BI Cloud Integration & Release Specialist bei Allwyn UK

Join our journey to create a new experience for The National Lottery and help us to power change for the greater good.

We are Allwyn UK, part of the Allwyn Entertainment Group – a multi-national lottery operator with a market-leading presence across Europe which includes: Czech Republic, Austria, Greece, Cyprus & Italy.

While the main contribution of The National Lottery to society is through the funds to good causes, at Allwyn we put our purpose and values at the heart of everything we do.  Join us as we embark on a once-in-a-lifetime, largescale transformation journey by creating a National Lottery that delivers more money to good causes.  

We’ll talk a bit more about us further down the page, but for now – let’s talk about the role and who we’re looking for…

A bit about the role…

The BI Cloud Integration & Release Specialist will report to the BI Technical Architect and is responsible for code promotions, deployment pipeline management, and data provisioning across the organization’s Business Intelligence (BI) function. This role focuses on both ETL code (e.g., ingestion, transformation, data processing) and Power BI code (e.g., dashboards, data models) to ensure seamless, reliable, and well-managed deployments. 

Given the organization’s Big Data landscape, the Specialist must be proficient in Redshift SQL, CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions), Terraform for infrastructure automation, containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and Python for automation, logging, and observability. This role also covers managing non-production environment freshness, orchestrating Jira-to-code integrations, optimizing ETL/Power BI code, and creating Jira-to-data provisioning pipeline integrations—all while operating in an AWS environment. Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities, as well as cost monitoring and optimization, are critical to success. 

What you’ll be doing…

Cloud Integration & Architecture 

• Design, implement, and maintain AWS-based infrastructure for BI workloads, leveraging services like Redshift, S3, EMR, etc., in alignment with the BI Technical Architect’s guidelines. 
• Utilize Terraform (or similar IaC tools) to manage environment provisioning, ensuring repeatable and auditable infrastructure setups. 
• Collaborate with the Platform Engineering team to provision environments and coordinate on overall system design, ensuring consistency and scalability across BI and broader platform systems. 
• Apply containerization best practices (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) where appropriate to streamline deployments and improve portability. 

Code Release & Deployment 

• Own the code promotion process for both ETL code and Power BI code, ensuring streamlined, error-free deployments.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions) that handle builds, automated testing, versioning, and releases for various BI components. 
• Enforce branching strategies, code review processes, and GitHub repository standards to maintain high-quality code across ETL and Power BI artifacts. 
• Integrate Jira with code repositories to automate ticket tracking, deployment readiness, and release notes generation. 

Environment Management & Freshness 

• Oversee non-production environment freshness (e.g., Dev, QA, UAT) to ensure data and configurations reflect the appropriate snapshot for testing or stakeholder demos. 
• Coordinate data refresh schedules and environment synchronization, minimizing drift between different stages of the development lifecycle. 
• Implement Jira-to-data provisioning pipeline integrations, triggering automated environment refreshes or data provisioning steps based on ticket statuses. 

Data Provisioning & Pipeline Management 

• Set up and oversee data provisioning workflows to ensure relevant data is available for ETL jobs, Power BI reports, and other analytics solutions. 
• Automate data pipeline deployments, integrating source control, peer reviews, and versioning. 
• Handle Big Data orchestration (e.g., EMR, Spark) where required, ensuring large-scale data sets are processed efficiently. 

Code Optimization (ETL & Power BI) 

• Collaborate with Data Engineering and Reporting teams to optimize ETL code, improving performance and resource utilization in AWS (Redshift, EMR, Lambda). 
• Implement Power BI code optimizations (e.g., DAX queries, data modeling, refresh scheduling) to deliver fast, responsive dashboards. 
• Continuously identify performance bottlenecks in transformations or report rendering, offering technical guidance and scripting solutions (Python, SQL, etc.). 

