Principal Data and AI Engineer

JR United Kingdom; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading technology firm as a Principal Data and AI Engineer, where you will drive innovation in data operations. You'll lead a talented team to optimize IT assets and ensure seamless integration of diverse data sources, shaping the future of enterprise intelligence. This role is pivotal in transforming how data is ingested and curated, requiring advanced expertise in SQL Server and effective leadership in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in large-scale data/content operations and platform engineering.
• Expertise in Microsoft SQL Server with database design and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with Data Lakehouse architectures, especially Databricks.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the strategy for data and content operations at scale.
• Design and optimize large-scale data architectures.
• Oversee architecture across applications and integrations.

Skills

Data architecture

Database design

Transact-SQL (T-SQL)

C#

REST API integration

Agile methodologies

Data Lakehouse architectures

Workflow optimization

Job description

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Reimagine enterprise data and content operations at massive scale! As the Principal Data and AI Engineer at Flexera, you will drive technical innovation and lead a talented team focused on the ingestion, curation, and organization of the world's IT assets. Your mission: transform vast amounts of semi-structured data into trusted insights, empowering customers to manage and optimize their IT landscapes—including hardware, software, SaaS, cloud, containers, AI services, and more.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Ownership

• Define and evolve the long-term strategy for data and content operations at scale.
• Balance current realities with an ambitious roadmap toward future innovation.
• Lead automation efforts in data normalization, enrichment, and quality assurance using AI/ML and Agentic AI.
• Align technical direction with business priorities to shape the roadmap.

Technical Leadership

• Design, optimize, and govern modern, large-scale data architectures.
• Oversee architecture across applications, infrastructure, and ecosystem integrations.
• Apply advanced performance tuning, database optimization, and domain-driven design principles.
• Collaborate with and mentor engineers on system architecture, CI/CD workflows, and API integrations.
• Provide technical oversight in data modeling, system scaling, availability, and reliability.
• Act as a hands-on contributor to unblock teams and drive execution on complex projects.

Operational Excellence

• Champion foundational data metrics: quality, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Ensure security and cost-effectiveness of operations through thoughtful oversight.

Required Experience

• Proven experience in large-scale data/content operations and platform engineering.
• Expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, including:
• Database design and performance tuning
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL), C#
• REST API integration
• Familiarity with Data Lakehouse architectures, especially Databricks.
• Strong understanding of data architecture, domain modeling, and system design in distributed environments.
• Experience working in Agile environments with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in workflow optimization through tooling, process, automation, and AI augmentation (including Agentic AI).
• Domain knowledge in IT Asset Management, FinOps, or vulnerability intelligence is a plus.

Personal Attributes

• Clear communicator: Crisp, honest, and transparent communication style.
• Data-driven mindset: Always seeks to validate hypotheses with data.
• Detail-oriented and strategic: Able to zoom into details while maintaining a broader perspective.
• Hands-on leader: Actively seeks challenges and empowers the team.
• Storyteller and mentor: Inspires teams through vision and guidance.
• Emotionally intelligent: Maintains composure under pressure.
• Change advocate: Balances incremental improvements with transformative innovation.