Data Engineering Manager (Data Platform)

Description

We’re on a mission to back the UK’s small businesses like no one else

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and we’re here to help them win. We’ve built a platform that uses clever data to get them the funding they need in minutes, not weeks.

At Funding Circle, we have the restless energy of a fintech start-up with the stability of a public company. It’s a unique mix that gives Circlers the autonomy to take ownership and the scale to make an impact that truly counts.

We’re a high-performing team that chooses to lift each other up. We challenge, we champion, and we have each other’s backs - because we know that when we stand together, we move faster and build better.

The impact is real: Last year alone, the businesses on our platform generated £7.2bn for the UK economy Come and join a mission that matters!

[ Read our Impact Report ] | [ See our Trustpilot ]

Responsibilities

• You’ll make a real difference for our customers and your team from day one. We believe the fastest way to grow is by doing, so we give you the ownership to run with things and see real-time results.
• We are looking for a Data Platform Engineering Manager to join our Data Platform Engineering team which sits under Tech and Data. We’re partway through a migration to a modern Snowflake-based platform, so you’ll join at a pivotal point where your decisions will shape how we work for years to come
• Reporting directly to the Head of Data Engineering, You’ll partner closely with our Technical Lead and Principal Engineer: while they drive architecture and technical patterns, you will own the delivery engine, team health, career progression, and stakeholder alignment that turns strategy into reality.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of data platform engineers, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive team culture.
• Champion a product mindset for internal tooling, ensuring our platform empowers domain teams to build quickly and safely without bottlenecks
• Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes for the team. Set clear goals and expectations, providing regular feedback and guidance to team members.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of projects within the data platform roadmap, ensuring timely and high-quality outcomes.
• Manage the team's backlog, prioritise tasks effectively. Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for platform health and team delivery.
• Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with key stakeholders, including technical and business leaders. Understand stakeholder needs and translate them into actionable requirements for the data platform.
• Communicate the team's roadmap, progress, challenges, and successes clearly and proactively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Actively invest in the career development of your team members through coaching, mentoring, and identifying growth opportunities. Create personalised development plans and support engineers in acquiring new skills and expertise. Foster a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and technical curiosity within the team.

Requirements

• We value deep expertise, but a growth mindset and good energy are what really make our team click. We’re a group that chooses to lift each other up and think smart every day.
• Solid understanding of modern data platform architectures (,e.g. Snowflake, data mesh/lakehouse, dbt, Airflow, streaming vs. batch pipelines, data contracts)
• Proven experience managing and leading high-performing data engineering teams in a product-driven environment
• Proven track record of mentoring and developing engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and professional growth.
• Demonstrable experience in managing project delivery, including planning, prioritisation, and execution.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Able to architect custom AI solutions and smart automated systems that are safe, maintainable, and aligned with our long-term mission
• Act as a technical bridge and mentor, training “builders" across the company to move from basic AI usage to sophisticated system creation
• Experience shaping data platform strategy and vision, aligning technical capabilities with evolving business needs and helping drive technical innovation.
• A proactive approach to identifying and implementing improvements related to platform reliability, scalability, performance, and cost.
• Experience running a platform team that serves internal customers, with a focus on self-service and developer experience.
• We’re building a place where everyone truly feels they belong. Even if your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you.

Benefits

• We back you to build an incredible career and by joining us, you'll be part of one of The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2026 ! As a flexible-first employer, we use a "best of both" approach. We’ll see you in our London office to collaborate – with barista coffee and subsidised Just Eat lunches on us!
• Our Circler Proposition focuses on five areas:
• Flexibility: We provide a benefit allowance you can tailor to your own life and family.
• Health: This includes private medical and dental, health assessments, and access to a digital GP.
• Wealth: We offer life assurance, share schemes, and financial coaching.
• Development: You get a dedicated annual learning allowance to help you level up.
• Lifestyle: We have electric car and cycle-to-work schemes, plus season ticket loans.
• We also have award-winning parental leave policies. We're here to support you through the big life moments, from fertility treatments to new additions to the family.
• Ready to join a mission that matters? We’d love to chat!