Head of Data Engineering

Drax
London
5 days ago
Create job alert

Head of Data Engineering

Please ensure you read the below overview and requirements for this employment opportunity completely.
Full time / Permanent
Flexible

Closing date: 28 April
 
Who we are:

We’re not just talking about making a
difference, we’re making it happen. We generate dispatchable, renewable power
and create stable energy in an uncertain world. Building on our proud heritage,
we have ambition to become the global leader in sustainable biomass and carbon
removals.

You’ll be joining our teams of practical
doers, future thinkers and business champions. We’re enabling a zero carbon,
lower cost energy future for all, and working hard to decarbonise the planet
for generations to come.

About the role
As Head of Data Engineering, you will
support Drax’s strategic objectives by developing a high-performing team to
deliver cutting-edge data engineering solutions, with the capability to
leverage data inside and outside of Drax to drive business growth, lower costs
and reduce risk. You will work closely with members of the Executive Committee
(ExCom), Drax Leadership Team (DLT) and departmental heads to discover and
prioritise data needs against the Group’s strategic priorities.

In this role, you will:

  • Provide a secure, reliable platform for hosting and delivering Data Science, Automation, and Analytic products to stakeholders.
  • Build a diverse and inclusive team of employees and contractors, scaling according to demand to deliver strategic data priorities across the Group
  • Build trusted relationships with stakeholders
  • Communicate complex subjects in a clear and intelligible manner to non-experts, up to and including ExCom, Government and client C-suite
  • Remain up to date with emerging technologies and implement costed, risk-assessed recommendations.
    Manage a team of ~20, rising to ~40 individuals, with a mixture of permanent staff, contractors and nearshore partners.

Who we’re looking for:
To be successful in this role
you’ll ideally have substantial experience of being in a role responsible for
and directing a delivery portfolio and the ability to demonstrate success in
this leadership role in a FTSE 250 size organisation.

To be successful in this role
you’ll ideally have:

  • Proven leadership experience in building and developing high-performing teams in a dynamic environment with experience coaching and developing individuals
  • A strong technical background in data engineering, with knowledge of data science and data visualisation techniques.
  • Experience delivering data products into a business from concept, funding, through to successful production operation.
  • Strong knowledge of the energy industry (e.g. trading, utilities, power systems etc.); renewable technologies; national and international policy to achieve net-zero
  • Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse cost/benefit opportunities.
  • In-depth subject matter expert on project management responsibility and ownership, specifically planning & controls
    Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders, including ExCom / C-level executives.

Rewards and benefits:
As you help us to shape the
future, we’ve shaped our rewards and benefits to help you thrive and support
your lifestyle. If successful
in this role you’ll get:

  • A discretionary bonus depending on company performance
  • Private Healthcare with Vitality
  • SAYE (Sharesave): discretionary scheme (Currently available yearly)
  • Personal accident cover
  • Group personal pension plan where we’ll pay up to 10%
  • Holiday 25 days plus bank holidays
  • Reimbursement of the cost of your annual membership of one relevant and appropriate professional body

We’re committed to making a tangible
impact on the climate challenge we all face. Drax is where your individual
purpose can work alongside your career drive. We work as part of a team that
shares a passion for doing what’s right for the future. With Drax you can shape
your career and a future for generations to come.

Together, we make it happen.

At Drax, we’re committed to fostering an
environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their
role. To make this a reality, we actively work to better represent the
communities we operate in, foster inclusion, and establish fair processes.
Through these actions, we build the trust needed for all colleagues at Drax to
contribute their perspectives and talents, no matter their background. Find out
more about our approach here.

Talk to us about flexible working!

How to apply:
Think this role’s for you? Click the
‘apply now’ button to begin your Drax journey.

If you want to find out more about Drax,
check out our LinkedIn
page to see our latest news.

We understand that you may have some
additional questions about the role. If you’d like to have a confidential chat
to discuss the role in more detail, please email


We reserve the right to close
roles early when the role and / or location has had sufficient applications.

#LI-HYBRID







Related Jobs

View all jobs

Head of Data Engineering - Private Markets - London/Hybrid | London, UK

Head of Data Engineering

Head of Data & AI

Head of Business Intelligence (Basé à London)

Databricks Tech Lead

Managing Consultant - Transport - Data Science (Basé à London)

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Contract vs Permanent Data Science Jobs: Which Pays Better in 2025?

Data science sits at the intersection of statistics, machine learning, and domain expertise, driving crucial business decisions in almost every sector. As UK organisations leverage AI for predictive analytics, customer insights, and automation, data scientists have become some of the most in-demand professionals in the tech job market. By 2025, data scientists with expertise in deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and MLOps are commanding top-tier compensation packages. However, deciding whether to become a day‑rate contractor, a fixed-term contract (FTC) employee, or a permanent member of an organisation can be challenging. Each path offers a unique blend of earning potential, career progression, and work–life balance. This guide will walk you through the UK data science job market in 2025, examine the differences between these three employment models, present sample take‑home pay scenarios, and offer strategic considerations to help you determine the best fit for your career.

Data Science Jobs for Non‑Technical Professionals: Where Do You Fit In?

Beyond Jupyter Notebooks Ask most people what a data‑science career looks like and they’ll picture Python wizards optimising XGBoost hyper‑parameters. The truth? Britain’s data‑driven firms need storytellers, strategists, ethicists and project leaders every bit as much as they need statisticians. The Open Data Institute’s UK Data Skills Gap 2024 places demand for non‑technical data talent at 42 % of all data‑science vacancies—roles focused on turning model outputs into business value and trustworthy decisions. This guide highlights the fastest‑growing non‑coding roles, the transferable skills many professionals already have, and a 90‑day action plan to land a data‑science job—no pandas required.

McKinsey & Company Data‑Science Jobs in 2025: Your Complete UK Guide to Turning Data into Impact

When CEOs need to unlock billion‑pound efficiencies or launch AI‑first products, they often call McKinsey & Company. What many graduates don’t realise is that behind every famous strategy deck sits a global network of data scientists, engineers and AI practitioners—unified under QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey. From optimising Formula One pit stops to reducing NHS wait times, McKinsey’s analytics teams turn messy data into operational gold. With the launch of the McKinsey AI Studio in late 2024 and sustained demand for GenAI strategy, the firm is growing its UK analytics headcount faster than ever. The McKinsey careers portal lists 350+ open analytics roles worldwide, over 120 in the UK, spanning data science, machine‑learning engineering, data engineering, product management and AI consulting. Whether you love Python notebooks, Airflow DAGs, or white‑boarding an LLM governance roadmap for a FTSE 100 board, this guide details how to land a McKinsey data‑science job in 2025.