Head of Data Engineering

Head of Data Engineering role at Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Apply by the closing date shown below. This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Tuesday 16th September 2025.

As Head of Data Engineering, you will design and implement cloud-based data pipelines, build and coach a skilled team, and unlock data for analysis and reporting. Reporting to the Chief Data Architect, you’ll collaborate across the MCA and government to deliver trusted data services. Strong programming skills, innovation, and a passion for data are essential as we build a data-enabled organisation. This is a Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework role and as a technology specialist, you’ll work at the cutting edge of how people interact and are empowered by digital government services.

Salary: £54,857 (Additional allowance up to £25,543) - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

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• Employer pension contribution of 28.97%
  
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to 30 days)
  
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day
  
• Access to the staff discount portal
  
• Career development opportunities and potential to undertake professional qualifications paid for by the department (e.g., CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships)
  
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives and 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
  
• Flexible working options for work-life balance
  

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

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• Leading the data engineering function to support MCA’s strategic objectives
  
• Designing, building and maintaining secure, scalable data pipelines for analysis and reporting
  
• Championing modern data engineering tools, cloud platforms and streaming technologies
  
• Establishing enterprise-scale data development processes and governance standards
  
• Collaborating with data architects, analysts, data scientists, governance, and stakeholders to deliver compliant solutions
  
• Promoting Agile delivery, cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement
  
• Mentoring and developing a high-performing team of data engineers
  
• Ensuring data integration and interoperability across systems for trusted access
  

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

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• Experience in delivering successful and high-value data engineering initiatives using an Agile approach
  
• Demonstrable experience in delivering data engineering projects working through complex business problems and partnering with internal and external stakeholders
  
• Proven experience in data engineering and/or software architecture and development using Python, in a cloud environment
  
• Strong knowledge of technical design, implementation and security
  
• Strong experience of a broad range of data management processes and technologies, both traditional and big data
  
• Experience in team management along with mentoring and coaching team members
  

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £54,857. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £25,543.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.

Read the full job description and apply here https://bit.ly/3UXDxWk

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Tuesday 16th September 2025.