Observability, Logging & Automation 

• Implement logging frameworks (CloudWatch, ELK stack, etc.) to capture system events, deployments, and error logs across the BI environment. 
• Set up system observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog) for real-time metrics, alerts, and dashboards, enabling proactive monitoring of BI services. 
• Drive automation-first approaches—reducing manual interventions and improving reliability in code promotions, environment provisioning, and data workflows.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Work closely with the BI Technical Architect, Platform Engineering, Data Engineering, and Reporting teams to prioritize deployment schedules and address technical challenges. 
• Collaborate with cloud and product support teams when troubleshooting complex issues, escalations, or new feature requests in AWS services or BI applications. 
• Provide technical guidance and training to analysts or developers interfacing with the code promotion process or infrastructure. 
• Serve as a subject matter expert on code release strategies, AWS integration, Jira-to-code pipelines, Python-driven automation, and observability within the BI domain. 

Governance, Security & Compliance 

• Design role-based permissions, encryption standards, and secure connectivity across AWS services (e.g., Redshift, S3), ensuring they adhere to broader security policies. 
• Collaborate with Data Governance to ensure compliance with data lineage, audit trails, and relevant regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.). 
• Maintain release documentation and runbooks, detailing environment configurations and operational procedures for ETL and Power BI deployments. 

Performance Monitoring & Optimization 

• Continuously monitor resource utilization across AWS (e.g., Redshift cluster performance, S3 usage, EMR job efficiency) to optimize costs and maintain SLAs. 
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks in build and deployment pipelines, especially for large-scale data operations. 
• Integrate observability practices (logs, metrics, traces) to proactively address issues and ensure high availability. 

Cost Monitoring & Optimization 

• Track AWS usage and costs (compute, storage, data transfer), identifying opportunities for cost optimization. 
• Recommend and implement cost-saving measures (e.g., rightsizing Redshift clusters, leveraging spot instances, better data lifecycle management). 
• Regularly review budget vs. actual spending, reporting findings to the BI Technical Architect and other stakeholders. 

Continuous Improvement & Innovation 

• Evaluate new AWS services, CI/CD frameworks, and data orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow) to improve efficiency, reliability, and developer experience. 
• Propose process improvements (automated testing, containerization, advanced scheduling) to elevate the BI release lifecycle for both ETL and Power BI artifacts. 
• Encourage a culture of innovation, driving pilot projects that leverage emerging cloud technologies, big data processing techniques, or advanced deployment practices. 

What experience we’re looking for…

Experience

Technical Expertise 

• AWS Cloud: Strong hands-on experience with AWS services (Redshift, S3, Lambda, EMR, CloudFormation/Terraform) and best practices for big data. 
• CI/CD & Release Management: Proficiency in pipeline tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or equivalent) for ETL and Power BI code deployments. 
• Programming & Automation: Advanced Python scripting skills for automating tasks, building release utilities, and integrating logging/observability frameworks. 
• SQL & Big Data: In-depth knowledge of Redshift SQL, large-scale data processing (Spark, EMR), and data warehousing concepts.
• Containerization: Familiarity with Docker and/or Kubernetes for containerizing BI components or data workflows. 
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate or Professional) and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer (Professional). 

Environment & Tool Integrations 

• Experience managing non-production environment freshness, including data refreshes and configuration alignment. 
• Familiarity with Jira integrations for code promotions, environment updates, and data provisioning triggers. 
• Ability to optimize ETL code (Spark, Python scripts, Glue) and Power BI code (DAX, data modeling, refresh scheduling). 

Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting 

• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities, diagnosing complex issues in cloud deployments, data flows, or containerized environments. 
• Skilled at troubleshooting cross-functional dependencies, engaging with cloud/product support teams as necessary. 
• Adept at producing clear, actionable solutions under pressure or tight deadlines. 

Observability & Logging 

• Experience setting up system observability, logs, metrics, and tracing for cloud-based BI services. 
• Familiarity with tools such as CloudWatch, Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana, or similar. 

Project & Delivery Management 

• Experience managing multiple release cycles for data pipelines and BI dashboards simultaneously. 
• Familiarity with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and backlog grooming for deployment tasks. 
• Strong track record of change management, guiding teams through new pipeline tools or procedures. 

