Analytics Engineer

Job summary

IMPORTANT - This vacancy is using the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the vacancy closing date. Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete the written application.

Our mission is to ensure the right amount of money goes to the right providers at the right time; and is spent in the right way – underpinned by our three outcomes:

• Certainty . We provide certainty to those we fund so they can plan effectively;
• Assurance . We provide assurance that taxpayers’ money has been used as intended; and
• Support . We provide high quality advice, guidance and financial support to those we fund.

As a Senior Analytical Engineer, you will be part of a team creating, modernising, and improving existing SQL and Power BI data models across pre and post 16 funding, leading on specific strands of work, as well as developing interactive data visualisations using reporting tools.

Job description

Our analytical engineers innovate to design and deliver data products and services, integrating them into systems and business processes within the department in adherence with data security policies and architecture protocols.

Responsibilities will include, but not limited to for the roles:

• As a Senior analytical Engineer, you will work with others in finding innovative ways to improve service operations by continuously challenging approaches for optimum delivery of solutions.
• You will be user-focused, understanding the importance of data, data management, data quality. You will support the delivery of products to internal and external stakeholders, using agile or other methods of delivery.
• You will use your technical skills to design and implement data solutions, from conception to go-live. You will work to develop and deliver automated services that are reliable, scalable, and secure. You will work with a variety of stakeholders in your role such as delivery managers, business analysts and data scientists.
• You will be interpreting complex specifications and translating them into efficiently written code and quality assuring complex models and large datasets.

We welcome applications from candidates seeking part time or compressed working pattern. However, due to the nature of the work and the shift coverage required, the minimum number of contracted hours for this role is 30 hours per week over a 4 day period.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Significant experience implementing data solutions or data models, using programming languages /software such as SQL, R and Power BI.
• Experience of end-to-end development and implementation of data solutions, including data models.
• Experience in visualising data in an engaging way, adding valuable insights and analysis.
• Can convey technical information to a non-technical audience, including senior leaders.
• Experience of interpreting complex specifications and translating into efficient code.
• Experience of quality assuring complex models and large datasets.
• Experience of analysing large and varied datasets and producing accurate analytical work to a high standard.
• Ability to create and maintain effective relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria (if required):

• Experience of using advanced analytics platforms such as Databricks.
• Experience of designing and building tools using artificial intelligence technologies.
• A degree in a STEM-related subject (preferably Mathematics or Computing related),or relevant certification.
• Experience of supporting and continuously improving complex enterprise data systems (such as data lakes and data warehouses).
• A good working knowledge of post-16 funding formula, both in theory and implementation.
• A good working knowledge of any or all of the key datasets used for pre 16 and post 16 funding e.g. Individualised Learner Record, School Census, Young Persons Matched Administrative Dataset, Learning Aims Reference Service.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,305, Department for Education contributes

£12,835 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

To apply for this role, please select 'Apply Now' at the top or bottom of this advert. CV details need to be included in the template within the application form; attached or emailed CVs will not be considered.

Stage 1: Civil Service Numerical Test (CSNT)

When you have completed your personal information, you will be asked to complete the CSNT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.

Stage 2: Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT)

When you have completed the CSNT, you will be asked to complete the CSVT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.

It is important you allow enough time to complete the test online (within 24-48 hours is recommended), and obtain the results before you can complete your full application online prior to the test closing date and time.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours.

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

If candidates require reasonable adjustments during the application process, or online test process, please allow sufficient time (at least 5 working days prior to the closing date) to allow us to review and progress your application to the next stage of the process.

Please note that there is no candidate support available from Friday 5pm until Monday 9am.

If you are unsuccessful in passing the online tests you will be unable to continue any further in the application process. If you successfully pass the tests, you will then progress to stage 3 of completing the full application.

Stage 3: Written Application

At sift stage, you will be assessed on your Experience in line with the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job advert.

To apply for this role, please provide:

• A Short CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
• Your Statement of Suitability – In no more than 1000 words, provide examples of how your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria. This is not intended to be a cover letter, instead work through each essential criteria in turn. You may wish to follow the STAR technique to help focus your examples. The key things we are looking for are what you did, how you did it and what the outcome was.

To confirm, the maximum word count for the statement of suitability is 1000 words . Please adhere to this limit as anything over 1000 words will not be taken into account.

The CV, Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert.

The sift will be restricted to just assessing the personal statement in the event of a large volume of applications.

Application sifting will take place w/c 05 October 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change.

Please note, CV details must be contained within the template on the application form. Any CV or Statement of Suitability that has been emailed to our team will not be considered.

Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished, answered all the relevant questions and reviewed the information entered.

We reserve the right to increase the minimum pass mark for the CSNT and CSVT where there is a high volume of applications or a particularly strong field of candidates. Where this occurs, candidates who do not meet the revised pass mark will not progress further, and their written application will not be assessed.

If you are successful at application sift stage, your application will be progressed onto Stage 4 of the Selection process.

Stage 4: Interview

The interview will last approximately 1 hour. You will be asked questions on the Behaviours listed above to determine your level of experience in these areas. We will also ask you Strengths based questions.

Behaviours are the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job. We want to get an understanding of the actions and activities that you have done (or would do) that result in effective performance.

Strengths are a way for Hiring Managers to understand what motivates you and what you enjoy doing, which helps the panel to understand your areas of strength. Evidence shows that people do better work when a job aligns well with what they enjoy and find motivating. We don’t advertise which strengths we are going to assess you on as we want to be able to assess your first, natural response to the questions.

Interviews will take place towards mid to end of October 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Interviews will be held over video conferencing using MS Teams. If you are invited to interview, please ensure that you have access to this software and that you have your vid