Principal Data Engineer

DiverseJobsMatter; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to join their innovative team. This role involves leading technical projects, mentoring engineers, and maintaining strong client relationships. You will be responsible for designing data solutions and managing deployment pipelines while ensuring best practices are followed. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, this company offers a supportive environment where your contributions will make a real impact. If you are passionate about data engineering and want to work in a collaborative setting, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

25 days holiday plus UK public holidays

Perkbox access for discounts

Critical illness cover

Life assurance

Volunteer days

Cycle-to-work scheme

Salary sacrifice electric vehicles scheme

Season ticket loans

Wellbeing sessions

Qualifications

• Experience delivering in Python and at least one other core language.
• Solid experience with Cloud providers like AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical SME to ensure user-centered software is developed.
• Design and manage software development and deployment pipelines.

Skills

Python

SQL

AWS

Data Pipelines

Agile Methodology

Technical Leadership

Data Modeling

Communication Skills

Tools

Snowflake

dbt

CI/CD

Job description

About The Role

Hippo is recruiting for a Principal Data Engineer to join our Hippo Herd.

Principal Data Engineers work in multi-disciplinary teams that build, support & maintain user-centered digital solutions that offer real value and work for everyone.

Hippo’s Principal Data Engineers are experts in their field. You will act as a principal consultant providing technical expertise in data engineering practices both internally and to our clients. You will drive the team's technical deliverables, maintain client relationships, and be passionate about developing and upskilling others.

Your role in a nutshell:

• Act as a technical SME within the Hippo engineering community to produce and ensure user-centered software is developed based on business requirements and following best practices.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to explore, design, and deliver solutions to client problems.
• Maintain client relationships and troubleshoot issues through collaboration.
• Design and manage software development and deployment pipelines, resolving issues and potential bottlenecks before they occur.
• Continuously review and prioritize the delivery team's workload, anticipating the need for realignment with evolving operational priorities and complex work-streams.
• Be a strong communicator and presenter, presenting prototypes, solutions, and progress to internal/external stakeholders in a clear, concise manner.
• Build great relationships with your team and stakeholders, identifying and ensuring challenges are overcome.
• Lead in the recruitment of other engineers and support other consultants in their professional development.
• Ensure Hippo’s Data and Engineering communities contribute to Hippo’s business at a strategic level.
• Lead on new business opportunities, writing technical bids and proposals.
• Promote Hippo’s Data Herd externally (e.g., through blogs, workshops, seminars, or conferences).

About the Candidate:

• Excellent experience delivering in Python and experience with at least one other core language.
• Excellent experience of SQL and relational databases. NoSQL databases are also desirable.
• Solid experience with at least one Cloud provider such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Solid experience working with Snowflake and dbt.
• Strong experience working with different data formats, e.g., CSV, JSON, XML.
• Building reliable Data Pipelines.
• Experience in Data Modelling is highly desirable.
• Broader knowledge of IT — e.g., Security and Networking.
• Experience working in an Agile environment.
• Experience with Test-Driven Development and/or Behaviour-Driven Development.
• Knowledge of Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).
• Experience operating as a technical leader on complex projects, managing stakeholder expectations, and influencing decisions.
• Coaching and guiding others to achieve optimal solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to articulate in both technical and non-technical terms.
• Technical leadership and/or mentoring experience.
• Ability to define working procedures and methodologies for the team.

About The Company

We offer a competitive salary and a range of benefits:

• Contributory pension scheme (Hippo 6% with employee contributions of 2%).
• 25 days holiday plus UK public holidays.
• Perkbox access for discounts.
• Critical illness cover.
• Life assurance and death in service cover.
• Volunteer days.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicles scheme.
• Season ticket loans.
• Wellbeing sessions.
• Flexible benefits scheme including private health and dental cover, additional pension contributions, extra holidays, wellbeing contributions, charity donations, and tree planting.

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Hippo

We’re committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups and provide accommodations to ensure an accessible recruitment process.

Hi, we’re Hippo.

We design with empathy and build for impact, combining data-informed evidence, human-centered design, and software engineering. Our agile methodology supports innovation and continuous improvement to achieve your outcomes.

We believe technology should serve humanity, and our solutions are designed to work for users in the real world.

Our data, design, and engineering deliver bespoke digital services that make a positive impact. If you want to build for the future and make a lasting impact, join us.

Hippo locations

Headquartered in Leeds with offices across the UK. We welcome applicants nationwide and offer relocation support up to £8k. Candidates may work on-site or remotely, depending on project needs.