Principal Data Engineer (Head of Data)

Principal Data Engineer

Salary: £125,000 + Benefits/Bonus

Location: London 1/2 days per week

Own the rebuild of a modern data platform from the ground up.

We’re working with a business in the middle of a high-impact data transformation—moving away from legacy constraints towards a scalable, cloud-first architecture. They’re looking for a Principal Data Engineer to take a leading role in that journey.

This isn’t a role where you inherit a polished environment. It’s an opportunity to shape, modernise, and influence—from refactoring legacy pipelines to building best-in-class data products using tools like Databricks, Azure, and GCP.

You’ll operate as the technical authority within the data function, setting standards, mentoring engineers, and working closely with both internal teams and external delivery partners.

The Role

• Transform legacy batch processes into scalable, observable data pipelines
• Build and deliver high-quality data products in line with architectural designs
• Work across modern cloud platforms including Databricks, Azure, and GCP

Architectural Leadership

• Define and own the directional architecture for the Data Estate
• Lead decision-making on Databricks and Azure implementation
• Establish scalable design patterns that become engineering standards

People Leadership

• Line manage and grow a high-performing Data Engineering squad
• Lead hiring, onboarding, and professional development
• Set and maintain a strong technical culture and engineering discipline

Stakeholder Engagement & Mentorship

• Partner with Business Analysts to ensure data solutions deliver real value
• Mentor and support engineers through pairing and knowledge sharing
• Champion engineering excellence across the team

About You

• Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Strong experience (typically 5+ years) in data engineering roles
• Advanced skills in Python and SQL
• Hands-on experience with Databricks, Azure, and GCP/BigQuery
• Proven ability to work across both legacy systems and modern cloud environments

Key Skills

• DevOps mindset – you automate wherever possible and write clean, testable code
• Pragmatic approach – focused on delivering value without overengineering
• Strong communicator – confident engaging with stakeholders across the business

Why Apply?

• High-impact role with real ownership of platform direction
• Opportunity to modernise and shape a large-scale data estate
• Work in a collaborative, engineering-led environment
• Influence tooling, standards, and long-term strategy

For more information please apply or reach out to Gavin Stephens at Halian - gavin.stephens@halian.com