Data Engineer / Scientist

Data Engineer / Scientist

Department: Consultancy

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: United Kingdom / Hybrid

Description

As a Data Engineer/Scientist at Actica, you will have the opportunity to design, build, and maintain data pipelines while developing advanced analytics solutions to unlock business problems for high-profile UK public sector organisations. Your expertise will enable organisations to maximise the value of their data assets through robust data infrastructure and sophisticated analysis, playing a key role in nationally critical projects that make a real difference to people's everyday lives.

Locations: London, Guildford, Bristol, M4 corridor 
Hybrid working

Roles and Responsibilities

Actica recognises that data engineering, analytics, and data science are distinct but interconnected disciplines. Our data engineers focus on building and maintaining the data infrastructure that enables analytics and data science work, while our data scientists and analysts focus on deriving insights and developing models.

At Actica, we're at the forefront of the UK government's AI transformation agenda, seeking skilled data specialists to architect and implement advanced analytics solutions for critical public sector and defence organisations. As part of our team, you'll leverage technologies like Palantir, Tableau, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) to build scalable data infrastructure, develop machine learning models, and create robust solutions that enhance public service delivery.  

Working in classified environments, you'll tackle complex challenges using tools like Hadoop, Spark, and modern visualisation frameworks while implementing automation that drives government efficiency.  You'll collaborate with stakeholders to transform legacy systems, implement data governance frameworks, and ensure solutions meet the highest security standards.  

Our deep expertise in public sector digital transformation and established presence across defence and government organisations offer unique opportunities to shape the future of UK public services through innovative data-driven solutions.  With our strong technical foundation and focus on mission-critical systems, you'll be part of a team delivering nationally significant projects that have a real impact on public service delivery. 

If you're passionate about applying cutting-edge data science and engineering in secure environments while contributing to the UK's digital transformation agenda, we should discuss how your expertise could strengthen our growing data practice. 

As a data engineer/scientist, you will:

Data Engineering Focus:

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable data pipelines and ETL processes
• Develop and maintain data warehouses and data lakes
• Implement data quality monitoring and validation systems
• Create and maintain data documentation and cataloguing systems
• Optimize data storage and retrieval systems
• Implement data security and governance frameworks
• Build and maintain data APIs and services

Analytics and Data Science Focus:

• Translate business problems into data queries and solutions
• Develop and deploy machine learning models
• Create advanced analytics solutions
• Provide insights through data visualization and reporting
• Design and implement A/B tests and experiments
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand data requirements

Project Responsibilities:

You will work on assignments such as:

• Architecting end-to-end data solutions for major business transformation programmes
• Designing and implementing data lakes and warehouses using cloud technologies
• Creating automated data pipelines for continuous data integration
• Developing real-time data processing systems
• Implementing data governance and security frameworks
• Building scalable machine learning infrastructure
• Collaborating with multiple departments, stakeholders, and external vendors

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

We work predominantly within the UK Defence and Public Sectors so experience within those sectors is desirable, preferably in roles which have used data to solve business problems. 

The fast-moving nature of the Public Sector technology environment, together with the need to resource multiple, ad-hoc assignments, also requires our data analysts and data scientists to be quick thinkers, proactive and self-motivated – with the ability to apply a structured approach to often unfamiliar subject matter.
 The following attributes and areas of experience will make you particularly suited to this role with Actica:

• Coding e.g. expertise in Python or R;
• Collaborative, team-based development;
• Cloud analytics platforms e.g. relevant AWS and Azure platform services;
• Data tools e.g. Power BI, Qlik Sense, Palantir, Tableau, Splunk, Elastic;
• Data science approaches and tooling e.g. Hadoop, Spark;
• Data engineering approaches;
• Database management, e.g. MySQL, Postgress;
• Software development methods and techniques e.g. Agile methods such as SCRUM;
• Software change management, notably familiarity with git;
• Public sector best practice guidance, e.g. ITIL, OGC toolkit.

Additional Requirements:

•  Must be eligible and willing to obtain UK Government Security Clearance.

Key Attributes for Success:

• Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders, including resolving issues and identifying new opportunities.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Adaptability to a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

Working Arrangements:

• Hybrid working model, with an office base in Guildford, Surrey and access to our other offices in London, Swindon and Cheltenham.
• Typical working week might involve 2-3 days working at clients’ premises or other locations and the remainder at home or at one of our offices.
• Some projects may require up to 5 days per week on-site with colleagues.
• The practicalities of some project work means that individuals may need to stay away from home during the working week
• Team-based project environment with opportunities to participate in internal initiatives.

Career Development

A Mentor will be on hand to provide support and guidance throughout your journey with Actica. You will also work with a Performance and Development Manager, often outside of your project line of control, who will conduct regular reviews based on project feedback to set career objectives and identify training courses which are both relevant to your current project work, and aligned with your planned career progression.
Our Commitment to Diversity
 Actica aims to nurture a diverse workforce through inclusive working practices, promoting equality in our recruitment activities, and by employing candidates on the basis of merit. Discrimination against individuals on the grounds of protected characteristics is not permitted and we take steps to ensure that our staff are made aware of their legal responsibilities when making hiring decisions.

We offer a competitive suite of benefits.