Rapid Capability Engineer – Data & Infrastructure

Rapid Capability Engineer – Data & Infrastructure

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time

Location: Bristol, UK

Compensation: £55,000 – £70,000 / year

Description

We’re building the next UK‑headquartered engineering powerhouse.

We’re seeking a Rapid Capability Engineer- Data & Infrastructure to be part of our opportunity development function, focused on turning early-stage ideas into working data infrastructure components that demonstrate our technical edge. You’ll rapidly develop prototype data feeds, database layers, and infrastructure setups to shape solutions that align with mission outcomes.

This is a hands-on engineering role at the junction of exploration and deployment. You’ll work closely with engineering, ML, and platform teams to accelerate learning, validate ideas, and enable others to move faster through functional builds and technical insight.

Key areas of responsibility

As a Rapid Capability Engineer – Data & Infrastructure at Rowden, you’ll be responsible for:

• Developing prototype data feeds, lightweight ingestion components, and proof‑of‑concept ETL flows to support early validation and opportunity development
• Assembling modular infrastructure components, including databases, message/event buses, storage layers, and replayable streams
• Supporting early solution design through technical insight on data architecture and feasibility assessment
• Collaborating with software, ML, and product teams to translate emerging data needs into functioning infrastructure
• Feeding observations and learnings from prototypes back into our product roadmap, data platforms, and capability planning
• Enabling compelling demonstrations or pilot systems by integrating data components with backend services and ML-ready environments

Key skills, experience and behaviours

We’re seeking a technically strong and adaptable engineer with a primary focus on data infrastructure and applied data systems prototyping:

• Proficient in Python and SQL, with experience in NoSQL or other storage paradigms
• Comfortable using cloud platforms (AWS or Azure) and provisioning infrastructure (IaaS/PaaS) such as managed databases, object storage, and streaming services
• Familiarity with tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, or comparable pipeline systems for real-time and batch data flows
• Capable of setting up lightweight, reusable prototype data stores and ingestion pipelines aligned to sample or mission datasets
• Experience with data observability and monitoring tools to track prototype performance, quality, and uptime
• Understanding of how data, compute, and infrastructure integrate within operational systems, especially in prototype/demo environments
• Bonus: Exposure to or experience within defence, national security, or other mission-critical domains

About You

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you:

• Are a builder at heart, motivated by turning raw data sources into working systems that drive discovery and demonstration
• Thrive in cross-functional, exploratory teams, and can adapt to changing needs and evolving roles
• Are comfortable navigating ambiguity, and proactive in creating clarity through rapid iteration and hands-on work
• Are mission-driven and inspired by technology that enables meaningful outcomes
• Stay curious and experimental, exploring new data tools, frameworks, and architectural approaches frequently

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are! We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants. Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible. Finally, if you feel that you don’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we’d still love to hear from you!