Planning Inspectorate
Senior Data Engineer
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Senior Data Engineer
Senior Data Engineer – The Planning Inspectorate
Job Title: Senior Data Engineer
About the Role
The Planning Inspectorate is recruiting Senior Data Engineers to join their growing Digital and Data Unit, delivering innovative solutions for a fairer planning system in England.
You’ll collaborate with the Data Service team to design, build, and maintain our Operational Data Warehouse, integrating systems across the planning sector. This work enables data-driven decision-making for internal teams, government stakeholders, and the public.
As part of a cross-functional, collaborative team, you’ll contribute to data engineering best practices, ensuring scalable, high-quality data pipelines for improved service delivery.
The Inspectorate’s mission impacts communities, economies, and daily life, demanding rigorous standards and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
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Data Pipeline Design & Maintenance
- Build and maintain cross-system data pipelines for analytical and operational use
- Develop and maintain data models supporting reporting and BI requirements
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Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work with non-technical stakeholders to align technical solutions with business needs
- Translate data requirements into robust designs ensuring accessibility across teams
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Technical Excellence
- Investigate and resolve data quality and performance issues
- Apply engineering best practices (version control, testing, documentation)
- Support shared standards, code quality, and platform improvements
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Governance & Integration
- Align with Data Service’s remit to connect operational systems, analytics platforms, and BI capabilities
- Help ensure secure, compliant, and future-ready data governance across the organisation
Salary & Allowances
- Role: Senior Executive Officer grade
- Salary: £46,689 per annum (Lawrence Low Ct/m)
- DDaT Allowance: Up to £10,771 (based on capability and base salary)
- Civil Service Pension Contribution: £13,525 from the employer
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Note: New entrants must start at the minimum of the pay band. Existing CS staff may receive a level transfer or a 10% increment depending on current standing.
Working Hours & Flexibility
- Standard hours: 37 per week (or part-time >30 hours)
- Hybrid flexibility: Based at Runway East, Bristol Temple Meads with a flexible in-presence attendance policy, negotiated on a business unit basis.
Person Specification
Essential Requirements
- Experience designing, building, and maintaining data pipelines in cloud environments (preferably using).
- Strong Python & SQL skills for data engineering, with PySpark (distributed data processing) experience.
- Cloud data platform knowledge (preferably Azure Synapse & Data Factory).
- Data modelling, transformation, and warehousing expertise.
- Understanding of regulations (GDPR, data governance, security, privacy).
- Knowledge of data quality, CI/CD, version control, troubleshooting, and performance optimisation.
Selection Assessment
Behavioural Competencies
The interview will assess:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical Task
Shortlisted candidates must provide a written 250-word example of:
- Design and implementation of a data pipeline using Python and PySpark
Benefits
- £13,525 Proactive Pension Contribution via the Civil Service Defined Benefit Scheme.
- Flexible working: Includes flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and homeworking flexibility depending on role requirements.
- Inclusivity & diversity: Culture prioritising fairness and breaking down barriers.
- Leave: 25 days + 1 King’s Birthday holiday, increasing by 1 day yearly up to a maximum of 30 days after 5 years.
- Family-friendly policies: Comprehensive support for childcare and life stages.
- Modern IT: Windows 11 + Microsoft 365, enabling seamless remote collaboration.
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Critical Comments: Ethical Use of Assistants
Please note:
- Candidates must provide authentic, verifiable experience for examples in applications.
- Individuals may be subject to disciplinary action if false claims—whether from candidates or AI-generated material—are demonstrated.
Selection Timeline
- Lead Sift Review: 6–10 July 2024
- Interviews: 20–24 July 2024 (In-person at The Planning Inspectorate, Bristol.)
- Security Verification: Reports delayed due to processing time
- Visa Sponsorship: Not offered
- Reserve List: 9 months’ validity for future opportunities
No travel funds provided for interviews.
Additional Information
- Requirements: Must undergo Security Check (SC) vetting, abroad to BPSS level.
- Identity Validation: Right-to-work checks via IDVT for successful precandidates.
- Eligibility: UK nationals; EU, EEA or Swiss citizens with the right to work; plus select Commonwealth or EUSS-holder workloaded individuals per government rules.
- Confidentiality: The application must comply with the Civil Service Code and equal opportunity requirements.
- Diversity Initiatives: Awarded for veterans; formerly imprisoned candidates can apply.
- Contact Us: Email PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk with any queries.
If you meet the critical criteria, you are encouraged to apply.
Warning: Consult Security Vetting Levels pre-application for potential exemptions or limitations.
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