Senior Data Engineer

Job Description

Senior Data Engineer (Ref. A133)
Full time/Permanent
Predominantly Aberdeen City Campus, with visits to our Aberdeen Altens and Fraserburgh Campuses (depending on business requirements)

Salary: £51,533.51 – £55,050.10 per annum
Salary increasing to £53,285.65 - £56,921.80 per annuum from 1st September 2026
Build the Future of Data at North East Scotland College

We're investing in a modern Microsoft Fabric data platform and are looking for an experienced Senior Data Engineer to help shape, build and lead the next generation of data and analytics services across the College.

This is a rare opportunity to join at the start of an exciting transformation programme. Working within our IT & Digital Services Team, you will play a pivotal role in establishing a trusted, scalable and governed data platform that supports reporting, analytics and data-driven decision making across the organisation.

You will be our lead technical specialist for Microsoft Fabric, helping to deliver a single source of truth for organisational data whilst enabling powerful self-service analytics through Power BI. 

If you're excited by the opportunity to build and evolve a modern Microsoft Fabric data platform that will transform how the College uses data, we'd love to hear from you.

NESCol is a disability confident employer. We offer a variety of working options in line with business requirements and place great importance on staff wellbeing. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

The closing date for applications will be Friday 31 July 2026.

Interested? Want to know more? 
For more information on this vacancy please visit our My Job Scotland website page on 
www.myjbscotland.gov.uk email jobs@nescol.ac.uk, or call People Services on 01224 612244 (voicemail).

Person Specification

PERSON SPECIFICATION
(Desirable criteria are marked with an asterisk (*); all others are essential) 

QUALIFICATIONS

1.    Degree (SCQF Level 9 or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
2.    Evidence of continuous professional development.
3.    Relevant Microsoft certifications in Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Engineering, or Power BI. *

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential
1.    Demonstrable experience designing, developing, and supporting data solutions using Microsoft Fabric, including Data Factory, Lakehouse, Data Warehouse, and notebooks.
2.    Strong proficiency in SQL, data modelling, and database design principles.
3.    Experience building, optimising, and maintaining scalable ETL/ELT data pipelines and workflows.
4.    Sound understanding of modern data architecture, including Lakehouse, data warehousing, and medallion design patterns.
5.    Experience using Python, PySpark, or Spark SQL for data transformation, automation, and analytics workloads.
6.    Knowledge of data governance, data quality management, security controls, and regulatory compliance requirements.
7.    Experience working with large-scale, complex, and diverse datasets in cloud-based environments.
8.    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve data-related issues effectively.
9.    Experience collaborating with technical and non-technical stakeholders to translate business requirements into data solutions.
10.    Understanding of software engineering and data engineering best practices, including version control, testing, documentation, and code review processes.

Desirable
11.    Experience developing Power BI semantic models, reports, and dashboards, including performance optimisation techniques.
12.    Experience implementing CI/CD processes and deployment automation for data platforms using tools such as Azure DevOps or GitHub.
13.    Familiarity with data integration patterns, REST APIs, and event-driven data architectures.
14.    Knowledge of Microsoft Azure data services and their integration with Microsoft Fabric.
15.    Experience supporting data governance initiatives, including metadata management, data lineage, and master data management.
16.    Relevant Microsoft certifications in Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Engineering, or Power BI.

SKILLS

1.    Oral and written communication skills.
2.    Numeracy skills.
3.    The ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
4.    Team working skills.
5.    Strong creative ability.
6.    Attention to detail with strong analytical skills.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

1.    Self-motivated
2.    Committed to people development.
3.    Committed to customer service and quality improvement.
4.    Ability to relate to people.
5.    Able to develop positive working relationships.

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1.    Commitment to College values and equal opportunities.
2.    Able to work flexibly to meet the demands of the post.