Data Engineer (Defence)
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Security clearance: must be eligible for UK SC-level security clearance (UK national)
Visa sponsorship: we are not able to sponsor visas for this role
Closing date: applications reviewed on a rolling basis
About Neptune North
Neptune North is a high-performing technical consultancy. We build data, AI and software solutions for clients in defence, financial services and private capital, working on demanding problems in challenging environments.
We were founded in 2024 as a joint venture between Oliver Wyman and Rokos Capital Management. We’re headquartered in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, with a growing international footprint, and we’re recruiting exceptional engineers across every level.
The role
We’re looking for Data Engineers to build the data foundations that our defence work depends on. This is a hands-on engineering role where you will have impact across a wide variety of projects.
Potential projects might include fully engineered production pipelines, Proof of Concepts (POCs), and applied work to make sensitive or hard-to-reach data usable in operational settings.
Responsibilities
Design and build data-intensive applications and pipelines, from ingest through to consumption
Test, troubleshoot and improve data products, ensuring reliability and quality
Provide technical expertise when it is required within the organisation and in client engagements
Demonstrate flexibility in taking on work aligned to evolving company priorities
Play an active role in sharing expertise to raise and re-use capability
What makes a great candidate
You don't need to meet every requirement to apply. If this role excites you, we'd like to hear from you.
Data Engineer:
Experience designing and building data intensive applications and pipelines
Strong SQL skills and comfortable working with large, complex datasets
Experience with distributed computing, cloud platforms and orchestration tools, such as Spark, Databricks, AWS, Azure, GCP or Airflow
Skill in preparing and cleaning messy data, including feature engineering for machine learning
A practical approach to keeping pipelines reliable and the data they produce trustworthy
Experience designing how data is modelled and stored so that others can use it effectively
Ability to work with analysts, scientists and engineers to understand what they need from the data
An analytical mindset, with the statistical understanding to question data
General:
Strong programming skills, typically in Python, with the flexibility to pick up other modern languages
A solid grounding in software engineering best practices and a commitment to maintain high engineering standards in all your work
Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to explain technical limits to non-technical colleagues
Ability to work effectively with ambiguity, while maintaining a disciplined, outcome-focused approach
Experience working as part of a team, with enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and collaborating
Strong academic foundations, typically a first-class from a leading university in Computer Science, Mathematics, AI, or a data related discipline
Experience in defence or national security is a strong plus
What you can achieve
Contribute to data capabilities that strengthen UK defence and national security
Build a strong foundation in production data engineering and engineering best practices that will shape your career
Develop your skills across the full data stack and a variety of technologies
Learn from experienced data and software engineers who are invested in your growth
Contribute to meaningful technical decisions as part of a collaborative, low-ego engineering team
Why join us
Work on a wide variety of interesting problems alongside high-calibre colleagues. Our culture is collaborative and supportive. Neptune North is a place where people help each other grow and feel a real sense of belonging
25 days’ holiday allowance plus bank holidays
Matching pension contributions up to 6%
Private health insurance through Bupa
Discretionary bonus
Travel
Neptune North works with clients across the UK’s defence sector. Many engagements involve regular travel and time on client site. This could mean two to three days per week over an entire assignment, or shorter periods of full-time on-site working anywhere in the UK, at sites including Cheltenham, Bristol, Glasgow, Portsmouth or other defence hubs. We support travelling staff with full expenses and hotel arrangements, and we discuss client placements with you in advance. We are looking for engineers who see this variety as part of the appeal of consultancy work rather than a downside.
Interview process
Our interview process is rigorous because the standard internally is high. For this role, it has three stages:
Written questions, which you complete at a time that suits you
A first interview covering your CV, experience and career aspirations
A technical interview with members of our engineering team
Equity, diversity and inclusion
At Neptune North we are committed to a work environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences help us attract, develop and retain the best talent. We do not discriminate based on gender, age, race or ethnicity, identification as an LGBTQIA+ individual, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by relevant local law.