Data Engineer

Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 58,000 people in over 135 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That's Grant Thornton.

A look into the role

As a Data Engineer in our Data Architecture team, you’ll build and run the pipelines and platform components that keep the firm’s data secure, reliable and ready to use. You’ll deliver agreed parts of our migration to Microsoft Fabric and help build the foundations for analytics, self-service reporting and AI. You’ll work to shared standards alongside your colleagues, with direction on design and priorities from the Head of Data Architecture.

Day to day, you’ll:

• Build and run data pipelines and notebooks in Fabric, using Data Factory, Lakehouse, Python, PySpark and SQL

• Ingest data from our core systems, including Workday, Dynamics 365, Business World and SharePoint

• Build and maintain data structures in Fabric Warehouse and Lakehouse, and deliver documented, certified datasets for Power BI that analysts can reuse

• Prepare governed data for AI, including retrieval through RAG and MCP, and turn documents such as PDFs into structured, searchable form

• Apply our data classification, access control and co-mingling standards in everything you build, so client and firm data stay separate

• Move existing Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake and SQL Server solutions into Fabric, redesigning legacy ETL and ELT processes along the way

• Use version control, CI/CD, automated testing and monitoring to keep your pipelines reliable, and fix root causes when issues arise

• Keep up to date with new Fabric features, document your work and share what you learn

Success in this role looks like pipelines that run reliably, migration milestones met with no loss of data and no break in reporting, and certified datasets that analysts reuse. Colleagues should be able to build on your work because it is well documented.

Knowing you’re right for us

We’ve set ambitious growth targets for the firm, and we need the right people to help us achieve these. We’re looking for people who will bring ambition and drive to their role. In changing markets, we need to be able to work at pace and be adaptable to change and to be curious, asking questions of ourselves, each other and our clients to ensure we are delivering the services and quality we expect.

Joining us as a Data Engineer, the minimum criteria you’ll need is practical experience with Microsoft Fabric (Data Factory, Lakehouse, Warehouse and Notebooks) or Databricks, working proficiency in Python, PySpark and SQL for data engineering, an understanding of data modelling, warehousing and ETL/ELT principles, working knowledge of Power BI and version control (for example Git / DevOps), awareness of good practice in data governance, security and compliance, and the ability to manage your own workload and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical colleagues. It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.

• Exposure to migrating from Azure Data Factory and Azure Data Lake to Fabric

• Exposure to notebook-based platforms (Fabric / Databricks)

• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines for data solutions

• Exposure to preparing data for AI use, for example RAG, vector databases or MCP

• Exposure to processing unstructured data, such as PDFs and documents

• Exposure to data catalogue, lineage or classification tools

• Experience in professional services or another regulated environment

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job 

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.

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