Full job descriptionStaff Data Engineer | AWS | PySpark | Data Modernisation | London | Contract | Inside IR35

We’re supporting a global, technology-led organisation undertaking a large-scale cloud data transformation programme.

This isn’t a traditional Data Engineering role. The organisation is modernising hundreds of complex data pipelines, establishing reusable engineering patterns and embedding engineering excellence across its Data function.

As a Staff-level engineer, you’ll combine deep hands-on technical expertise with organisation-wide technical influence, helping shape how modern Data Engineering is delivered across multiple engineering teams.

This is an opportunity to work on enterprise-scale data movement, cloud-native architectures and AI-assisted software engineering within a highly collaborative engineering culture.

You’ll be responsible for*Defining technical standards and engineering patterns for a large-scale Data Modernisation programme
*Re-engineering complex legacy data pipelines into production-grade PySpark
*Building scalable, reusable data movement frameworks across multiple engineering teams
*Driving best practice around AWS Glue, Apache Spark and Apache Airflow
*Designing high-quality testing frameworks covering performance, data quality and reliability
*Leveraging Agentic AI development tools to improve engineering productivity while maintaining code quality
*Coaching and influencing experienced engineers through technical leadership rather than line management
*Working closely with enterprise architecture and platform teams to improve how data is governed, managed and consumed
We’re looking for someone with experience in*Staff, Principal or Lead Data Engineering roles
*Python and expert-level PySpark
*AWS Glue
*Apache Spark
*Apache Airflow
*Cloud-native Data Engineering architectures
*Large-scale data pipeline modernisation
*Building reusable engineering patterns within enterprise environments
*Data testing, validation and observability
*AI-assisted software development using modern coding assistants
*Working within regulated or highly governed organisations
More important than any individual technology is your ability to combine hands-on engineering excellence with technical leadership, helping multiple engineering teams adopt consistent, scalable engineering practices.
Contract*£750-900 per day (inclusive)
*Initial 6-month contract with significant programme runway
*Inside IR35
*London (3 days per week on-site)