Lead Data Platform Engineer

Technical Lead – Data & Cloud Platforms £80,000 | London | Hybrid (1–2 days onsite) | 12-Month FTC

Some technical roles are about building systems.

This one is about enabling drug discovery.

You’ll join a research and innovation team working at the intersection of engineering and science, building platforms that support bioinformatics and computational chemistry teams in developing new therapies. The work is complex, data-heavy and genuinely meaningful - the kind of environment where your technical decisions directly influence research outcomes.

This is a hands‑on Technical Lead role, not a people management position. You’ll operate as a senior individual contributor, providing technical direction across cloud platforms, data pipelines and integration challenges.

You’ll work closely with architects and scientific stakeholders, translating research needs into scalable, production‑ready systems. The environment is ambiguous and evolving - they need someone who can bring clarity, make decisions and drive delivery, not just contribute code.

A big part of the role is connecting the dots:

What you’ll be doing

• Leading technical delivery across AWS‑based data platforms
• Designing and improving data pipelines, ETL processes and integrations
• Working closely with research teams to translate complex requirements into solutions
• Providing technical direction across engineering teams and initiatives
• Getting hands‑on where needed, or bringing in the right expertise to deliver

What will make you a fit

• Strong experience with Python and AWS (essential)
• Background in data platforms, data engineering or data‑heavy systems
• Experience building or working with ETL pipelines and data infrastructure
• Ability to operate in ambiguous, research‑driven environments
• Strong communication skills — able to influence both engineers and non‑technical stakeholders

Exposure to scientific environments (bioinformatics, research tooling, R, etc.) is a bonus, but not essential.

Why this role stands out

• Work directly supporting drug discovery and scientific research
• High‑impact role without moving into management
• Complex, intellectually challenging environment
• Strong autonomy and ownership
• Long‑term programme with likely extension

This is a role for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, working across disciplines, and turning ideas into real, working systems in environments where the answers aren’t always obvious.

If that sounds like your kind of challenge, this is worth a conversation.

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