Lead Data Engineer Salary: £80,000 to £85,000 per annum, dependent on track record Location: Andover Hours: 37.5 hours We are the Pure Group, and we’re looking for a Lead Data Engineer to take ownership of our data platform, engineering standards, and delivery capability. Who Are We? The Pure Group was formed with the primary focus to disrupt the market and has grown into a leading group of companies specialising in end-of-life and later-life planning – including funeral plans, insurance products and cremation services. We’re fast-moving, high-growth, and entrepreneurial, with a direct-to-consumer model and FCA regulation. We’re proud to be the market leader, with phenomenal brand awareness, and more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any of our competitors. We take pride in our Pure Values – we Care Deeply about our customers and each other, we Take Accountability for everything we do, and we Never Settle for second best. Working at Pure means joining a diverse, passionate, and growing team that truly makes a difference. Job purpose This is a senior, hands-on leadership role operating as a true player–coach - combining technical delivery with team leadership. You will lead the day-to-day data engineering function, ensuring a scalable, reliable, and high-performing data platform across Azure, SQL, and Python pipelines. You will play a key role in setting direction, establishing fundamentals, and ensuring the platform supports both operational reporting and advanced analytics, whilst operating confidently across all levels of the business. Summary of responsibilities and duties Data Platform Ownership Own the architecture, performance, and scalability of the data platform Lead development across Azure data services, SQL-based warehousing, and Python pipelines Ensure robust, well-structured data models and warehouse design Drive continuous improvement in platform reliability, cost efficiency, and performance Engineering Leadership Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Data Engineers Act as a hands-on technical leader, contributing directly to engineering delivery Establish and enforce engineering standards (SQL, Python, data modelling) Lead code reviews and ensure high-quality, maintainable solutions Delivery & Execution Translate data strategy into clear, executable engineering plans Own prioritisation, backlog management, and delivery timelines Remove blockers and ensure consistent delivery in a fast-paced environment Balance strategic platform evolution with day-to-day delivery Data Reliability & Governance Implement monitoring, alerting, and data quality frameworks Ensure data integrity, auditability, and consistency across systems Support FCA-regulated requirements through robust data controls Establish clear SLAs for data availability and performance Own end-to-end data quality outcomes from source-to-reporting, including root-cause analysis, prioritisation, and working with upstream owners to remediate issues at source where feasible Define and agree data quality rules (completeness, validity, uniqueness, timeliness) and ‘data contracts’ with upstream system owners and third-party providers, and implement compensating controls where upstream changes are not immediately possible Introduce data observability across pipelines (automated validation, anomaly detection, lineage, and alerting) and run a lightweight data-incident process with clear ownership and SLAs, mitigating impact to reporting while remediation is in progress Design pragmatic controls to protect trusted reporting (reconciliation checks, quarantine/error tables, backfills, and transparent stakeholder communication/caveats when data is incomplete or disputed) Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with stakeholders across Marketing, Finance, Operations, and IT Work closely with analysts and business teams to enable reporting and insight Act as the bridge between data engineering and business value Platform Strategy & Evolution Define and deliver a clear roadmap for the data platform Introduce new tools and approaches where appropriate Ensure the fundamentals are in place to support scale and future capability Confidently challenge and push back where needed to drive the right outcomes Skills You’ll need to have: Proven management track record in managing a data engineering team or similar Strong proven expertise in: Azure data stack SQL (advanced querying, optimisation, performance tuning) Python (data pipelines, automation, integration) Proven track record managing and leading a data platform or warehouse Proven track record leading and developing engineering teams Strong prioritisation and decision-making capability Comfortable operating as a hands-on player–coach Demonstrable track record improving data quality in environments with inconsistent upstream sources, partnering with source-system owners to fix issues at origin where feasible and implementing mitigations where it is not Proven track record implementing automated data testing/validation and monitoring (e.g., SQL-based checks, custom Python frameworks, or tools such as Great Expectations/dbt tests) and using results to drive sustained remediation Experience with workflow orchestration tools (e.g. Airflow, Luigi) Exposure to event-driven or near real-time data architectures Personal Attributes: Strong ownership mindset with a focus on delivery and outcomes Confident and robust — able to challenge, influence, and push back when needed Emotionally intelligent with the ability to operate at all levels of the business Pragmatic, solutions-focused, and commercially aware Comfortable bringing structure and direction to a growing function Clear communicator, able to translate technical concepts into business impact Driven to get the fundamentals right and build for scale Our Benefits 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays Private Medical Cover Bupa Health Cash Plan Life Assurance Company Pension or SMART Pension option Family-friendly occupational benefits Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 support Comprehensive Induction and Learning and Development Academy Discounted Gym Membership and Cycle to Work Scheme Friendly, supportive modern working environment with free on-site parking If you’re looking to join a company that is fast-moving, people-centred and committed to doing things differently, and where your work truly matters, then this could be just the opportunity you’ve been looking for. Equal Opportunities The Pure Group strives to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds - regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief. We celebrate difference, because we believe it enriches our work and helps us care more deeply. If you’d like extra support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. Please note, we may need to undertake a vetting process through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or Disclosure Scotland on new employees, dependent on requirement. All gaps in your CV must be disclosed. We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.