Principal Data Engineer - Consultancy
Location: Hybrid in Derby
Clearance: SC required (Sole UK Nationals only)
Can you help organisations at the very beginning of their data journey?
We're hiring a Principal Data Engineer to lead the design and delivery of data solutions across a variety of sectors. This role is ideal for someone who can blend technical expertise with a consultative mindset - guiding clients who may not yet have mature data capabilities, warehouses, or clear strategies in place.
What you'll be doing:
* Act as a lead consultant, engaging directly with clients to shape and deliver data solutions
* Support pre-sales and business development by defining scopes, contributing to proposals, and helping win new work
* Manage and mentor teams of Data Engineers and Analysts across active projects
* Design modern data platforms and architectures from scratch, often where existing infrastructure is minimal or misused
* Establish best practices across data engineering, governance, and delivery
* Build trust with both technical teams and senior non-technical stakeholders
What you'll bring:
* Significant experience in data engineering and solution design, ideally in complex or regulated environments
* Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a consultative approach
* Technical skills across modern cloud platforms (Azure preferred), SQL, Python, data visualisation and data pipeline tools
* Experience leading teams and developing others
* Patience, adaptability, and a willingness to work in organisations with low data maturity
What to expect:
You'll join a growing consultancy team working on high-impact digital transformation projects. Many of these clients are only just starting their data journeys - so this isn't a plug-and-play role. It's about building capability where it's never existed before.
Additional info:
* SC clearance is required (sole UK nationals only)
* Occasional travel to client sites will be necessary
* The role offers long-term growth, autonomy, and variety across projects
Ready to shape the future of data where it's needed most?
Get in touch to find out more or apply directly.