Principal Data Engineer
Defence & AI | Up to £140,000 + Package | Newcastle HQ | UK Travel
This is not another consulting role.
This is an opportunity to join one of the most exciting and fastest-growing AI and defence technology businesses in the UK, helping shape the future of data, analytics and AI across some of the nation's most critical programmes.
We're looking for an exceptional Principal Data Engineer with the technical credibility, leadership capability and strategic vision to help build a market-leading data engineering practice.
This role is aimed at individuals who want more than technical delivery. We're looking for a recognised leader within the defence data community—someone capable of influencing customers, leading teams, defining technical strategy and helping scale a high-performing capability from the ground up.
The Opportunity
As Principal Data Engineer, you will operate as a technical authority across major defence and national security programmes, helping clients unlock the value of their data while enabling advanced analytics, machine learning and AI-driven solutions.
You will play a key role in shaping both technical delivery and the future direction of the organisation's data capability.
Responsibilities will include:
* Acting as a senior technical leader across complex defence programmes
* Defining engineering standards, best practices and technical strategy
* Leading and mentoring high-performing engineering teams
* Engaging directly with senior customer stakeholders
* Designing and delivering modern cloud-native data platforms
* Supporting capability growth and practice development
* Driving innovation across data, analytics and AI initiatives
What We're Looking For
We're interested in proven leaders from the defence, national security or secure government technology sectors.
You'll bring:
* Significant experience leading Data Engineering teams and large-scale programmes
* Strong expertise in Python and SQL
* Deep experience with Spark and/or Databricks
* Strong cloud expertise across AWS, Azure and/or GCP
* Experience with orchestration technologies such as Airflow
* A track record of delivering scalable, resilient and high-quality data products
* The ability to influence customers and senior stakeholders
* Experience developing engineering capabilities, teams and technical standards
* A passion for innovation and emerging technologies, particularly AI
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to join a business where you can genuinely shape the future.
You'll have the autonomy to influence technical direction, build capability, mentor outstanding engineers and work on programmes that have real-world impact.
For ambitious technical leaders who want to combine hands-on expertise with strategic influence, opportunities like this do not come around often.
Package
* Up to £140,000 base salary
* Excellent benefits package
* Significant opportunities for progression and influence
* Newcastle HQ
* Regular travel to client sites across the UK
* Work at the forefront of Defence, Data and AI
If you're a recognised leader within the defence data community and are looking for your next challenge, we'd love to have a confidential conversation.