Head of Data Engineering
| Posting date: | 03 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £54,857 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Additional allowance up to £25,543 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 September 2025 |
| Location: | Southampton |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 425493/2 |
Summary
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
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 reportingChampioning 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 solutionsPromoting 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.
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