How to Apply:
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.
The selection process for this role will be:
Stage 1: Practical exercise
Stage 2: Sift of Personal Statement
Stage 3: Interview and Technical Exercise
You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.
Stage 1: Practical Exercise
You will be assessed against the Technical element of Success Profiles.
To ensure your suitability for the role, you will be sent a link to complete a practical exercise. Please complete the exercise as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the exercise is 1st July 2026. If you fail to complete the task before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the task will be available when you are invited to take the exercise.
If you successfully complete the exercise, you will be invited to complete a Personal Statement.
Stage 2: Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement (max 500 words) to Inspire People (our Recruitment Partners) which outlines your experience and suitability for the role (based on the experience points outlined in the essential criteria on this advert).
Upon receipt of your personal statement, DVLA Hiring Managers will complete a sift. Please note; the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live and so there is potential for feedback to be shared with you (on your application) before the advert closes.
To apply please click '' at the bottom of the page. For this role you will need to submit a personal statement (maximum word count 500 words).
Please provide detailed evidence of your Experience of the following:
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Building and operating a complex, challenging or large-scale data platform, with particular focus on ingestion, cleansing, and preparing for analytical workloads data from multiple, diverse data sources. What was the key challenge you have addressed?
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Chosen data technology specialism (e.g. SQL, Python, Data Warehousing, Data Governance). How do you use the skill? What makes you an expert?
The sift will take place from 2nd July 2026.
Please note, that whilst we are working closely with Inspire People (our recruitment partners) for this campaign, DVLA hiring managers will be overseeing sift stages for both stages 1 & 2.
If at sift your application is successful, you will be invited to the final stage interview, conducted by DVLA Hiring Managers.
Stage 3: Assessment
At interview stage, there will be an interview and a technical practical coding exercise, which will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
Behaviours
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Working Together
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Changing and Improving
Technical
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GDaD Framework Senior Data Engineer - Technical Understanding (Skill level: Working)
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GDaD Framework - Senior Data Engineer Data Development Process (Skill level: Practitioner)
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GDaD Framework - Senior Data Engineer - Data Integration Design (Skill level: Practitioner)
Final stage interviews will take place from 10th July 2026.
Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.
This interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Further information on the selection process
For more information about how we hire, useful tips on submitting your application and interview guidance for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.
Document Accessibility
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Pre-employment Checking
If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
All external applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:
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Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour
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Threats or acts of violence
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Illegal activity or substance misuse
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Sexually explicit material
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Extremist views or affiliations
Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. Its not about judging your personality or lifestyle - its about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail whats being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
