Department for Education
Data Engineer (up to £61,340)
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Job Summary
IMPORTANT - This vacancy is using the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the vacancy closing date. Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete the written application.
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
At our heart, we are the department for Opportunity. We enable children and learners to thrive, by protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the delivery of excellent standards of education, training and care.
Data is integral to achieve this vision and the roles on offer are part of the Data Directorate within DfE. As a directorate, we provide a full range of data sourcing, management, governance, sharing, statistics, and visualisation capabilities and products to users across DfE, the education sector, cross-government, and citizens. We’re seeking highly capable Data Engineers to help us achieve our vision.
We’re striving to create a place that’s great to work in. We offer forward-thinking ways of working and training opportunities, as well as providing support from specialist colleagues. On top of that, you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your skills can bring tangible change.
Job Description
As a Data Engineer, you will be joining a team of talented data engineering professionals, who are committed to delivering high-impact, secure data solutions to achieve departmental and directorate objectives. You will:
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a large and complex data environment to develop and deliver end-to-end data solutions.
- Translate user requirements and data models into effective, robust data engineering solutions in line with build standards and ensure code is production ready.
- Deliver data engineering solutions in line with project goals and delivery cycles, while working openly and collaboratively in our team.
- Be proactive and want to make an impact, and this may sometimes involve challenging current methods.
- Help build and maintain our data engineering community to facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration across the department.
- Work with new technologies such as Azure cloud-based tech stack, Databricks, Azure Data Factory, Agile ways of working, and practices such as CI/CD and DevOps. We use a combination of tooling, data quality processes, scripting, and modern cloud technologies to drive the engineering solutions.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
We are looking for experience in:
- Designing and building robust and re-usable data engineering solutions on any of the following cloud platforms – Azure, AWS, Google Cloud.
- Working with common data types and industry standard architectural patterns such as data warehouses/lake houses etc. - to service operational and/or analytical business needs.
- Proficiency in one or more of the following – SQL, Python, Apache Spark (Pyspark, Spark SQL)
- Performing troubleshooting, root-cause analysis and improving data quality in the data products.
- Delivering through Agile/DevOps working practices in multi-disciplinary teams – CI/CD, Scrum, Automation.
- Staying up-to-date with latest tools and technologies and building proof-of-concepts using those technologies to solve a business problem.
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Desirable Skills
We are keen to hear about the following desirable skills, although these are not essential:
- Experience with Databricks, Informatica DEI and Azure Data Factory.
- Experience of implementing dimensional models.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie-break situation to make an informed decision.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,305, Department for Education contributes £12,835 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Selection Process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Stage 1: Civil Service Numerical Test (CSNT)
When you have completed your personal information, you will be asked to complete the CSNT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.
Stage 2: Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT)
When you have completed the CSNT, you will be asked to complete the CSVT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.
Stage 3: Written Application
Applications must include:
- A CV with education and full employment history, giving details of key achievements relevant to the essential criteria outlined in this job description. Please use the template within the application form.
- A personal statement outlining how you meet the criteria listed under essential criteria, as detailed in the job advert (max 1000 words).
Stage 4: Sift
We reserve the right to increase the minimum pass mark for the CSNT and CSVT where there is a high volume of applications or a particularly strong field of candidates. Where this occurs, candidates who do not meet the revised pass mark will not progress further, and their written application will not be assessed.
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Your application will be assessed on your experience only through your CV and personal statement of suitability.
Your CV and statement will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert. Should we receive a large volume of applications we will only assess your application on the first essential criterion.
Stage 5: Interview
Those successful at sift will be invited to attend an interview. At the interview we will ask questions to further assess your experience in relation to all the listed essential (and in the case of a tie, the desirable) criteria and the advertised behaviour.
Interviews will be on MS teams, with the candidate at a DfE office.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Timing
We expect to sift in week commencing 19 October 2026, though this may be later if we receive large volumes of applications.
Interviews will likely take place in the weeks commencing 2, 9 and 16 November 2026 with candidates in DfE offices.
Once a provisional offer has been made, you will be invited to participate in a capability assessment to determine the value of the CBP allowance we can offer you. The assessment compares your skills against the Data Engineer role described in DfE’s local Data Engineering Capability Framework, which is based on the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.
Subject to your availability, we will aim to conduct the capability assessment and confirm the allowance offer to you within a week of the provisional offer being made.
This is a discretionary non-consolidated, non-pensionable allowance which, if awarded, is attached to the post. The value of the allowance is based on the outcome of a capability assessment and is reviewed annually. Allowance values range up to £13,000 with the highest values reserved for candidates whose capability is above the expected level for all of the skills.
Important Information
If you fail to complete the tests before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are untimed, administered via Civil Service Jobs, and applicant guidance is available during the test and online on GOV.UK Online Tests guidance.
Applicants must complete the test on their own, without help, and Departments reserve the right to retest applicants under supervised conditions at later stages of the selection process. Doing this can provide reassurance to recruiters who are concerned about the authenticity of one or more test results.
Please ensure you allow yourself sufficient time to complete both assessments and submit your application before the advertised deadline.
Reasonable Adjustments & Test Accessibility
See our reasonable adjustments guide for candidates (online tests), or some example case studies, to act as a guide. You can use these to help you decide whether to ask for help or take the test without help.
More information about online tests can be found here: Preparing for the Civil Service Verbal and Numerical tests - GOV.UK. You will also find practice tests on this page if you would find them helpful prior to completing the live test.
Other Information
Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior
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