Head of Data Engineering (12 Month FTC)London - 2 Days in LondonUp to £115,000 + 15% Bonus We’re partnering with an exciting start-up, created by two fortune 100 companies, on a Head of Data Engineering hire based in London. This is a senior leadership role owning the data engineering function for a business operating at the heart of the US generic pharmaceuticals supply chain, where data quality, governance, and scale are mission-critical.
This role suits an experienced data engineering leader who enjoys operating in complex, regulated environments and building robust data platforms that directly support commercial and sourcing decisions.
What you’ll do * Lead, coach, and develop a team of Data Engineers and Senior Data Engineers

* Own the end-to-end data platform, including pipelines, infrastructure, quality, and governance

* Define and deliver a long-term data architecture vision

* Build scalable data pipelines across cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)

* Ensure strict data sharing, sensitivity, and compliance standards (including SOX)

* Partner closely with Technology, Product, Analytics, and senior business stakeholders

* Champion data-led decision making across internal and external partners

* Present complex data initiatives clearly to senior leadership

What we’re looking for * 8-10+ years’ experience in data engineering

* Proven experience managing and leading data engineering teams

* Strong background in cloud data platforms and modern data architectures

* Hands-on expertise with Python, data modelling, ETL, and big data technologies (e.g. Spark)

* Experience operating in regulated or complex enterprise environments

* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

* Comfortable working with ambiguity and driving change

Nice to have * Healthcare or pharmaceutical sector experience

* Strong governance, compliance, and audit exposure