Head of Data Engineering - Maritime and Coastguard Agency - G7
Government Digital & Data -
Location
Cardiff, Southampton
About the job
Job summary
Are you a passionate Data Engineer professional looking for your next challenge?
Could you provide technical expertise, design and deliver new data pipelines using Python, in a cloud environment?
Do you have experience building and leading high-performance teams?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
Join the Data and Analytics team at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), where we are transforming how data is used to save lives and ensure safer, more sustainable seas. Our team is at the forefront of data innovation, supporting critical and strategic decision-making across the organisation.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.
Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.
Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it's like working at MCA roles: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers
Job description
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.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
- 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.
Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.
For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- 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 stakeholder management skills.
- Strong experience of a broad range of data management processes and technologies, both traditional and big data.
- Experience in team management along with demonstrable evidence of mentoring and coaching team members.
Additional Information
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. Here are more details on the pay framework.
Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements
Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.
Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.
If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).
The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. Therefore, this role is not open to applications from those who require sponsorship – candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Security Checks
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum residency requirement - if you do not, your application will be withdrawn.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- DDaT Profession Capability Framework: Head of Data Engineering - Communicating between the technical and non-technical (Expert)
- DDaT Profession Capability Framework: Head of Data Engineering - Data development process (Expert)
- DDaT Profession Capability Framework: Head of Data Engineering - Problem management (Expert)
- DDaT Profession Capability Framework: Head of Data Engineering - Programming and build (data engineering) (Expert)
- DDaT Profession Capability Framework: Head of Data Engineering - Technical understanding (Expert)
