WGSN

Global trend forecasting and consumer insights

Director of Data Engineering

Engineering LeadershipConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeLondon, UKNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

Experience designing or substantially reshaping a data platform, with clear ownership of architecture and modelling decisions.
The technical depth and confidence to lead engineering and architecture conversations with senior technologists.
Data engineering leadership at a small to mid-size business, or at manager level in a larger organisation with real design ownership.
Hands-on experience with semi-structured and unstructured data alongside structured data.
A practical track record of using AI to change how your team builds.
Around 10 or more years in data engineering, with at least four years leading engineers.

Responsibilities

Own data architecture and modelling across the WGSN platform.
Design and build the trend spine.
Integrate structured, semi-structured and unstructured data, from social and search signals to runway imagery and proprietary research.
Lead, develop and set standards for a team of five engineers, plus agency and contractor partners.
Lead architecture discussions with the Group Technology team.
Shape the planned platform rebuild, including stack, cost and vendor decisions.
Introduce AI-assisted and agentic engineering practices and build AI-ready data foundations.
Ensure the platform is reliable, well governed, GDPR compliant and cost effective.

Desired Qualifications

Snowflake, Databricks and AWS.
Embeddings, vector search, feature stores or knowledge graphs.
Taxonomy or ontology design.
Social, web-scale or licensed third-party data.
A background in media, information services, SaaS or e-commerce.

Working at WGSN
Together, we create tomorrow

A career with WGSN is fast-paced, exciting and full of opportunities to grow and develop. We're a team of consumer and design trend forecasters, content creators, designers, data analysts, advisory consultants and much more, united by a common goal: to create tomorrow.

WGSN's trusted consumer and design forecasts power outstanding product design, enabling our customers to create a better future. Our services cover consumer insights, beauty, consumer tech, fashion, interiors, lifestyle, food and drink forecasting, data analytics and expert advisory. If you are an expert in your field, we want to hear from you.

About the Role

We're hiring a Director of Data Engineering to own WGSN's data platform: its architecture, its data models and how it runs day to day. You'll report to our Group Chief Data Officer, lead a team of five data engineers, and work closely with our Group Technology, Data Science and programme teams.

At the heart of the role is the trend spine, the connected backbone that links trend signals, taxonomies, forecasts and content. Next year we launch an expanded social data product across TikTok, Reddit and Instagram, and after that we plan to rebuild the platform. You'll lead both, and lay the data foundations for the AI products that will sit on top.

What You'll Do

Own data architecture and modelling across the WGSN platform
Design and build the trend spine
Integrate structured, semi-structured and unstructured data, from social and search signals to runway imagery and proprietary research
Lead, develop and set standards for a team of five engineers, plus agency and contractor partners
Lead architecture discussions with our Group Technology team
Shape the planned platform rebuild, including stack, cost and vendor decisions
Introduce AI-assisted and agentic engineering practices and build AI-ready data foundations
Make sure the platform is reliable, well governed, GDPR compliant and cost effective

What We're Looking For

Experience designing or substantially reshaping a data platform, with clear ownership of architecture and modelling decisions
The technical depth and confidence to lead engineering and architecture conversations with senior technologists
Data engineering leadership at a small to mid-size business, or at manager level in a larger organisation with real design ownership
Hands-on experience with semi-structured and unstructured data alongside structured data
A practical track record of using AI to change how your team builds

Nice to Have

Snowflake, Databricks and AWS
Embeddings, vector search, feature stores or knowledge graphs
Taxonomy or ontology design
Social, web-scale or licensed third-party data
A background in media, information services, SaaS or e-commerce

Experience

Around 10 or more years in data engineering, with at least four years leading engineers.

About the Company

WGSN

Global trend forecasting and consumer insights

WGSN provides a subscription platform that delivers consumer insights, data analytics, and expert advisory to brands across fashion, beauty, interiors, lifestyle, food and drink, and consumer tech. It uses proprietary data, AI-assisted analysis of third-party sources, and expert review through its STEPIC framework to generate long-term trend forecasts. The service includes trend reports, market analytics, and predictive data, plus a bespoke advisory offering for tailored guidance. WGSN aims to help brands—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—align product design and strategy with future consumer demand and shifts in culture and technology.

Company size: 501-1,000
Company stage: Acquired
Total funding: $20M
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1998

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