Principal Data Engineer
Kingfisher plc
A complete application in a minute
Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Kingfisher plc is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to be a senior technical authority across Group Technology. You will shape the design and evolution of data platforms and products, lead complex cross‑team initiatives and raise engineering standards across multiple squads.
This is a hands‑on leadership role connecting deep technical expertise with business outcomes, influencing architecture, roadmaps and investment decisions while enabling engineers to deliver scalable, cost‑efficient data
Qualifications
- Deep expertise in distributed data processing and cloud‑native systems.
- Proven experience delivering large‑scale data platforms and production‑grade pipelines.
- Strong Python and SQL skills with hands‑on Spark/PySpark/Scala.
- Experience with dbt for data modelling and transformation.
- Knowledge of cloud platforms (GCP/Azure/AWS) and services like Databricks/BigQuery.
- Understanding of DevOps/DataOps, CI/CD, Git, Terraform, Docker and Kubernetes.
- Experience with Great Expectations and data quality tooling.
- Understanding of batch, streaming and event‑driven architectures.
Responsibilities
- Define and drive data platform and data engineering strategy aligned with Group Technology.
- Lead architecture decisions and establish scalable standards across pipelines, storage and processing.
- Shape long‑term roadmaps with Architecture and Product teams.
- Design and deliver production‑ready data platforms and pipelines that are scalable and cost‑efficient.
- Champion modern engineering practices (CI/CD, testing, DevOps, observability).
- Strengthen data quality, governance and security while promoting reusable data products.
Skills
Tools
Job description
We’re Kingfisher, A team made up of over 74,000 passionate people who bring Kingfisher - and all our other brands: B&Q, Screwfix, Brico Depot, Castorama and Koctas to life. Guided by our purpose Better Homes. Better Lives. For Everyone. We believe a better world starts with better homes, and we work every day to make that a reality. Join us and help shape the future of home improvement.
As Principal Data Engineer, you will be a senior individual contributor and trusted technical authority across Group Technology. You will shape the design and evolution of our data platforms and products, lead complex cross-team initiatives and raise engineering standards across multiple squads and domains.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can connect deep technical expertise with business outcomes. You will influence architecture, platform roadmaps and investment decisions while enabling engineers to deliver scalable, resilient and cost-efficient data solutions.
Overview We’re Kingfisher, A team made up of over 74,000 passionate people who bring Kingfisher - and all our other brands: B&Q, Screwfix, Brico Depot, Castorama and Koctas to life. Guided by our purpose Better Homes. Better Lives. For Everyone. We believe a better world starts with better homes, and we work every day to make that a reality. Join us and help shape the future of home improvement.
As Principal Data Engineer, you will be a senior individual contributor and trusted technical authority across Group Technology. You will shape the design and evolution of our data platforms and products, lead complex cross-team initiatives and raise engineering standards across multiple squads and domains.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can connect deep technical expertise with business outcomes. You will influence architecture, platform roadmaps and investment decisions while enabling engineers to deliver scalable, resilient and cost-efficient data solutions.
- Define and drive the data platform and data engineering strategy in line with Group Technology objectives.
- Lead architecture decisions and establish scalable standards and design patterns across data pipelines, storage and processing.
- Partner with Architecture and Product teams to shape long-term platform roadmaps and capabilities.
- Design and deliver production-ready data platforms and pipelines that are scalable, resilient, observable and cost-efficient.
- Champion modern engineering practices including CI/CD, automated testing, DevOps, observability and platform automation.
- Strengthen data quality, governance and security while promoting reusable data products and shared platform capabilities.
- Provide technical leadership across squads and influence senior stakeholders across Engineering, Product, Architecture and Technology.
- Lead business‑critical initiatives spanning multiple teams, systems and geographies.
- Coach and mentor engineers, support hiring and onboarding, and help build a strong Data Engineering community.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and introduce tools and approaches that deliver measurable value.
- Drive continuous improvement while balancing quality, speed, cost and risk.
- Define and drive the data platform and data engineering strategy in line with Group Technology objectives.
- Lead architecture decisions and establish scalable standards and design patterns across data pipelines, storage and processing.
- Partner with Architecture and Product teams to shape long‑term platform roadmaps and capabilities.
- Design and deliver production‑ready data platforms and pipelines that are scalable, resilient, observable and cost‑efficient.
- Champion modern engineering practices including CI/CD, automated testing, DevOps, observability and platform automation.
- Strengthen data quality, governance and security while promoting reusable data products and shared platform capabilities.
- Provide technical leadership across squads and influence senior stakeholders across Engineering, Product, Architecture and Technology.
- Lead business‑critical initiatives spanning multiple teams, systems and geographies.
