Databricks Architect

Who you are

• Databricks Expertise: Significant hands-on experience with Databricks, having delivered multiple platform implementations end to end, backed by certifications (Databricks Data Engineer Professional or equivalent preferred; Data Engineer Associate as a minimum). Databricks Champion or DPP status is a strong plus
• Solution Architecture: A proven track record of designing and owning data platform architectures at scale, across at least one major cloud (Azure, AWS or GCP), with a clear grasp of the non-functional requirements that make or break them
• Data Engineering Depth: Strong command of Spark, SQL and Python, data modelling, streaming and batch patterns, performance tuning, and engineering practice (version control, testing, automated deployment)
• Engineering Leadership: Demonstrable experience leading teams of engineers — technically and as people — in a consultancy, product or in-house environment
• Client Leadership: Confidence and credibility with senior stakeholders, and the judgement to know when to push back, when to compromise and when to escalate, and comfort contributing to commercial conversations (scoping, pricing, proposals etc.)
• Engaging Communicator: Exceptional interpersonal skills, able to build rapport quickly and explain hard technical ideas to non-technical audiences without losing the substance

What the job involves

• This is a defining role for a technology leader who wants to build things that matter and build the teams that deliver them
• As a Principal Databricks Engineer / Architect at Nimble, you won't just be writing code or drawing diagrams; you'll be setting the technical direction for our most significant client engagements and lifting the engineers around you as you go
• You'll be a senior technical voice in our Databricks capability advising on architecture, leading delivery teams, and being the person our clients trust when the problem is hard and the path isn't obvious
• We're looking for a hands-on leader who is equally credible in a room of engineers and client stakeholders with equal confidence, and who has strong opinions (loosely held) about what good data engineering actually looks like
• Architectural Vision & Technical Ownership
• Design for the Real World: Use the entirety of the Databricks platform, in combination with cloud provider services, to design robust, pragmatic solutions. You know when to build, when to buy, and how to advocate for the right choice
• End-to-End Accountability: Own the architecture across the full lifecycle of ingestion, transformation, governance, orchestration, serving and consumption whilst staying close enough to the code to know your designs hold up in practice
• Data Engineering Fundamentals: Bring rigour to how we model, test, deploy and operate data platforms: dimensional and medallion modelling, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, observability, cost management and data quality by design
• Leading Teams of Engineers
• Lead from the Front: Build and lead high-performing delivery teams, setting direction, breaking down ambiguity and unblocking the people around you
• Set the Standard: Establish the bar for "what good looks like" across multiple teams through design reviews, coding standards, architectural principles and reusable patterns. Your expertise and engagement will help to ensure we maintain high operational standards
• Empower Others: Mentor and coach Senior and Lead consultants, giving them the confidence and support to drive technical initiatives of their own. Helping to grow the capability, not just build solutions
• Leading Our Clients
• Trusted Technical Advisor: Build lasting relationships with senior client stakeholders and become their go-to person for technical vision, strategy and the honest answer
• Translate Complexity: Diagnose the real problem behind the stated requirement, and explain trade-offs, risks and options in language that lands with both engineers and executives
• Bring Clients With You: Uplift client engineering teams as well as your own, leaving them more capable than you found them
• Shape the Work, Not Just Deliver It: Contribute to pre-sales conversations, scoping, estimation and proposal input

Benefits

• Private healthcare for you and a family member through Westfield Health
• Multiple Qualified Mental Health First Aider’s with regular 1-1’s available
• £2k champion fund to spend as you wish on your own L&D
• Referral scheme (£3,000) for every successful applicant
• Dedicated time to spend on your L&D, including time to complete courses and qualifications
• Flat organisational structure with lots of career progression opportunities
• Laptop and any practicable equipment provided (either a Mac or Windows)
• Regular Nimble Socials (both virtual & physical) including Escape rooms, Gin tasting, Lunches, Award nights, Bowling, Bouldering and more!
• Relaxed and fun working environment
• Engaging and collaborative communities to be involved in
• A chance to be involved in company OKRs and shape how we will be in the future
• 25 days holiday allowance + bank holidays
• Company pension (with employer contributions)