Senior Analytics Data Engineer

About Bauer Media Audio Data & Decision Sciences Team The Data and Decision Sciences 

The Data and Decision Sciences (DDS) team is at the core of Bauer Media Audio with a mission to leverage data as a strategic enabler across our nine European markets. Our goal is to provide trusted, actionable insights and robust data solutions that empower business growth, enhance audience engagement, and drive operational efficiency. The DDS team operates as a collaborative, cross-functional unit that bridges the gap between data and business strategy, delivering solutions that align with our organizational goals and market needs.

We are structured to support our stakeholders with a combination of centralized capabilities and localized expertise, ensuring that data drives value across the entire organization. We see data not as a support function but as an integral business partner that collaborates across all domains and markets expertise to deliver impactful business outcomes.

As a Senior Analytics Engineer, you will be a critical leader in transforming raw data into actionable insights at Bauer Media Audio. You will be responsible for designing, building, and optimizing robust data models from the bronze layer through to the gold layer using advanced Kimball methodology, and strategically managing the semantic layer to empower data-driven decision-making across our business. This role requires deep technical expertise, significant experience in data modelling and optimization, and exceptional communication skills to translate complex data into clear business logic and drive strategic impact. You will provide technical leadership and mentorship within the team.

Core Responsibilities

Advanced Data Modelling & Transformation:

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of complex data pipelines using dbt to transform data from the bronze layer to curated gold layer models, strictly adhering to and evolving Kimball methodologies for diverse analytical needs.
• Architect and build sophisticated aggregation layers to support various analytical use cases, ensuring scalability and performance.
• Collaborate deeply with Data Engineers to understand the nuances of raw data sources landed in the bronze layer, influencing upstream data capture and landing strategies.
• Implement advanced data quality frameworks and testing strategies to ensure the highest level of accuracy and consistency throughout the data transformation process, proactively identifying and resolving data integrity issues.

Strategic Semantic Layer Management:

• Own the strategy, design, and implementation of the semantic layer for consumption by critical BI platforms such as Looker, Power BI, and other integrations.
• Drive the translation of complex technical schemas into clear, intuitive business logic, defining critical aggregations, calculations, and business rules that meet evolving stakeholder needs.
• Establish and maintain comprehensive data dictionaries and Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs) for data models from the bronze layer upwards, promoting self-service analytics and data literacy.

Technical Leadership & Excellence:

• Act as a subject matter expert in SQL (Postgres, Cloud SQL, BigQuery, Redshift), driving performance optimization and complex query development.
• Drive the adoption of best practices for dbt development, including modularity, testing, and documentation, across the team.
• Influence the selection and implementation of workflow orchestration tools, leveraging tools like Airflow for building highly reliable, automated, and scalable data pipelines.
• Provide guidance on and contribute to Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles (e.g., Terraform) to manage the analytics environment.
• Oversee and optimize CI/CD pipelines via GitHub for efficient and reliable dbt model deployments.
• Contribute significantly to the design and implementation of comprehensive data quality and governance frameworks using tools like Datahub and Great Expectations.
• Proactively identify and address performance bottlenecks in data models and query execution within cloud data warehouses.

Collaboration & Strategic Impact:

• Serve as a technical lead within cross-functional agile squads, guiding other Analytics Engineers, collaborating with Data Engineers, front-end analytics specialists, data scientists, and product owners to deliver high-impact data solutions.
• Proactively engage with senior business stakeholders to understand complex analytical requirements, define key metrics, and influence strategic decision-making through compelling data insights.
• Champion data literacy and best practices within the wider DDS team and across the organization.
• Drive the documentation of complex data models, business logic, and processes in Confluence, ensuring clear communication and knowledge transfer.
• Lead agile ceremonies (Jira) related to analytical data development, ensuring efficient project management and timely delivery of business value.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to more junior Analytics Engineers, fostering their growth and development.

