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Senior Data Engineer

Thorn SDS
Hereford
2 days ago
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You’ll lead the design and delivery of large-scale data migration pipelines, ensuring data is clean, validated, transformed, and seamlessly moved from legacy platforms to cloud-based solutions.


Responsibilities

  • Deliver end-to-end data migration pipelines into a new private cloud.
  • Map, validate, reconcile, and transform complex datasets.
  • Build and optimise ETL/ELT workflows for bulk and incremental migrations.
  • Analyse legacy sources to understand structures, gaps, and dependencies.
  • Work closely with application, platform, and infrastructure teams.
  • Drive data quality and enforce strong governance and security.
  • Automate migration processes with scripting/orchestration tools.
  • Mentor junior engineers and support best practice adoption.

A Data Engineer who thrives on complexity and knows what it takes to move and modernise mission‑critical data.


Qualifications

  • Experience as a Senior Data Engineer on major data/app migration programmes, preferably within a defence environment.
  • Strong SQL plus Python/Scala/Java.
  • Deep ETL/ELT, data warehousing, modelling, and lineage experience.
  • Knowledge of legacy databases and monolithic systems.
  • Big data tech (Spark, Hadoop).
  • Cloud data tools (AWS Glue, ADF, Dataflow or similar).
  • Strong understanding of data governance and security.
  • Excellent communication and problem‑solving skills.
  • Cloud certifications are a bonus.

Thorn SDS supports leading organisations across the Space, Defence, and Security sectors. We’re looking for a Senior Data Engineer (SFIA L5) with strong data migration expertise to help drive a major transformation‑moving critical applications and datasets from legacy systems into a secure new private cloud platform. Play a pivotal role in shaping the future of data in one of the UK’s most secure environments.


Benefits & Perks

  • 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays
  • Employer pension contributions
  • Group Life Insurance
  • Dental & Health cashback plans
  • Well‑being support (GP, Physio, savings benefits & more)
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Training & Development opportunities
  • Thorn Well‑being Support Contribution

Ready to Make an Impact? This is your chance to elevate your career and use your skills in a role where data engineering meets national security. All applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK. Due to the nature of this role, you must hold, or be eligible to obtain, a high level of UK National Security clearance – for more information see GOV.UK. Occasional travel to UK sites, with overnight stays, may also be required.


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