Data Engineer (SQL, Python, Snowflake, Data Pipelines) - Hybrid/Hertfordshire - £65,000 + 20% Bonus

Company: Prize Placements | Location: [Hertfordshire / Remote / Hybrid] | Type: Permanent | Reports to: [Head of Data / Engineering Manager]

We are looking for a hands-on Data Engineer to own and develop backend data pipelines. This is a backend engineering role: you will ingest data from a wide range of sources, load it reliably into Snowflake, and make sure it is fresh, monitored and trustworthy.

• Design, build and maintain robust ELT/ETL pipelines that load data into Snowflake from REST APIs, databases, flat files (CSV/JSON) and third-party platforms.
• Develop Python-based ingestion, automation and ETL scripts, including API integrations and scheduled jobs.
• Configure and manage managed or open-source connectors using Fivetran and/or Meltano/Singer (or comparable tooling).
• Write and optimise advanced SQL in Snowflake, including transformations, performance tuning and data modelling.
• Implement pipeline monitoring, logging, alerting and error handling, including data freshness and data health checks.
• Troubleshoot pipeline failures, investigate data quality issues and carry out root-cause analysis.
• Use Git and sound version-control practices (branching, code review, documentation) across all pipeline code.
• Automate operational tasks with Bash/shell scripting where appropriate.
• Contribute to architecture decisions, including the potential future evolution of our backend platform toward Azure / Microsoft Fabric.
• Document data sources, pipelines and operational runbooks.

• SQL (advanced): ideally strong Snowflake SQL experience.
• Python (strong): particularly data ingestion, working with APIs, automation and ETL scripting.
• Snowflake: strong hands-on experience.
• ETL/ELT tooling: hands-on experience with Fivetran and/or Meltano/Singer, or comparable ETL/ELT technologies.
• Integrations: solid experience with REST APIs, JSON, CSV and database integrations.
• Bash/Shell scripting: working knowledge.
• Git / version control: day-to-day working experience.
• Operational monitoring: experience with pipeline monitoring, logging, error handling and data freshness/health monitoring.

• Experience with dbt.
• Knowledge of Azure and/or Microsoft Fabric, relevant to the potential future evolution of our backend.
• Basic Power BI skills. This is useful for understanding downstream consumers, but this is not a Data Analyst or BI Developer role.

• Pipelines run reliably, with issues detected and resolved before they affect data consumers.
• Data in Snowflake is fresh, well documented and trusted.
• New data sources are onboarded quickly and consistently.
• Monitoring and alerting give clear visibility into pipeline health.

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ownership mindset: comfortable running what you build.
• Clear communicator who can explain technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Pragmatic, with a bias toward automation and maintainable code.

• £65,000 + 20% Bonus (£13,000)
• Benefits - Excellent Pension Scheme, 25 days annual leave rising to 28 days within 3 years, Private Medical Cover, holiday, flexible working]
• Flexible working - up to 3 days work from home per week

Please send your CV and a short covering note to Lee Smith from Prize Placements.