Job Description

BUSINESS FUNCTION:

IT (Data & Analytics)

SALARY:

Up to 62k (Grade ML2/SB1)

ROLE TYPE:

Permanent

LOCATION:

York/Leeds/Manchester

HOURS

: 37 per week





As part of Northern's Data and Analytics team, you'll play a key role in shaping how data powers every decision we make. As the Lead Data Platform Engineer, you will lead the design, development, and optimisation of the organisation's enterprise data platform and its pipelines, enabling data-driven decision-making and innovation.






You will act as technical lead for a team of skilled data engineers and align the data engineering strategy with business objectives. This role is pivotal in ensuring the availability, security, and scalability of data systems to support the organisation's digital transformation.

What you'll be doing

Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of robust, scalable, and secure data pipelines. Implement best practices for data pipelines, modelling, and governance to ensure high-quality, consistent, and compliant data. Lead initiatives to modernize legacy systems, migrate data to the cloud, and optimize data storage and processing costs. Provide thought leadership on emerging data technologies and trends, recommending strategies to leverage advancements for competitive advantage. Ensure the integrity of the data sets within the data lake maps to the logical model and that data sets are well documented in Wikis, data dictionaries etc. Participate in data engineering sprints, develop data pipelines, peer-review code. Mentor a high-performing team of data engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Support the Data Engineering Team Manager to translate user stories into ingestion, curation and integration solutions. Identify and mitigate risks related to data access, storage, and usage, ensuring robust data protection measures are in place. Define and execute the organisation's data engineering strategy, aligned with overall business objectives and technology roadmaps. Ensure data engineering processes adhere to regulatory standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and organizational security policies.

About you

You're a technical expert who thrives on the importance of clean, scalable data - solving problems, driving better decisions, and supporting innovation. You'll bring:



Significant experience in data engineering, including leading or mentoring technical teams. Deep understanding of cloud environments such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform, and tools like Synapse, Hadoop, or Snowflake. Hands-on experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala. Strong knowledge of data architecture, modelling, and governance. A track record of delivering complex data projects - from cloud migrations to big data solutions. The ability to explain technical concepts in plain language and build trust with stakeholders at every level. A degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Data Science, or a related subject is preferred, and cloud or data certifications would be a bonus.

What's in it for you?

At Northern, we don't just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here's a taste of what you can look forward to:

Free Travel:

Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.

Generous Pension Scheme

: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.

Enhanced Family Benefits:

We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.

Cycle to Work Scheme:

Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.

Electric Car Scheme:

Lease a brand new electric or plugin hybrid car.

Exclusive Discounts:

From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.

Holiday Purchase Scheme:

Buy up to 5 extra days of annual leave.

Employee Assistance Programme:

24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.

Training and Career Development:

We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you're in.

Recognition:

We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That's why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We're more than just a train operator. We're the heartbeat of the North - connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we're on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.



Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, after which rail quickly spread across the globe - and this year, we're celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. As we look back on the historic events that led us here, we also look towards the future as we move into the era of Great British Rail. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board. At Northern, we don't just move people from A to B - we're building a team where everyone feels they belong.


Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that's something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we'll always offer an interview. We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment. No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob... there's a place for you here in the railway.