Principal Data Engineer

By clicking Apply, you'll be taken to the Via website to complete your application. This doesn't guarantee you'll be matched to this specific role - Via reviews every application (AI first, then a human checks the fit) and shortlists the right candidates. Your profile also stays active for other relevant roles on the platform, and stays anonymous until you match. It takes just a few minutes. Salary: Up to £125,000 per year Car allowance: £6,000 per year Bonus: Up to 25% discretionary bonus Location: London or Leicester Working arrangement: Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office Start date: Flexible Full-time | Permanent About the opportunity Via is partnering with a major UK consumer business looking for a Principal Data Engineer to provide technical and people leadership across its data engineering capability. This is a senior role combining data architecture, engineering leadership, people development and hands-on technical problem solving. You'll act as a key technical authority for a modern cloud-first data platform, helping shape its architecture while ensuring the business can deliver trusted, scalable and cost-effective data products. The environment includes Snowflake, AWS and dbt, and you'll work closely with Data Engineering, Product, Enterprise Architecture and Technology leadership. What you'll be doing Provide technical leadership across the data engineering functionShape the architecture and evolution of a modern cloud-first enterprise data platformDesign scalable, reliable and cost-effective data solutionsLead technical solution design across complex data initiativesWork extensively with Snowflake, AWS and dbtGuide the development of data pipelines and enterprise data productsEstablish strong data modelling and engineering standardsWork across conceptual, logical and physical data modellingEnsure technical solutions align with wider data and technology strategyIdentify and address technical debt across core data platformsMonitor cloud and platform consumption and identify opportunities to optimise costsOwn technical risks and issues across projects and programmesSupport the resolution of service and production issues across the data ecosystemProvide estimates and technical input into engineering and product planningMentor and develop Lead Data EngineersSupport the development of the wider Data Engineering teamContribute to recruitment, onboarding, performance and career developmentWork closely with Product, Architecture and Technology teamsEvaluate emerging technologies and introduce relevant engineering practices What we're looking for Significant experience in senior or principal-level data engineeringStrong technical leadership experienceExtensive experience designing and developing modern cloud data platformsStrong Snowflake experience, or significant experience with comparable modern cloud data platformsStrong AWS experienceExperience with services such as S3, Lambda, SQS, Kinesis or FirehoseStrong dbt experienceExcellent SQL skillsProgramming experience with Python, Node or another relevant languageExtensive data modelling experienceStrong understanding of dimensional modellingExperience designing scalable data pipelines and data productsInfrastructure-as-code experience, ideally TerraformGood understanding of CI/CD and modern engineering practicesExperience with GitHub, GitLab or similar development toolingStrong understanding of cloud architecture and platform designExperience managing technical risk and making complex engineering decisionsStrong stakeholder management and communication skillsExperience coaching and mentoring technical colleaguesExperience developing senior engineers and engineering capability Useful additional experience Power BI or ThoughtSpotAutomated testing and data quality practicesCloud consumption and cost optimisationVendor managementEnterprise-scale data environmentsTechnical recruitment and talent development You don't need experience with every individual technology listed. We're particularly interested in experienced Data Engineering leaders who combine strong cloud architecture and modern data stack knowledge with the ability to develop engineers and influence technical strategy. Why apply? Salary up to £125,000£6,000 annual car allowanceUp to 25% discretionary bonusShareSave schemeHybrid working with 2 days per week in London or LeicesterPrivate healthcarePensionAnnual leavePrincipal-level technical ownership and influenceWork with Snowflake, AWS and dbt at enterprise scaleShape the future architecture of a major cloud data platformSignificant technical leadership responsibilityOpportunity to develop and mentor experienced Data EngineersStrong learning and development opportunities With the £6,000 car allowance and maximum discretionary bonus, the total potential annual cash package can exceed £160,000, alongside the ShareSave scheme and wider benefits