Data Engineering Delivery & Support Lead

The Data Engineering Delivery & Support Lead plays a key role in enabling this ambition by leading the delivery, operation and continual improvement of Network Rail's data engineering capability. The role ensures that data platforms, pipelines and integration services are secure, reliable, scalable and aligned to business priorities, supporting both current operational needs and future transformation.

• Develop the data engineering strategic architecture and warehousing strategy for enterprise data, so that core data sources are consistently defined, structured and accessible for self-service.
• Implement data engineering overall technical and strategic engagement with IT Services, including the active management of interdependencies to facilitate delivery of the data engineering pipeline.
• Review, constructively challenge and adjust the data engineering service, influencing the wider stakeholder group, so the service aligns with wider Network Rail enterprise data requirements, strategies and changes that may come with the transition to Great British Railways.
• Prioritise the technical deliverables in the data engineering Service Pipeline, in accordance with the data engineering strategy and stakeholder requirements, so they are delivered in line with the strategy and stakeholder requirements.
• Define the architectural platforms and technical patterns to be exploited by the data engineering Service, and own the technical architecture including management of changes, to continuously improve the service and deliver best practice data products.
• Provide technical oversight and own the approval of data engineering related designs and deliverables across Network Rail, to create consistency and alignment across the organisation.
• Lead, manage and embed agile delivery methodologies, including daily / weekly scrums and retro ceremonies supporting the Head of Data in driving a more efficient, customer-focused culture and service offering.
• Develop the funding strategy and cost management mechanisms of technical deliverables owned by the data engineering, so that dashboards, data models and capabilities can be progressed across the organisation.
• Champion security and governance, so that the data engineering team follows Network Rail guidelines while delivering data products, services, and projects, so that the service remains compliant with governance policies.

• Proven ability to manage, influence and develop relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders at Director level in complex environments
• Demonstrably strong leadership skills with the ability to lead teams through transformation
• Proven successful senior management experience in a matrix and/or heavily governed organisation
• Proven ability to successfully manage a team using delivery methodologies such as Agile (Safe / Scrum)
• Proven experience of enterprise strategy development and execution
• Strong track record of architecting high-quality data products and services and ability to demonstrate the difference they have made in transforming an organisation
• Proven experience of developing product roadmaps to set the future strategic direction of BI technologies
• Proven experience of managing the delivery of solutions across a hybrid cloud and on-premise landscape
• Essential demonstrable experience of MuleSoft, including the design, development, delivery and support of API-led integration services across complex enterprise data environments.
• Strong understanding of Data Engineering and Data Science Skills and platforms including: ETL; SQL; Relational / Graph / NoSQL Databases; Data solutions within Cloud platforms (primarily Azure); Microservice / APIs providing access to and from data sources; Streaming services; MPP and OLAP Databases e.g., Snowflake, Synapse etc; Programming languages and statistical software to access and interpret data, e.g., python, scala, spark"
• Extensive demonstrable experience in Data Visualisation including visualisation tools such as PowerBI, Oracle OBIEE or Essbase

Desirable

• Member of a relevant professional body with chartered status (e.g., the Chartered Institute for IT)
• Experience of enterprise business systems including HR, Procurement and Payroll systems
• Experience of working within the Rail Industry
• Microsoft Azure Certifications: AZURE Data Engineer Associate

• We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
• Generous annual leave up to 28 days plus statutory days (role dependant), with the option to buy/sell days
• Discounts at selected stations with your Network Rail pass
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 75% off leisure train tickets for you and your dependents (subject to T&Cs)
• Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact

Plus more....

The Digital & Data Function brings together Network Rail's in-house digital and data capabilities into a single, dedicated function. Its purpose is to make it easier for colleagues across the organisation to access trusted digital and data services, helping Network Rail use information more effectively to support safe, efficient and informed decision-making. The function has been created to provide a more consistent and joined-up experience for teams requiring digital products, data platforms, analytics, automation and data provision. By aligning these capabilities in one place, the Digital & Data Function supports clearer accountability, reduced duplication, stronger governance and faster delivery of value to the business. Within the function, the Data Delivery area provides specialist capability in data provision, management, platform support, visualisation, analytics and advanced data services. It helps colleagues find, access, understand and use robust data so they can improve operational performance, identify efficiencies and make better evidence-based decisions.