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Posted 21 July, 2026

Lead Data Engineer

Searchability NS&D
Gloucester, ENG, GB Full Time

Job Description

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  • Gloucester location - hybrid working when possible
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  • Must hold active Enhanced DV Clearance (West)
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  • Competitive Salary DOE - 6% bonus, 25 days holiday, clearance bonus
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  • Experience in Data Pipelines, ETL processing, Data Integration, Apache, SQL/NoSQL, Team Leadership
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Who Are We?

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Our client is a trusted and growing supplier to the National Security sector, delivering mission-critical solutions that help keep the nation safe, secure, and prosperous. You'll work with cutting-edge technologies, including AI/Data Science, Cyber, Cloud, DevOps/SRE, and Platform Engineering. They have long-term contracts secured across the latest customer framework and are set for significant growth.

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What will the Lead Data Engineer be Doing?

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You will develop mission-critical data solutions for National Security clients, working with cutting-edge technologies such as AI/DS, Cyber, Cloud, DevOps/SRE, and Platform Engineering. You'll collaborate directly with customers across National Security, Defence, and Intelligence to solve complex, high-stakes challenges. The role involves designing and implementing sophisticated data pipelines to connect operational systems with analytics and business intelligence platforms.

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Responsibilities include:

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  • Design, build, and maintain data pipelines, including ingestion, orchestration, and enrichment
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  • Develop data-streaming and ETL solutions (e.g. NiFi)
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  • Model databases and integrate data from diverse sources
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  • Ensure data quality, consistency, and security
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  • Monitor and optimise system performance
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  • Write clean, secure, reusable, test-driven code
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  • Apply systems integration expertise within agile teams
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  • Decompose user needs into epics and stories
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  • Promote reuse of data flows and best practices across teams
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  • Champion data engineering standards across government
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The Lead Data Engineer Should Have:

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  • Active eDV clearance (West)
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  • Willingness to work full-time on-site in Gloucester when required.
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Required experience in the following:

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  • Apache Kafka
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  • Apache NiFI
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  • SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g. MongoDB)
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  • ETL processing languages such as Groovy, Python or Java
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  • Understand and interpret technical and business stakeholder needs
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  • Manage expectations through clear, proactive communication
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  • Lead and support challenging conversations with teams and senior stakeholders
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To be Considered:

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Please either apply by clicking online or emailing me directly to . For further information please call me on / - I can make myself available outside of normal working hours to suit from 7am until 10pm. If unavailable, please leave a message and either myself or one of my colleagues will respond. By applying for this role, you give express consent for us to process & submit (subject to required skills) your application to our client in conjunction with this vacancy only. Also feel free to follow me on Twitter @SearchableHenry or connect with me on LinkedIn, just search Henry Clay-Davies (searchability). I look forward to hearing from you.

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KEY SKILLS:

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DATA ENGINEER / DATA ENGINEERING / DEFENCE / NATIONAL SECURITY / DATA STRATEGY / DATA PIPELINES / DATA GOVERNANCE / SQL / NOSQL / APACHE / NIFI / KAFKA / ETL / GLOUCESTER / DV / SECURITY CLEARED / DV CLEARANCE

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