Principal Data Engineer responsible for leading complex data architecture, cloud platform strategy, delivery performance, incident response, governance, and compliance. Serves as the primary technical advisor to clients, ensuring scalable, resilient, secure data platforms. Oversees team-of-teams execution, capacity planning, budgets, hiring, stakeholder communication, and mentorship while driving technical standards and long-term business value.
As a Principal Data Engineer, you will serve as the bridge between complex technical architecture and strategic business value. This is a high-impact, client-facing leadership role designed for an expert who can navigate deep technical challenges while maintaining a "customer-first" mindset. You will be the primary technical authority for our clients, ensuring their data platforms are resilient, scalable, and aligned with their long-term business goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Customer Excellence & Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary strategic partner to client business owners, aligning technical data solutions with corporate goals while championing reliability and "clean data" for all consumers.
- Solution Architecture & Tech Strategy: Drive the development of complex, large-scale data architectures and multi-year technology roadmaps, balancing technical innovation with cost efficiency and operational stability.
- Delivery & Execution: Oversee "team-of-teams" delivery performance, ensuring the quality and resilience of high-impact data pipelines while managing capacity planning and team velocity.
- Incident Management & Resilience: Lead the triage and resolution of critical platform incidents, taking full ownership of root-cause prevention and maintaining transparent communication with clients during recovery.
- Governance, Risk & Compliance: Implement robust governance frameworks and compliance controls, acting as the authoritative lead on risk mitigation and the primary technical contact for regulatory matters.
- Knowledge Management & Mentorship: Champion an organisational culture of knowledge sharing, representing the firm at industry events and establishing best practices across communities of practice.
- Business Strategy: Influence long-term organizational health by driving platform efficiency, managing engineering budgets, and leading strategic hiring and retention initiatives.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential:
- Proven experience in a principal engineering role.
- Extensive experience with cloud data platforms such as Azure or AWS, with a focus on Databricks.
- Highly skilled with Pythonic data processing tools such as Pyspark and SparkSQL.
- Strong understanding of data modelling concepts relational and non-relational databases.
- Proficiency in SQL and experience with data integration and ETL tools.
- Excellent knowledge of big data technologies and frameworks.
- Strong knowledge of data governance and data security best practices.
- Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and a consultative approach.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Benefits
- Remote-first working with flexibility around client needs.
- Private health insurance.
- Projects with global brands & public sector leaders, working on real-world impact.
- Exclusive access to AWS & Databricks certifications, training, and partner tools.
- A collaborative culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
- A lead role in shaping delivery standards and future Data & Consulting practices within the firm.
- Competitive salary, bonus structure, and long-term growth opportunities.
About
We are passionate about helping businesses navigate the rapidly changing and complex world of emerging technologies. We create well-structured, secure, scalable solutions at speed to provide the foundation for groundbreaking change.
Nasstar Belfast, Northern Ireland Office
Belfast, United Kingdom
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