Additional Qualifications 

• Hands-on experience with GitHub (branching strategies, pull requests, code reviews) and Terraform for infrastructure-as-code. 
• Previous experience in regulated environments (finance, healthcare, lottery/gaming) is a plus. 
• Lottery domain experience is highly beneficial for understanding unique data, compliance, and operational nuances. 

Advantageous Experience/Skills 

• Experience working in retail environments (desirable, not mandatory) 
• Digitally forward thinking, quick to embrace new retail technology and inspire and motivate your team to adopt new initiatives  

Key Measures of Success:

Deployment Reliability & Efficiency 

• Reduction in deployment errors, rollbacks, and unplanned downtime for both ETL and Power BI code. 
• Shorter release cycles and faster time-to-deliver BI features or data updates. 

Data Pipeline & Code Promotion Quality 

• Minimal data ingestion or transformation failures and minimal disruptions to Power BI end users. 
• High adherence to version control, code review, and documented best practices for both ETL and Power BI.

Environment Freshness & Alignment 

• Successful synchronization of non-production environments, ensuring accurate testing conditions and minimal drift. 
• Effective Jira-to-data provisioning integrations that automate environment updates or data refreshes. 

Observability & Automation 

• Successful implementation of logging, monitoring, and alerting frameworks, leading to proactive incident management. 
• Tangible improvements in automation, reducing manual interventions for code promotions or environment changes. 

Performance & Cost Optimization 

• Effective utilization of AWS resources (Redshift, EMR, etc.), balancing performance with cost-efficiency. 
• Positive stakeholder feedback regarding pipeline speed, scalability, reliability, and cost savings. 

Stakeholder Satisfaction & Collaboration 

• Positive cross-functional feedback from the BI Technical Architect, Platform Engineering, Data Engineering, and Reporting teams on responsiveness and technical acumen. 
• Demonstrated ability to align with DevOps while maintaining distinct responsibilities within the BI function. 
• Proactive engagement with cloud and product support teams for escalations or advanced feature requirements. 

About us:

We’ve developed ground-breaking technologies, built player protection frameworks, and have a proven track record of making lotteries better. 

• Innovation - We pride ourselves on it! We’re constantly looking for new ways to excite our customers, bringing new products to enjoy which is all underpinned by our responsible play values and making them accessible to all.
• Giving back – Did you know that playing the lottery generates around £30m a week for charities and good causes in the UK? Our aim is to have doubled this number by the end of the first 10 year licence
• Sustainability – Our aim to be net zero by 2030 which would make us the first lottery provider globally to achieve this
• Inclusion and accessibility – We are making all parts of The National Lottery inclusive – whether you play a game in a store or online. 

If you need any assistance or adjustments to this job description or in the application process, please contact a member of the talent team at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help. 

**Being the custodians of the National Lottery license is a big responsibility, so all of our roles are subject to extensive background checks**

An inclusive reward offering with wellbeing at the centre…

At Allwyn, we’ve put together a range of inclusive benefits and policies to support our colleagues at every stage of their lives and careers.

Here’s a list of some of the fantastic benefits we offer…

• Company bonus scheme
• Matched pension contributions up to 8.5%
• 26 days annual leave + 2 Life Days (and bank holidays)
• Complimentary Private Medical
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave
• £500 wellness allowance
• Access to nutritional advisor and personal trainers
• Discounted Health Assessments
• Complimentary Financial coaching

Our benefits and policies reflect our commitment to wellbeing and inclusivity and are enhanced with features that benefit our colleagues (and their families). By offering a variety of benefits that support our colleagues, we continue to create a place of work where people feel rewarded and can succeed.

A place of belonging…

We want to create one of the UK’s most inclusive organisations – where people can bring the best of themselves, to do their best work, every day, for the benefit of good causes.

Allwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer which prides itself in being diverse and inclusive. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or victimisation in the workplace.  All employment decisions at Allwyn are based on the business needs, the job requirements, and the individual qualifications.  Allwyn encourages applications from individuals regardless of age, disability (visible or hidden), sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We are a Disability Confident Leader which means we’ve taken proactive steps to ensure our workplace is accessible and inclusive for disabled colleagues and candidates. As part of this we offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential requirements of the job.