Lead Data Engineer
Summary
Hands-on Lead Data Engineer acting as the technical expert within a BI-focused team to design and optimize data pipelines and analytical models. Core technologies include SQL, Python, Azure Data Factory, and Apache Airflow in a hybrid Warsaw-based role.
Hybrid, 2 days from the Warsaw office; the rest remotely
B2B contract, till April 2027 + possible extensions
Project language: English
Start: 1 November 2026
Extended background verification is required before onboarding
We are looking for an experienced Senior Data Engineer / Data Engineering Lead to become the key Data Engineering expert within a team primarily composed of BI and Power BI Developers. This is a hands-on technical role, not a people-management position. You will take ownership of the Data Engineering area, help the team make better technical decisions, identify gaps and risks in the current setup, and proactively recommend improvements.
The role
You will initially receive a structured onboarding into the existing data landscape, architecture and ways of working. Once familiar with the environment, you will be expected to operate independently, challenge existing approaches where appropriate and take technical ownership of the Data Engineering domain.
Your responsibilities will include:
Taking technical ownership of the Data Engineering area within a BI-focused team.
Designing, developing and improving data pipelines and transformations.
Building and optimizing analytical data models.
Developing complex SQL-based data transformations.
Working with Python or comparable Data Engineering technologies.
Developing and supporting pipelines using Azure Data Factory and/or Apache Airflow.
Identifying technical gaps, risks, bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
Troubleshooting data issues end-to-end, from source systems through transformation layers to reporting.
Providing technical guidance and recommendations to BI Developers and other team members.
Supporting engineering standards, design decisions and best practices.
Collaborating closely with Power BI Developers, Architects and business stakeholders.
Ensuring that the data layer provides reliable and scalable foundations for reporting and analytics.
What we are looking for
Strong commercial experience as a Senior Data Engineer.
Advanced SQL skills.
Strong experience with data modelling and analytical data structures.
Hands-on experience with Python or a comparable programming language.
Experience with Azure Data Factory and/or Apache Airflow.
Good knowledge of Azure-based data environments.
Understanding of Power BI and modern reporting architectures.
Strong troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis skills.
Ability to independently take ownership of complex technical topics.
Proactive mindset and willingness to challenge existing solutions.
Strong communication and technical leadership skills.
Valuable additional experience
Experience with technologies such as the following will be beneficial:
Azure Databricks.
Azure Synapse Analytics.
Azure Data Lake / ADLS.
Microsoft Fabric / Fabric Data Factory.
Spark / PySpark.
Modern data warehouse architectures.
Dimensional modelling / Kimball.
Power BI semantic and reporting environments.
What does “Lead” mean in this role?
You will not manage a separate Data Engineering team.
You will remain a hands-on Data Engineer within a BI-focused team while acting as the team's primary Data Engineering expert – taking ownership, providing technical guidance and helping other team members make sound engineering decisions.