A leading private equity real estate firm is hiring a Senior Python Data Engineer to sit directly within the Investment Team, reporting to the Head of Research & Technology. This is a role for someone who wants ownership, pace, and the ability to materially shape how investment decisions are made.
The mandate
You will lead the firm’s data and analytics engineering direction — architecting, building, and scaling next‑generation research and investment technology. This is not a pipeline‑maintenance role; it’s a chance to define standards, set the technical agenda, and build foundational systems from scratch.
Leadership scope
This is a senior, influence‑heavy role. You won’t manage a large team, but you will act as the technical authority for Python engineering, data strategy, and AI‑driven automation. You’ll need to communicate confidently with investment professionals, senior leadership, and cross‑functional stakeholders — shaping thinking, setting expectations, and driving adoption.
What you’ll lead
* End‑to‑end ownership of the data platform: ingestion, storage, modelling, and consumption layers
* Definition and enforcement of data governance, lineage, access controls, and quality frameworks
* Conversion of complex Excel‑based financial and research models into maintainable, tested Python logic
* Development of reusable Python analytical libraries covering real‑estate metrics and investment KPIs
* Build and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines, scheduling infrastructure, and observability dashboards
* Automation of workflows across research, investment, finance, and asset management
* Design and deployment of agent‑based and multi‑agent AI workflows to support investment decision‑making
* Full lifecycle delivery of new technology initiatives — from scoping to production
* Close collaboration with non‑technical stakeholders to translate commercial needs into technical solutions
Who this suits
This role is not for someone seeking a defined‑scope, 9‑to‑5 engineering job. You’ll thrive here if you want:
* High autonomy and ownership
* A fast‑moving environment where priorities shift
* Direct exposure to investment, research, and senior leadership
* The ability to lead without hierarchy — influencing decisions and setting technical direction
* The opportunity to build foundational systems rather than maintain legacy ones
Ideal background
* Strong Python engineering background (packages, testing, modular design — not just PySpark)
* Experience building data platforms, pipelines, and governance frameworks
* Confidence converting business logic from spreadsheets into production‑grade Python
* Strong communication skills and the ability to operate credibly with senior commercial stakeholders
* Exposure to real estate, private markets, financial modelling, or investment analytics (nice to have, not essential)
* Experience with AI/agent workflows is a bonus
If you want this even sharper, more clipped, or more investment‑team‑credible, tell me the tone you want dialled up.