Apprentice Data Engineer

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn while you earn!

This Apprenticeship combines working and learning, in a great opportunity where youll earn a salary, get workexperience, and finish the apprenticeship with a Level 5 Qualification in Data Engineering which you wont have to pay a penny for!

We will provide a fully paid 24 month Apprenticeship to help you gain a Level 5 qualification specialising in Data Engineering and provide hands on working experience.

Day to day, as an Associate Data Engineer, you will help the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) gather, organise, and use data effectively. You will work in a busy environment alongside experts in policy, data analysis, software development, IT, and business analysis to support the agencys data needs and drive improvements based on solid data insights.

Youll spend 20% of your working week studying with lots of support from Data Engineers, your line manager and Apprenticeship provider.

Youll be working with an organisation that serves millions of people, making a real difference to road safety and protecting the British public.

For more information on the apprenticeship please visit: Data engineer / Skills England

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the Kings birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Department for Transport Careers

The Associate Data Engineer works under the guidance of data engineers and Head of Data Engineering to help the Data Engineering team deliver and improve data systems using cloud services like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

1. Ensure work aligns with agreed methodologies (including Agile/Scrum) so that the team maintains consistency, promotes collaboration, and delivers iterative, high-quality work.
2. With the support of a senior data engineer, provide input to the technical assurance of proposed IT solutions to ensure they meet design expectations, fulfil business requirements, and adhere to best practices.
3. Document the design/technical specifications in response to agreed user requirements to enable clear communication among stakeholders and maintain consistency for current and future implementations.
4. Learn and execute data profiling techniques and source system analysis to understand dataset structures, quality, and potential issues for more informed decision-making.
5. Support the implementation of data operations processes so that data integrity is maintained, efficient data flow is achieved, and reliable business insights are supported.
6. Study data quality frameworks and best practices to help establish robust processes that ensure high-quality data essential for accurate analysis and decision-making.
7. Help implement basic data pipelines to automate the movement, transformation, and loading of data into systems for seamless integration and analysis.
8. Practice writing clean and maintainable code to promote software sustainability, reduce technical debt, and make future maintenance and extension easier for the team.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only; whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

Adaptability and Learning:

Quick learner, open to learning new technologies.

Knowledge or awareness in one of the following: Computer Science, Information Technology, Networking or Software Engineering or similar.

Communication and Teamwork:

Adaptable to changing and evolving teams

Time Management and Prioritisation:

Basic task management and tracking.

Ability to prioritise tasks.

Soft Skills and Attitude:

Willingness to learn from others.

Positive problem-solving approach

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, you must hold:   

• A Level 3 qualification in a Digital subject (e.g., two A levels in digital subjects, a Level 3 apprenticeship in a digital subject, an International Baccalaureate at Level 3 in a digital subject, or a BTEC Extended Diploma in a digital subject). We will accept predicted grades for the level 3 qualification. The grades must have been achieved by 31st August 2026 to allow us time to check eligibility.
•  5 GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade 4 (C) or above. Or Equivalent
• Experience of a Programming Language (such as Python).
• Be aged 18 or over. 
• Have the right work in the UK.
• Not be in full-time education. 
• Not be in receipt of funding for other learning programmes at the point of enrolment for this apprenticeship. 
• Have valid and eligible residency status and be resident in the UK for 3 years before the start of the apprenticeship. Full eligibility details can be found here at Annex A. If you are not sure if you meet the residency requirements then please contact us before applying. 

If you currently hold or are working towards a similar qualification of the same level or higher, then you will not be eligible to apply for this vacancy. In order to be eligible for our apprenticeship vacancy, any qualifications previously held or currently being worked towards must differ in content so that this apprenticeship provides substantial new skills. Additionally you must not already be over-qualified or over-experienced in this type of work. 

If you apply and are found to possess the above: your application will not be considered; any offer of employment will be withdrawn, and your contract will be terminated. 

This apprenticeship is expected to start September 2026 so the successful candidate will need to be available then. 

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.