We're not looking for a manager who used to code. We're looking for a Data Engineer who also knows how to lead. You need the technical depth to architect a platform, the patience to explain a data model to a Director, and the social grace to keep the team aligned when the requirements change, again.
At some companies, "Tech Lead" is just a fancy title for someone who spends 40 hours a week in meetings. That's not us. We're looking for a Data Tech Lead who still gets a kick out of getting their hands dirty in the data.
You're the bridge between high-level strategy and the actual "how-to." You aren't just guiding the team; you are in the team.
The 75/25 Split (Give or Take) We believe the best leaders are those who stay sharp. You can expect a minimum of 50% hands-on engineering work.
The Easy Days: You're building pipelines, modelling data, and mentoring.
The "Consultancy" Days: Some clients need a bit more hand-holding. When the going gets tough, you might shift to a 50/50 split, balancing deep-dive engineering with stakeholder coordination and expectation management.
Drive the Platform: This isn't an administrative role. You lead data platform delivery from concept to production. Greenfield builds, major transformations, the real stuff.
Translate "Data" to "Business": You'll be talking to Directors and Data Owners one hour and reviewing a DBT model with a junior engineer the next. You need to speak both languages fluently.
Own the Architecture: You take a clear position on how data should flow, scale, and be structured. You bring opinions on information modelling, data governance frameworks, and platform design, and you can back them up.
Grow the People Around You: You actively mentor and develop the engineers around you. You share knowledge, give honest feedback, and make the people next to you better. This is a non-negotiable part of the role.
Manage the Vibe: You know how to manage people and expectations in a clear, friendly, and inclusive way. We value autonomy, proactivity, and most importantly being someone people actually enjoy working with.
Data has probably been a running theme in your career. Maybe you started in software development or analytics engineering, and somewhere along the way realized you had both the technical depth and the pull to lead.
You would probably describe yourself as:
Technically Senior: You've built and operated data platforms in production. You have the seniority to back up your decisions and the competence to earn the team's respect.
Architecture-Minded: You think beyond the next sprint. You have views on data modelling approaches, platform design, and how to build things that hold up over time.
Governance-Aware: You understand why data governance matters in practice, not just as a checkbox, but as the difference between a platform teams trust and one they work around.
Project-Driven: You've got a track record of driving initiatives across the finish line, not just riding in the passenger seat.
A People Multiplier: You don't just deliver, you bring others along for the ride. You naturally create space for people to learn, challenge their thinking, and develop their craft. The team is stronger because you're in it.
Architectural-level competence in at least one major cloud provider (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
Hands-on experience with modern data platforms such as Databricks or Snowflake
Data modelling and information modelling
Data governance frameworks and practices
Python and SQL fluent, not just functional
Buzzword bingo: AWS, Azure, GCP, Databricks, Snowflake, DBT, Python, SQL, Terraform
Fluency in Swedish and English are required. Most of our collaborations and client projects are conducted in Swedish, and several of our clients have formal requirements for full professional fluency. Swedish citizenship is required for this role.
Applying to us is a breeze!
Upload your resumé or use your LinkedIn profile
Answer the choice-questions (no "please-rewrite-your-resume" nonsense, promise)
Feel free to include links to your portfolio, GitHub, or similar if you have things you're proud of
Note: Playground Group does not provide visa sponsorship or relocation support. Applicants must have Swedish citizenship and an independent right to work in Sweden. A background check is part of every recruitment process.
At Playground, you work on real, complex assignments for well-established and ambitious clients, not bench projects or short-lived experiments. Our teams are trusted with production systems, platforms, and data that actually matter. Here growth comes from ownership, curiosity, and doing the work properly. You’re trusted to think, contribute, and keep getting better, one meaningful step at a time.
Playground brings together specialized domains under one umbrella, with a shared culture and way of working, and easy access to broad technical expertise when it helps move the work forward.
