Principal Data Engineer

AXA UK plc; Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider in the UK is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to enhance their data platform using cutting-edge Databricks Lakehouse solutions. This role involves designing scalable solutions, advocating for high-quality data practices, and leading innovative data projects in collaboration with business units. The position offers a competitive salary, a performance-based bonus, and a range of benefits including medical cover and a contributory pension scheme.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual performance-based bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Private medical cover

28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

Opportunity to buy or sell extra days leave

Wellbeing services

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Proven experience in advanced Databricks Lakehouse solutions.
• Ability to guide teams on best practices.
• Strong communication skills across technical and business teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate scalable Databricks Lakehouse solutions.
• Lead the adoption of innovative Databricks features.
• Collaborate to ensure solutions are aligned with best practices.

Skills

Design and build advanced Databricks solutions

Partnership with business units

High-quality data advocacy

Workshop facilitation and documentation

Innovative problem-solving

Tools

Databricks

Job description

Are you a passionate Data Platform Engineer looking to make a real impact? We're looking for a Principal Data Engineer to lead the way in adopting and integrating cutting edge Databricks Lakehouse solutions across AXA UK. You'll be driving the development of scalable, robust data platforms, championing best practices, and inspiring a culture of data-driven innovation. If you're ready to help shape the future of data at AXA and empower teams with powerful, strategic insights, this could be the perfect opportunity for you! At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events. We're also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate scalable Databricks Lakehouse solutions, including pipelines and streaming processes.
• Lead the adoption of new Databricks features such as AI/BI Genie, Lakeflow Designer, and Agent Bricks to drive innovative data use cases.
• Partner with business units to understand their needs, develop best practices, and enable self-serve data solutions that are reliable, high quality, and accessible.
• Promote best practices for trustworthy, high-quality data to maximise the value of Data and AI initiatives.
• Deliver workshops, create documentation, and share practical guidance to empower teams across AXA.
• Collaborate with technical and business teams to develop innovative data projects, ensuring solutions are scalable, performant, and aligned with best practices.
• Facilitate collaboration between Data Platform, Data Science, Business Units, and Data Governance teams.
• Enhance platform performance, automation, and data management processes to support continuous innovation.
• Lead efforts to enhance platform capabilities, promote innovation, and share knowledge to foster a culture of growth and experimentation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in designing, building, and operating advanced Databricks Lakehouse solutions, including pipelines and structured streaming processes and feature adoption.
• Passion for exploring and deploying new Databricks features to solve real business problems and drive competitive advantage.
• Strong ability to partner with business units, understand their data needs, and enable self-service, high quality data solutions.
• Ability to work with and guide teams on best practices, support architectural decisions, and influence data engineering strategies.
• Skilled at creating clear documentation, playing a key role in preparing and facilitating workshops, and engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• Advocate for high-quality data and effective data management to maximise value from analytics and AI.
• Experienced in working across technical, business, and governance teams to deliver impactful solutions.
• Curious, proactive, and eager to experiment with new tools and approaches to solve complex problems.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive annual salary of up to £95,000 dependent on experience
• Annual company & performance-based bonus
• Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
• Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
• Private medical cover
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
• Wellbeing services & resources
• AXA employee discounts

Equal Opportunities

We believe in hiring people who possess the appropriate skills and values that align with our vision. Our selection process is fair and equitable, ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to join us. We are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

AXA UK are recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. We actively encourage applications from people who face barriers in the workplace due to a disability or long-term health condition. We participate in the Disability Confident 'Offer of Interview' scheme. This means a fair and proportionate number of candidates with long-term health conditions or disabilities who meet the essential criteria of a job will be offered an interview. You don't need to share the details of your long term health condition or disability for your application to be considered under this scheme.

Screening & Conduct

All successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks. Additionally, adherence to the Prudential Regulation Authority's (PRA) Insurance Conduct Standards and the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Conduct Rules will be required.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.