Data Engineer

Saffron is looking for a talented Data Engineer to help drive the next stage of our data transformation. This role is all about building and optimising our Azure-based data platform, developing high-performing pipelines in Azure Data Factory, and supporting our move toward Microsoft Fabric. You will work closely with BI Analysts and teams across the business to deliver reliable, high-quality data that powers smarter decisions and sharper insights. It is a chance to shape a modern, scalable data environment and make a real impact on how we use data across the organisation., Design, build, and maintain a scalable Azure-based data warehouse that meets the current and future requirements of the Data & Analytics team. Lead the introduction, adoption, and optimisation of Microsoft Fabric (e.g., Lakehouse, Warehouse, Data Engineering, Pipelines). Apply CI/CD practices (e.g., Azure DevOps) for version control, deployment automation, and environment management. Implement data quality checks, pipeline observability, alerting, and automated monitoring to ensure consistent platform reliability. Work collaboratively with data owners and the wider data team to ensure data definitions, lineage, and ownership are clearly established. Work collaboratively with data owners and the wider data team to ensure data definitions, lineage, and ownership are clearly established. Provide technical guidance and coaching to the wider data team members on data engineering best practices. For a full list of responsibilities please see the attached Role Profile Our Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Mathematics, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience (E)
• Microsoft certifications in SQL, Fabric, including Power BI, or other Azure Data Services (D)

Experience: Advanced SQL skills, including optimisation of complex queries (E). Experience building data pipelines and ETL/ELT workflows using tools such as: Azure Data Factory, Databricks, Airflow, Luigi, or similar (E) Strong understanding of data modelling (E) Programming skills in Python and/or Scala for data processing (D). Experience with machine learning pipelines or MLOps frameworks (D). Personal Attributes:

• Confident communicator able to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proactive, innovative, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Collaborative, with mentoring and leadership capabilities.
• Customer-focused, with a commitment to improving services through data.
• Experience working in a busy, fast-paced workload, and managing multiple projects to meet deadlines.

We are a housing association based in Norfolk providing quality homes and services to people across the county and in Suffolk. We manage over 6,000 homes including affordable homes for those in housing need who cannot afford to rent or buy in the open market. We offer specialist homes for older and vulnerable adults and are committed to providing new homes to help solve the housing crisis. At Saffron We have a huge commitment to our employees. We want the team at Saffron to be happy, empowered, motivated and feel proud to be part of the Saffron community. We know by having great people we can do a great job for our tenants. We trust our colleagues to do the right thing and we are looking for people whose values are aligned with ours (PACE - Professional, Accountable, Collaborative and Evolving). You will have the freedom to learn and grow. We are passionate about investing in our people, providing them with the skills they need now, and for their future aspirations. We do this by offering a blend of learning opportunities, including our innovative e-learning platform where learning is self-directed allowing people to learn what they want, when they want to. We work with and support our people to work in an agile way to ensure that have the right work/life balance. They have the choice to work in the office, work from home, coffee shop, park or a combination of all. We have recently refurbished our offices to encourage collaborative, agile working. As an inclusive employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and have a zero tolerance policy relating to discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Saffron Community. #proudtobesaffron