Senior Databricks Engineer

Senior Databricks Engineer 📍 Auckland or Christchurch, hybrid working arrangements 💰 $155,000–$175,000 NZD per annum 💼 Permanent Azure Databricks | SQL | Python | Data Migration & Modernisation | Semantic Modelling | Power BI The Opportunity This is a chance to join a data engineering team on a major on-premise-to-cloud migration within an established organisation, supporting a business-critical footprint. There's a genuine opportunity to help shape how the platform is built out, not just maintain what already exists. You'll contribute to ingestion patterns in Databricks now, and to a semantic model rebuild, as the business works toward retiring its on-premise SQL environment. Your Role in the Team You'll join a hands-on data team, sitting within a broader Data & AI function that includes data scientists, technical BAs and testers. The team has strong technical credibility. Data is treated as a genuine pillar of the business here, with a vision to sit in front of the organisation rather than behind it. You'll operate at an experienced level, with scope to shape technical direction rather than simply execute against someone else's plan. The calibre of hands-on Databricks engineering you bring matters more than the exact title. What You'll Be Doing Build and own ingestion pipelines in Azure Databricks as the team migrates off legacy on-premise SQLContribute to a semantic model rebuild, working across the team's existing semantic modelsHelp maintain near real-time data visibility for downstream reporting, with no overnight batch processingWrite robust, production-grade SQL and Python across the ingestion and transformation layersWork alongside data scientists and existing ML models, and contribute to the team's broader AI toolingPartner with data leaders, BAs, and testers to deliver governed, trusted dataBring data engineering rigour and best practice to a team that is still building out its Databricks capabilityHelp lift the team's overall technical capability through hands-on delivery, not just individual output What They're Looking For Strong, hands-on Azure Databricks engineering experienceStrong SQL skills, ideally with exposure to large-scale or enterprise ingestion pipelinesSolid Python capabilityExperience with cloud and on-premise hybrid environments, ideally including a migration or modernisation programmeComfortable operating at senior level, able to work autonomously and help lift a team's overall capabilityA team-player mentality, and genuine interest in being part of a data function that's building something from the ground up What Success Looks Like Within the first couple of months, you're across the ingestion patterns already in flight and building credibility with the team. Over time, you're a genuine contributor to the semantic model rebuild, someone the team leans on to help lift its Databricks capability, and a trusted voice in how the platform gets built out. Culture & Work Style The team values collaboration and a genuine team-player mentality over rigid hierarchy. This is a lean, leadership-light structure where individual ownership and initiative are valued highly. Get in Touch Keen to discuss further, or know someone who'd be a fit? Get in touch directly. laura@lemmerecruit.com