Technical Consultant - Data & AI

What will you be doing?

• Lead data consulting engagements from discovery through to implementation and handover.
• Facilitate workshops to understand customer challenges and define appropriate data solutions.
• Advise customers on enterprise data strategy, governance, data quality and data management best practices.
• Design and implement data landing zones aligned with Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework principles.
• Deliver end-to-end data platform projects covering architecture, deployment, configuration and optimisation.
• Work with Architects and AI specialists to support machine learning and AI initiatives.
• Support the development of repeatable data and AI delivery frameworks and methodologies.
• Act as a technical escalation point, supporting colleagues with complex technical challenges.
• Stay current with developments across Microsoft data technologies, analytics and AI platforms.
• Support resource planning and skills development activities across the wider practice.
• Contribute to reusable assets, accelerators, frameworks and reference architectures.
• Support pre-sales activities including discovery sessions, demonstrations, proposals and customer presentations.
• Build trusted relationships with customers and provide guidance throughout the project lifecycle.

What are we looking for?

• Strong data engineering, analytics or data platform experience.
• Experience delivering customer-facing consultancy or professional services engagements.
• Strong understanding of enterprise data architecture principles.
• Experience designing and implementing data lakes, data warehouses and lakehouse architectures.
• Good understanding of data governance, data quality and data management frameworks.
• Strong SQL skills and experience using Python or PySpark.
• Experience with Databricks and Microsoft data technologies.
• Understanding of how modern data platforms support AI and machine learning workloads.
• Strong workshop facilitation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent technical documentation and technical writing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Commercial awareness and customer-focused mindset.
• Ability to balance strategic consulting with hands-on technical delivery.

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience in data engineering, analytics, data platform delivery or similar roles.
• Strong hands-on experience with Databricks.
• Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, Power BI or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) and landing zone design.
• Experience deploying and troubleshooting enterprise data platforms.
• Understanding of Azure infrastructure fundamentals, including networking, identity and security.
• Experience leading customer workshops, discovery engagements and advisory sessions.
• Consultancy or professional services background strongly preferred.
• Public sector experience desirable.

Certifications:

• Databricks certifications desirable.
• Microsoft certifications such as DP-203, DP-700 or related data certifications desirable.
• Azure AI and Machine Learning certifications advantageous.

Security Clearance:

• Must hold SC (Security Check) clearance or be eligible and willing to obtain and maintain SC clearance.
• Candidates already holding active SC clearance will be highly advantageous.

Practical stuff

Where is the role based?
Primary location is our HQ in Pocklington (YO42).

What about hybrid/remote working?
Hybrid working is supported, with flexibility depending on customer and project requirements.

How many interviews?
Following a screen with the Recruitment Team, you can expect a two-stage interview process — one online and one in-person.

Important BPSS Check

As part of our recruitment process and due to the nature of the work we do, all employees are required to undertake a BPSS check. While some employees may require further security clearance, the BPSS check is mandatory and all offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion.