Head of Data Engineering (Hybrid, Manchester, UK)

Parking; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday (28 with service)

On-site gym

10% company pension

Discounts on CAVU products

Volunteer days

Learning grants

Flexible benefits

Parental leave enhancements

Job summary

CAVU is accelerating its data transformation journey and seeking a Head of Data Engineering. You will shape and scale a centralised data function, leading a global team to deliver robust pipelines, architecture and governance that empower analytics, product, and commercial initiatives.

You’ll bring deep expertise in modern data engineering, Databricks and medallion architecture, with strong leadership to drive cross-functional collaboration and independent decision-making at scale.

Qualifications

• Experience leading data engineering teams and delivering scalable data platforms.
• Strong understanding of data architecture, governance and observability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a global data engineering team to deliver robust pipelines and data products.
• Define and drive data engineering strategy aligned with business goals.
• Oversee data storage, processing and integration architecture for scalability.

Skills

Databricks

Medallion architecture

Team leadership

ETL tools (Rivery)

ML-Ops frameworks

Python/Scala/Java

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GC)

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Rivery

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Job description

We are Cavu - a travel-tech and hospitality company built to make journeys smoother, more rewarding and more human.

From our platform that helps airports unlock more value across the passenger journey, to our airport lounges and hospitality experiences people love, everything we do is designed to make travel better - for passengers and the businesses that serve them.

That takes people with fresh ideas, different perspectives and the confidence to challenge what already exists. At Cavu, you’ll have the space to think, the support to grow and the freedom to be yourself.

Whether you’re working from one of our offices, at home, in our lounges or on the road, you’ll be empowered to create, innovate and help shape better travel experiences.

Know the way. Together, we can reach new heights.

What’s the role?

CAVU is well into an exciting digital and data transformation journey. With the acquisition of new brands, the expansion of our product portfolio, and a commitment to best-in-class technology, data has become fundamental to how we operate and grow.

As we continue to strengthen our centralised data capability across marketing analytics, digital analytics, and commercial analytics, we’re now looking for a Head of Data Engineering to join our Data leadership team.

This role will shape, strengthen, and scale our centralised data engineering function, ensuring our platforms, pipelines, and architecture are robust, forward-thinking, and fit for the future. You’ll bring deep expertise across modern data engineering practices, strong technical solution-design capability, particularly with Databricks, and the leadership experience to empower a high-performing global engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead, manage and mentor a team of data engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and innovation.
• Strategic Ownership: Develop and execute the data engineering strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term data ambitions.
• Data Architecture: Design, oversee, and continually improve CAVU’s data storage, processing, and integration architecture.
• Pipeline Excellence: Ensure the delivery of scalable, high-quality data pipelines for ingestion, transformation and storage.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with data science, analytics, product, and engineering teams to ensure data is accessible, discoverable, and meets CAVU standards.
• Data Quality & Governance: Establish and champion best practices for data quality, governance, observability, and security.
• Technology Evaluation: Stay ahead of data engineering trends and evaluate emerging tools to enhance the team’s capabilities.
• Resource Management: Ensure the efficient use of infrastructure, technology, and team resources.
• Stakeholder Management: Anticipate issues, remove blockers, and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

About You

You’re a strategic and hands-on data leader with a passion for building scalable systems, high-performing teams, and exceptional data products. You’re motivated by solving complex problems, enabling others to thrive, and shaping the future of data at CAVU.

You’ll be comfortable operating as part of a senior leadership team, managing both teams and managers, and supporting a global data function.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in data engineering or a related discipline, including a leadership position
• Strong experience with medallion architecture and Databricks
• Proficiency with ETL tools, such as Rivery, and ML-Ops frameworks
• Strong programming skills in Python, Scala, or Java
• Experience with cloud data platforms and services, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to bring clarity to complexity and explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Proven ability to anticipate problems, remove blockers, and resolve issues effectively

Preferred

• Experience working in a SaaS environment
• Exposure to machine learning and AI tooling

The Perks

• 25 days holiday, increasing with service, up to 28 days
• Option to buy up to 10 extra days plus 4 flexible bank holidays
• 10% company pension
• On-site gym
• A range of flexible benefits and discounts, including up to 50% off CAVU products such as Escape Lounges and Airport Parking
• Rail and retail discounts
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Access to health and wellbeing events, ID&E activities, and learning opportunities
• Formal and informal development options, including mentoring programmes and learning grants
• Enhanced parental leave, T&Cs apply

The Interview Process

• Recruiter Screen, approximately 15 minutes: We’ll cover your experience, motivations, and role fit
• Skills & Competency Interview
• Values Interview
• Senior stakeholder meeting

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

We’re building something brilliant at CAVU: a diverse team of people who reflect the global customer base that we serve. We’re proudly part of MAG and together we’re on a mission to be number one in our industries, and that takes talent in all its forms. With so many exciting roles across our businesses, there’s space for your unique strengths to shine.

Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you, even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know. We’re committed to helping you perform at your best.

At MAG and CAVU, every journey matters. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that: Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.