Data Engineer - DCMS - G7

Job summary

As a DDaT Data Engineer, you will get the opportunity to work on a cross-departmental data improvement initiative. You will be part of a team aiming to transform how DCMS uses data; embracing a data driven approach by building and maintaining sustainable data products to help improve data access, findability, data quality, data analysis and data visualisations. You’ll engage with analysts and policy officials to find the best ways to use data to support the department’s priority outcomes.

Job description

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and be passionate about agile working, believing how you work is as important as what you deliver. You will have opportunity to shape how you work and DCMS’ future data landscape.

As a Data Engineer, you will:

• Be a core member of DCMS’ data improvement programme, working in a multidisciplinary team, taking an agile approach to digital delivery of a data platform
• Lead the implementation and maintenance of efficient data flows and pipelines on the data platform
• Develop, iterate, and maintain data products, from design and coding to testing and deployment
• Implement and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate and manage a cloud-based data infrastructure
• Continuously optimising ETL processes for performance and scalability
• Collaborate with stakeholders across DCMS to integrate data requirements into the platform
• Assess and evaluate data repositories to ensure accuracy, quality and accessibility
• Drive continuous improvement of data engineering processes, tools, and best practices
• Provide technical leadership, promoting best practices and training
• Support the growth of data capability across DCMS by sharing knowledge, championing data and staying up to date on industry trends

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience

Essential requirements:

• Experience of designing and implementing data transformation at scale
• Experience in designing and developing data platforms and pipelines
• Expertise in SQL or Python for data manipulation, pipeline development and ETL processes
• Have an understanding of varied data-architectures involved in modern data systems (i.e. data warehouse, data lake, data mesh, data lakehouse)
• Have knowledge or experience of working in an agile delivery environment within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable skills

• Experience implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using tools such as Terraform
• Experience in Big Data technologies (Spark)
• Working with and analysts data scientists to productionize data products

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Alice Tandon and will take place on: 26th September at 12.00 - 12:30

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this form and you will be sent an invitation. 

Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Digital and Data framework for role level 3 Lead Data Engineer - https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/data-engineer
• A Technical Statement (max 250 words) an example of when you have instigated change within an organisation through a new data product or process.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• A Technical Statement (max 250 words) an example of when you have instigated change within an organisation through a new data product or process.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,839, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £14,438 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home
• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice
• 3 days of paid volunteering leave
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year
• Occupational sick pay
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice
• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks
• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work
• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the experience success profile: 

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.
• A Technical Statement of 250 words on Changing and Improving - an example of when you have instigated change within an organisation through a new data product or process.

For the shortlist, we will select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

The interview process will assess behaviours and technical skills through a scenario based task which will be provided prior to interview. 

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

As part of your interview, you may be asked to conduct a technical exercise to test your technical skills. The exercise will involve completing some scenario-based data engineering tasks and more information on the exercise will be provided to you prior to interview. You will be tested against the Government Digital and Data framework for role Level 3 Lead Data Engineer - https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/data-engineer

Your interview will take place remotely via GoogleMeet.

For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the ‘Application and Interview Guidance’ document attached to the job advert.

For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.

Further Information

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk   

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Information for Applicants’ document.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.

In order to request an adjustment, please:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or a verbal test rather than a written one. 

Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service