- Coach and mentor engineers, support hiring and onboarding, and help build a strong Data Engineering community.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and introduce tools and approaches that deliver measurable value.
- Drive continuous improvement while balancing quality, speed, cost and risk.
Technical expertise
- Deep expertise in distributed data processing, cloud‑native systems and modern data architecture.
- Proven experience delivering large‑scale data platforms and production‑grade pipelines.
- Strong Python and SQL skills, with hands‑on experience in Spark, PySpark or Scala.
- Experience with dbt for data modelling and transformation.
- Strong knowledge of cloud platforms such as GCP, Azure or AWS, and services including Databricks, BigQuery or Azure Data Factory.
- Strong understanding of DevOps and DataOps practices and tools, including CI/CD, Git, Terraform, Docker and Kubernetes.
- Experience with data quality tools and testing frameworks such as Great Expectations.
- Deep understanding of batch, streaming and event‑driven architecture patterns.
- Experience designing resilient, scalable and observable systems and optimising platforms for performance and cost.
Leadership and influence
- A track record of setting engineering standards, raising capability and driving continuous improvement across teams.
- The ability to act as a trusted technical authority and influence strategic direction, investment decisions and executive‑level stakeholders.
- Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, with confidence working through ambiguity, transformation and changing priorities.
- Experience coaching engineers and contributing to high‑performing teams and engineering communities.
How We Work
We believe in flexibility and balance. Our hybrid model blends home working for focus with time spent connecting and collaborating - whether in our offices or at offsite locations. On average within our Engineering team - 20% of your time involving in‑person collaboration.
We value the perspectives new team members bring and encourage you to apply - even if youdon’tmeet 100% of the requirements.
What We Offer
An inclusive environment where your potential is limited only by your imagination. We encouragenew ideas, support experimentation, and strive to create a workplace where everyone can be their best self.Find out more about Diversity & Inclusion at Kingfisher here
We also offer a competitive benefits package and plenty of opportunities to stretch and grow your career.Scroll down below to find out more aboutour benefits.
Diversity & Inclusion
Our customers come from allwalks of life-and so do we.We’recommitted to ensuring all colleagues, future colleagues, and applicants are treated equally, regardless of age,gender, marital or civil partnership status, ethnicity, culture, religion, belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
What we offer.
Opportunity to receive up to family level cover with AXA. Join within three months of starting or at annual renewal in April. (This benefit is subject to Benefit In Kind taxation).
Immediate eligibility through auto‑enrolment. Contribute 8% to receive a max 14% from the Company.
25 days per annum plus bank holidays as stated in your contract (pro rated for part time colleagues).
20% discount at B&Q and Screwfix. Eligible after 3 months service.
Share ownership in a tax efficient way. Save between £10 to £150 per month. Join at any time once three months service is reached.
x4 Salary plus benefit equal to value of your Retirement Account (if an active member of KPS-MP) or x1 Salary if not active member.
Competitive bonus scheme that aligns to work level of role.
Save with the option to buy Kingfisher plc shares at the end of a 3 or 5 year period. Offered annually. Three months service is required at the annual invitation date, normally in October.
At Kingfisher, being all-in means contributing fully to our ambitions, supporting one another, and helping create a culture where we succeed together.
Continuously curious. Listen to understand. Always improving.
We are brave
Aim high. Act with courage. Move with pace.
We win together
Lead with customer. Commit to deliver. Help each other win.
Our employees know us best. We wouldn’t be Kingfisher without them. So, we want to share what they think with you.
Development and progression is a high priority at Kingfisher, I’ve always felt well supported.
I’m proud to work for Kingfisher, I’ve had great opportunities that have enabled me to contribute to an exciting forward‑thinking company.
There are so many ways you can grow, learn, and develop here at Kingfisher. At whatever pace suits you.
Improving without instruments to help you learn is near impossible. That's why we make sure you have everything at your fingertips to find exactly what you need to keep growing.
With plans that ask you what you want to achieve and when you want to achieve them by, tracking progress and keeping development at the forefront of conversation is easy.
The scale of group functions within Kingfisher is huge. That means you have the chance to build different career paths within multiple areas of the organisation.
We aren't selfish here at Kingfisher. Whatever your level of experience, you'll work with colleagues who are always welcoming and ready to share their knowledge whenever you need it.
So your ambitions are high? Good thing we have opportunities to find experiences in line with more senior roles and responsibilities. Here, you can evolve your career, no matter your level.
We’re an innovative, international retailer on a journey to actively make a difference. Always striving to take that next step. You can be part of the difference. From bottom to top you can progress in a collaborative environment. So, why not Kingfisher?
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
