Roles and skills Digital health care job roles reference
Illustrative Reference profiles for a generic digital health care organisation, not official job descriptions. About this reference.

Senior data engineer

Band 7 · Data engineer · 477 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Senior data engineer

Most often performed at Civil Service grade SEO or G7.

A senior data engineer designs and leads the implementation of data flows to connect operational systems, data for analytics and business intelligence (BI) systems.

At this role level, you will:

  • recognise opportunities to reuse existing data flows
  • lead the build of data streaming systems
  • optimise the code to ensure processes perform optimally
  • lead work on database management
Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Skills

SkillExpected levelWhat this level means
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCFWorking (2)

You can:

  • communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics
  • be an advocate for the team externally
  • manage differing stakeholder perspectives
Data analysis and synthesisUK GDaD PCFWorking (2)

You can:

  • undertake data profiling and source system analysis
  • present clear insights to colleagues to support the end use of the data
Data compliance and securityUK GDaD PCFPractitioner (3)

You can:

  • consistently apply data ethics, legislation, internal procedures, policies and technologies to ensure secure data handling
  • help ensure your team remain compliant by identifying and addressing current and potential data compliance and ethical issues
  • guide and support others in addressing data compliance issues
Data development processUK GDaD PCFPractitioner (3)

You can:

  • lead the implementation of complex or large-scale data solutions
  • apply appropriate technology and techniques to ensure data solutions are secure and scalable
  • identify and implement continuous improvement to the operation and performance of data solutions
Data innovationUK GDaD PCFWorking (2)

You can:

  • experiment with unfamiliar and emerging technologies, or familiar technologies in new data contexts, with guidance
  • share what you learn with the team, explaining potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations
  • identify opportunities to apply technology to improve data processes or outcomes in an operational setting or the wider organisation
Data integration designUK GDaD PCFPractitioner (3)

You can:

  • select the most appropriate techniques for different integration scenarios
  • evaluate and lead the implementation of integration using varied approaches that ensure security, efficiency and compliance
Data modellingUK GDaD PCFPractitioner (3)

You can:

  • produce relevant data models across multiple subject areas
  • explain which models to use for which purpose
  • understand industry-recognised data modelling patterns and standards, and when to apply them
  • compare and align different data models
Metadata managementUK GDaD PCFPractitioner (3)

You can:

  • design an appropriate metadata repository
  • suggest changes to improve current metadata repositories
  • understand a range of tools for storing and working with metadata
  • advise less experienced members of the team about metadata management
Problem managementUK GDaD PCFWorking (2)

You can:

  • initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends to resolve problems
  • effectively consult specialists where required
  • determine the appropriate resolution and assist with its implementation
  • determine preventative measures
Programming and build (data and analytics engineering)UK GDaD PCFPractitioner (3)

You can:

  • lead the design, code, testing and deployment of secure, resilient and maintainable solutions
  • continuously improve the codebase and reliability of solutions
  • create automation to improve the software development life cycle
  • work with others to implement standards and good practice to ensure security, testability and maintainability of solutions
Understanding health and care servicesThis referenceWorking (2)

You can:

  • explain the clinical and care workflows your work supports
  • use common health care terms correctly with clinical and care colleagues
  • recognise when a change could affect patient care and raise it
Information governance and data protectionThis referencePractitioner (3)

You can:

  • lead data protection impact assessments and information sharing agreements
  • advise teams on lawful basis, consent, confidentiality, and retention
  • investigate incidents and recommend improvements
Health data interoperabilityThis referencePractitioner (3)

You can:

  • design and build integrations using FHIR, HL7 version 2, and messaging patterns
  • write and profile FHIR resources and implementation guides
  • resolve complex mapping and data quality issues between systems
Clinical terminology and classificationThis referenceWorking (2)

You can:

  • find and use the right codes for a data item or form
  • use terminology browsers and reference sets
Pseudonymisation and disclosure controlThis referencePractitioner (3)

You can:

  • design pseudonymisation and linkage methods that keep identifiers separate from analysis data
  • assess the re-identification risk of a data set or publication and choose suitable controls
  • advise teams on safe settings, such as trusted research environments
Clinical risk managementThis referenceWorking (2)

You can:

  • take part in hazard workshops and contribute to a hazard log
  • follow the clinical risk management process for your work
  • provide evidence for a clinical safety case, such as test results

Typical qualifications and experience

Band 7 outline

Knowledge
Highly developed specialist knowledge, typically to master's level or equivalent experience.
Autonomy
Works to organisational policy; decides how results are achieved; is the expert others consult.
Scope
Several products or services, or a specialist function.
Leadership
Leads a team or a professional practice area.
Accountability
Delivery of a service or specialist function, and its budget if held.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

FactorLevelLevel summaryPoints
Communication and relationship skills4Gives complex, sensitive, or contentious information needing persuasion, negotiation, or training skills, or highly complex information.32
Knowledge, training, and experience7Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (master's level or equivalent).196
Analytical and judgemental skills4Judgements on complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.42
Planning and organisational skills3Plans several complex activities, adjusting plans as needed.27
Physical skills3Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.27
Responsibility for patient and client care1Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.4
Responsibility for policy and service development3Implements policies for own area and proposes changes that affect other areas.21
Responsibility for financial and physical resources1Takes personal care of equipment and resources used in own work.5
Responsibility for people2Supervises or coordinates staff day to day, trains others regularly, or gives basic HR advice.12
Responsibility for information resources5Designs and develops major information systems, or runs information systems for several services as the main duty.34
Responsibility for research and development2Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.12
Freedom to act4Results are defined, but the job holder decides how to achieve them, within broad policy.32
Physical effort1Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.3
Mental effort4Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.18
Emotional effort1Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.5
Working conditions2Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.7
Total (Band 7: 466 to 539)477

Self assessment

Rate what you do regularly now, add a short example as evidence, and plan an action for your most important gaps. Your answers are saved in this browser only.

Rated 0 of 16 skills: 0 meet the expected level, 0 below, 0 above.

Communicating between the technical and non-technical Expected: Working
Data analysis and synthesis Expected: Working
Data compliance and security Expected: Practitioner
Data development process Expected: Practitioner
Data innovation Expected: Working
Data integration design Expected: Practitioner
Data modelling Expected: Practitioner
Metadata management Expected: Practitioner
Problem management Expected: Working
Programming and build (data and analytics engineering) Expected: Practitioner
Understanding health and care services Expected: Working
Information governance and data protection Expected: Practitioner
Health data interoperability Expected: Practitioner
Clinical terminology and classification Expected: Working
Pseudonymisation and disclosure control Expected: Practitioner
Clinical risk management Expected: Working
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