Qualifications

Core Technical Skills:

• Expert in SQL (Postgres, Cloud SQL) with proven ability to optimize complex queries and design robust data structures.
• Exceptional knowledge and extensive experience with dbt for designing, building, and optimizing complex enterprise-level data models and transformations.
• Deep experience with cloud data warehouses (BigQuery, Redshift), including performance tuning and cost optimization.
• Strong proficiency with workflow orchestration tools like Airflow, capable of designing and implementing complex, production-grade DAGs.
• Extensive experience with multi-cloud environments (AWS, GCP).
• Proficiency with Terraform or similar IaC tools for managing data infrastructure.
• Expertise in CI/CD processes, particularly with GitHub Actions for automated deployments.
• Strong Python development experience for scripting, automation, or custom dbt utilities.

Required Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in data analytics, data modelling, or related roles, with a significant focus on leading analytical data initiatives.
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and optimizing complex data models using Kimball methodology at scale.
• Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous business requirements into robust, scalable, and impactful data solutions.
• Extensive experience working in a fast-paced agile development environment, managing multiple priorities.
• Experience in leading technical aspects of data projects and mentoring other team members.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with BI Platforms like Looker or Power BI, including LookML development.
• Knowledge of web analytics technologies and ad tech platforms.
• Experience in the media or audio industry.
• Background in advanced data modelling techniques beyond Kimball (e.g., Data Vault, 3NF).

Personal and Behavioural Traits

• Strategic & Solution-Oriented: Proactively identifies opportunities, frames problems, and drives effective, long-term solutions to complex data challenges.
• Exceptional Collaborator & Influencer: Works seamlessly with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders, building consensus and driving alignment.
• Technical Leader & Mentor: Inspires and guides peers and junior team members, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
• Highly Organized & Proactive: Capable of managing multiple complex projects and deadlines efficiently, anticipating needs and mitigating risks.
• Curious & Innovative: Always eager to explore new ideas, technologies, and methodologies to push the boundaries of data capabilities.
• Meticulously Detailed & Quality-Focused: Ensures the highest standards of accuracy, precision, and robustness in all data products.
• Outstanding Communicator: Articulates complex technical concepts and data insights clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

Purpose and Impact

This pivotal role will significantly transform Bauer Audio's data architecture, moving towards unified analysis across all markets.

Your leadership and contributions will accelerate our digital transformation journey, enabling sophisticated data-driven decision-making and directly impacting business growth and audience engagement across our European markets.

Over the first six months, you will focus on critical migrations from legacy systems, international expansion of our competitions business, and strengthening our data pipeline infrastructure to support advanced analytics.

About Bauer Media Group

We are a media business focused on creating content that matters to millions of people across Europe. Our offering extends from print and online publishing to audio broadcasting and entertainment, alongside investments in other media related sectors. With more than 500 million copies sold each year, we are one of Europe’s largest Publishers. From women’s and celebrities’ magazines to TV listings to food and special interest, we own some of the most popular publishing brands in Germany, UK, Poland and France – both digital and print. But not only that. Reaching over 61 million listeners weekly, we operate over 150 radio and podcast brands in nine countries, spanning the UK, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Portugal. Family-owned in the 5th generation, Bauer Media focuses on the long-term, with a consumer-first mindset that guides us across our diverse portfolio. Our workforce of 12,000 shares a common purpose: to deliver content and services that enrich people‘s everyday lives.

What’s in it for you

• You’ll have 25 days holiday, bank holidays & 2 volunteer days to use.
• Your development matters, so access to our internal training provider – Bauer Academy, is a huge win. 
• We have enhanced Maternity/Adoption, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave Pay.
• You’ll have the opportunity for flexible working. 
• And much more! Find the full details of our benefits here

Please Note: We are actively seeking this position. You should hear from us within 48 hours of the expiry date. Please note on some occasions the role may be closed before date shown or need to be extended.

If you have any feedback regarding our UK recruitment process, please email careershub@bauermedia.co.uk we would love to hear from you.