Freshfields

Data Engineering Lead

Freshfields  •  Bratislava, SK (Onsite)  •  2 months ago
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Job Description

This is a genuine build-and-lead opportunity — architecting a modern, cloud-first data platform from a position of real influence, while growing and shaping the team that delivers it. You will work across a global, cross-functional community, with the scope to drive data democratisation, governance maturity and AI-readiness across the firm.

What you will be doing

-Design and maintain scalable, secure data lake and lakehouse solutions using Azure Data Lake, Databricks and Delta Lake — built to support real-time insight, advanced analytics and AI/ML at enterprise scale.

-Develop and optimise batch and streaming ETL/ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory, PySpark, SQL, Apache Spark and Airflow, integrated with modern tooling like dbt and Git-based CI/CD.

-Implement data cataloguing, lineage tracking and governance frameworks through Collibra, ensuring data across the enterprise is discoverable, well-documented and compliant.

-Own the day-to-day leadership, coaching and development of the Data Engineering team within the Global Data Office — supporting recruitment, performance management, skills growth and the adoption of engineering best practices.

-Work closely with Data Office leadership to define engineering strategy, support delivery planning, and build a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture across a geographically dispersed team.

-Monitor and tune data jobs for performance, scalability and cost; embed data validation, logging and monitoring to catch issues early and keep the platform reliable.

Employee perks, benefits

  • A people-first culture that values belonging, inclusion, and diverse perspectives.
  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
  • Exposure to strategic technology initiatives and enterprise-level transformation programmes.
  • A collaborative environment where your insights help shape technology investment decisions.
  • Office vibe in an attractive location
  • Mostly remote—just coordinate with your team to find what works best
  • Need to drive in? We've got shared parking spots available
  • Get an extra 6% on top of your monthly base salary to spend how you want—whether it’s for wellness, learning, investments or other perks
  • Enjoy a daily meal allowance of €8.50 for every day you work—fully covered by us
  • Extra days off to help you recharge
  • Life assurance to support your loved ones if the unexpected happens
  • Get up to 20 days off with full pay for sickness or caring for dependents
  • Earn a yearly performance bonus based on how you do
  • Daily office refreshments to keep you fueled throughout the day
  • Well-being support with helpful apps and an Employee Assistance Program
  • Events and workshops on different themes throughout the year
  • Volunteering and charity activities

Key Requirements

-5–10 years of experience in data engineering, including designing and delivering data lake or lakehouse architectures in an enterprise cloud environment, ideally Microsoft Azure

-Hands-on expertise with Databricks, Spark, PySpark, SQL and core Azure Data Services (Data Lake Storage, Synapse Analytics, Data Factory)

-Experience with data governance and cataloguing tools such as Collibra or -Purview, plus familiarity with the modern data stack (dbt, CI/CD, streaming frameworks)

-Genuine leadership experience, with a passion for developing people as much as building systems

-Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences, and a resilient, proactive mindset suited to a fast-paced, evolving environment

Freshfields

About Freshfields

Freshfields is a global firm with over 280 years’ experience of anticipating change, setting new standards and shaping the future of law. In a complex world where new opportunities evolve quickly, we are a trusted, forward-thinking partner who can give clients the edge and help propel their ambitions.

At Freshfields we are steadfast champions of our clients—that’s why leading global companies turn to us when it matters most. We are proud to be recognised as a top-tier leader in the practice areas most important to clients around the world today.

We bring bold thinking, deep expertise and the latest capabilities to help clients make critical decisions, prepare for new opportunities, and tackle unprecedented matters. When opportunities stretch across borders, we connect clients with experts and advisors from across our global team.

We are deeply committed to making a positive impact for our clients, our communities and the people we serve, and we are transparent about our efforts to drive change.

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Freshfields has offices in Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and Vietnam.

Industry
Legal & Compliance
Company Size
5,001-10,000 employees
Headquarters
London, GB
Year Founded
1743
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