Senior BI Engineer

This is a hands-on senior technical role spanning both Databricks and Power BI. You’ll develop scalable Gold-layer data products in Databricks, alongside semantic models and Power BI solutions that provide trusted, reusable analytics across the organisation.

Working within a domain-focused agile squad, you’ll collaborate closely with Data Modellers, Data Engineers and business stakeholders.

BI Engineering is responsible for Gold-layer data products, semantic models and Power BI solutions, while Data Engineering owns upstream ingestion and the Bronze and Silver layers. You’ll work closely with Data Engineers where upstream design, data availability or data quality affects the analytical solution.

You’ll also provide technical guidance and mentoring to other BI Engineers, helping strengthen engineering practices while remaining directly involved in solution design and delivery.

What you’ll be doing

• Designing, building and maintaining scalable Gold-layer data products in Databricks using SQL, Python and PySpark.
• Developing and maintaining the supporting pipelines required to deliver Gold-layer data products, working with Data Engineering on upstream Bronze and Silver dependencies.
• Designing reusable semantic and dimensional models, including facts, dimensions, relationships and measures.
• Developing and optimising Power BI semantic models, reports and dashboards using DAX, Power Query and appropriate performance optimisation techniques.
• Translating agreed KPI definitions, business rules and reporting requirements into accurate, reusable and maintainable technical logic.
• Validating proposed solution designs, data availability and data quality before and during development.
• Applying appropriate data quality, governance, metadata, lineage, security, privacy and performance principles across BI solutions, including row-level security where required.
• Establishing effective source control, deployment, release, monitoring and troubleshooting practices for BI solutions.
• Working with Data Modellers, Data Engineers, QA colleagues and business stakeholders to deliver complex data and analytics requirements.
• Documenting Gold-layer data products, semantic models, calculations, report logic and technical dependencies.
• Providing technical guidance and mentoring to BI Engineers and contributing to the continuous improvement of BI engineering standards and practices.

You’ll have demonstrable experience delivering complex BI and analytics solutions and be comfortable working across both the data and presentation layers of a modern analytics platform.

You’ll be able to take technical ownership of solutions, challenge designs where necessary and work collaboratively with engineering and business colleagues to deliver reliable, maintainable analytics.

Essential experience

• 5+ years’ experience in BI engineering, analytics engineering, data development, data engineering or a related discipline, including delivery of complex BI or analytics solutions.
• Strong hands-on Databricks experience, including SQL, Python and PySpark.
• Experience designing and delivering Gold-layer data products in Databricks or a comparable modern lakehouse platform.
• Strong Power BI experience, including semantic modelling, DAX, Power Query, report development and performance optimisation.
• Strong relational and dimensional data modelling skills, including the design of reusable semantic models.
• Experience translating agreed KPI definitions, business rules and reporting requirements into robust and maintainable technical solutions.
• Experience with modern data platforms and data pipeline concepts, including ETL/ELT, Delta Lake and data lake technologies.
• Experience applying data quality, governance, metadata, lineage, security and privacy principles to BI and analytical solutions.
• Experience validating data availability, accuracy, completeness and consistency and working with Data Engineers and other colleagues to resolve issues.
• Experience using source control, code repositories, release management and automated deployment practices.
• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills across data, pipelines, semantic models, refresh, security and performance.
• Experience understanding business processes and underlying source systems and translating that knowledge into appropriate technical solutions.
• Demonstrable experience providing technical guidance, mentoring colleagues and improving engineering practices.
• Strong communication skills and experience working with technical and business stakeholders.

Desirable

• Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate or equivalent certification.
• Databricks Data Engineer Associate or equivalent certification.
• Experience with data governance and metadata tooling such as Microsoft Purview.
• Relevant professional training or certification in areas such as data governance, privacy, agile delivery or technical leadership.

This is an opportunity to join a growing BI Engineering team at a time when Southern Water is investing heavily in its Data & Analytics capabilities.

We offer a flexible hybrid working model, with only two days per week in the office and the choice of working from either our Durrington (Worthing) or Falmer (Brighton) offices.

Both locations offer excellent transport links. Durrington is approximately a 10-minute walk from Goring-by-Sea station, with direct rail services to Brighton and London, whilst Falmer is only a short train journey from central Brighton. Both offices are set within the South Downs, providing an attractive working environment while remaining easily accessible from across Sussex and the South Coast.

You’ll join a collaborative team that values trusted data, engineering quality, continuous improvement and helping each other succeed. We believe the best solutions are delivered when people work together, share knowledge and challenge constructively.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation