Lead Data Engineer

We’re working with a well-capitalised AI startup automating large parts of the property management lifecycle - tenancy, maintenance, resident comms - via an agentic AI layer on top of a modern data platform. Pre-revenue but converting its first major enterprise pilots to paid imminently, including a client representing a meaningful share of the market. Well-backed with a healthy runway and no near-term pressure to raise.

This is a builder role: you’ll own the core data architecture the AI product is built on, not maintain someone else’s pipelines.

The Role

• Own and build the core data platform architecture end-to-end
• Design a real-time streaming architecture using Kafka - batch-free environment
• Work extensively in Python
• Build and maintain infrastructure across Postgres and BigQuery
• Lead integration work as new enterprise clients onboard - a constant, high-visibility workstream
• Provide technical (not people) leadership as the engineering team scales

What We’re Looking For

• Strong hands-on Python (non-negotiable)
• Real-time/streaming experience with Kafka or equivalent
• Postgres and BigQuery experience (or equivalent SQL/warehouse tooling)
• Comfortable on GCP or AWS
• Genuine “builder” mindset - owns architecture, drives decisions
• Strong commercial awareness - ties data decisions to business outcomes
• AI-in-product experience a strong plus
• Comfortable with startup intensity and 4-day in-office culture

What’s On Offer

• Up to £120,000 base + equity equivalent in value to salary
• A foundational data platform build from an early stage, with growth into Principal Engineer or Head of Data Engineering
• Backing from a well-resourced investor base with a long runway

Burns Sheehan Ltd will consider applications based only on skills and ability and will not discriminate on any grounds.

• Strong hands-on Python (non-negotiable)
• Real-time/streaming experience with Kafka or equivalent
• Postgres and BigQuery experience (or equivalent SQL/warehouse tooling)
• Comfortable on GCP or AWS
• Genuine “builder” mindset - owns architecture, drives decisions
• Strong commercial awareness - ties data decisions to business outcomes
• AI-in-product experience a strong plus
• Comfortable with startup intensity and 4-day in-office culture

• Up to £120,000 base + equity equivalent in value to salary
• A foundational data platform build from an early stage, with growth into Principal Engineer or Head of Data Engineering
• Backing from a well-resourced investor base with a long runway

Burns Sheehan Ltd will consider applications based only on skills and ability and will not discriminate on any grounds.

We’re working with a well-capitalised AI startup automating large parts of the property management lifecycle - tenancy, maintenance, resident comms - via an agentic AI layer on top of a modern data platform. Pre-revenue but converting its first major enterprise pilots to paid imminently, including a client representing a meaningful share of the market. Well-backed with a healthy runway and no near-term pressure to raise.

This is a builder role: you’ll own the core data architecture the AI product is built on, not maintain someone else’s pipelines.