Principal Data Engineer (P-3712680449)

Reed Talent Solutions; Bedford; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed Talent Solutions in Bedford is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to lead the data engineering function and own the data platform strategy. The role reports to the Head of Data and Analytics and will shape the technical direction across the organisation.

You will drive Azure-based data platforms, set engineering standards, mentor Lead Data Engineers and partner with Data Product Managers, Analysts and Security to deliver value.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior data engineering leadership with cloud data platforms.
• Strong understanding of modern data architecture incl. data lakes, lakehouses, medallion architecture.
• Experience with Azure data stack (Fabric, Synapse, Data Factory, Data Lake Storage).
• Proven ability to define technical strategy and roadmaps.
• Track record leading high-performing engineering teams and governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for data platform strategy and architecture.
• Lead engineering standards, patterns and best practices.
• Oversee cloud data platforms and Azure services.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Technology & Change and the wider organisation.
• Ensure governance, security and resilience of data products.

Skills

People leadership

Data engineering leadership

Stakeholder management

Cloud data platforms

Strategy & roadmaps

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure Data Factory

Synapse Analytics

Azure Data Lake Storage

Job description

The Principal Data Engineer reports to the Head of Data and Analytics. The role is aligned to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework and represents the most senior technical leadership role within the data engineering function.

Key accountabilities

Data Platform Strategy and Engineering Leadership

Data Platform Ownership: Own the strategic direction, roadmap and overall technical architecture of the MaPS data platform, ensuring it supports current and future organisational needs.

Engineering Standards: Establish and maintain engineering standards, patterns, frameworks and best practices across all data engineering activities.

Technology Leadership: Evaluate and guide the adoption of new technologies, tools and approaches that improve scalability, reliability, efficiency and value.

Technical Assurance: Provide technical oversight and assurance across all significant data engineering initiatives, ensuring consistency, quality and alignment with enterprise architecture.

Data Engineering Capability

Capability Leadership: Lead and develop the data engineering function, ensuring the right skills, operating model and ways of working are in place to meet organisational needs.

People Leadership: Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to Lead Data Engineers and the wider data engineering community, supporting professional growth and capability development.

Resource Planning: Work with delivery and technology leaders to ensure appropriate engineering capacity, capability and prioritisation across the portfolio.

Data Platform and Architecture

Platform Strategy: Define and maintain the target state architecture for data platforms, pipelines and supporting services.

Technical Governance: Ensure data engineering solutions are designed and implemented in accordance with organisational standards, security requirements and architectural principles.

Platform Reliability: Provide overall accountability for the resilience, scalability, performance and operational effectiveness of the data platform.

Engineering Patterns: Promote reusable, metadata-driven and automated engineering approaches to reduce complexity and improve delivery efficiency.

Azure Services and Cloud Data Engineering

• Provide strategic oversight of cloud-based data platforms, storage technologies, data integration services and analytics infrastructure.
• Ensure effective use of Azure services including Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake Storage and related technologies.
• Drive platform optimisation and cost-effective use of cloud technologies.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Leadership

Strategic Partnership: Act as the senior technical advisor for data engineering, working with senior stakeholders across Technology & Change and the wider organisation.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with Data Product Managers, Data Scientists, Analysts, Enterprise Architecture, Security and Delivery teams to ensure successful outcomes.

Supplier Engagement: Provide technical leadership in engagements with third-party suppliers and partners where required.

Data Governance and Quality

• Ensure engineering practices support organisational data governance, security and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with data governance colleagues to embed governance controls within engineering processes and platforms.
• Champion the adoption of engineering practices that support secure, reliable and well-managed data products.

Skills & experience

• Extensive experience in senior data engineering leadership roles, with significant experience delivering cloud-based data platforms.
• Strong understanding of modern data architecture principles including data lakes, lakehouses, medallion architecture, data products and distributed data platforms.
• Significant experience with Azure data technologies including Microsoft Fabric, Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory and Azure Data Lake Storage.
• Experience defining technical strategy, architecture standards and engineering roadmaps.
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, resilience and operational best practice.
• Experience providing technical leadership across complex change and transformation programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to balance technical decisions with organisational priorities and value.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Principal Data Engineer (P-3712680449)

Company: Reed Talent Solutions Salary: Not specified Hours: Full-time Location: Bedford, MK40 1SU Job type: Permanent Posting date: 20 Oct 2026 Closing date: 19 Nov 2026

Summary

The role

The Principal Data Engineer reports to the Head of Data and Analytics. The role is aligned to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework and represents the most senior technical leadership role within the data engineering function.

Key accountabilities

Data Platform Strategy and Engineering Leadership

• Data Platform Ownership: Own the strategic direction, roadmap and overall technical architecture of the MaPS data platform, ensuring it supports current and future organisational needs.
• Engineering Standards: Establish and maintain engineering standards, patterns, frameworks and best practices across all data engineering activities.
• Technology Leadership: Evaluate and guide the adoption of new technologies, tools and approaches that improve scalability, reliability, efficiency and value.
• Technical Assurance: Provide technical oversight and assurance across all significant data engineering initiatives, ensuring consistency, quality and alignment with enterprise architecture.

Data Engineering Capability

• Capability Leadership: Lead and develop the data engineering function, ensuring the right skills, operating model and ways of working are in place to meet organisational needs.
• People Leadership: Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to Lead Data Engineers and the wider data engineering community, supporting professional growth and capability development.
• Resource Planning: Work with delivery and technology leaders to ensure appropriate engineering capacity, capability and prioritisation across the portfolio.

Data Platform and Architecture

• Platform Strategy: Define and maintain the target state architecture for data platforms, pipelines and supporting services.
• Technical Governance: Ensure data engineering solutions are designed and implemented in accordance with organisational standards, security requirements and architectural principles.
• Platform Reliability: Provide overall accountability for the resilience, scalability, performance and operational effectiveness of the data platform.
• Engineering Patterns: Promote reusable, metadata-driven and automated engineering approaches to reduce complexity and improve delivery efficiency.

Azure Services and Cloud Data Engineering

• Provide strategic oversight of cloud-based data platforms, storage technologies, data integration services and analytics infrastructure.
• Ensure effective use of Azure services including Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake Storage and related technologies.
• Drive platform optimisation and cost-effective use of cloud technologies.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Leadership

• Strategic Partnership: Act as the senior technical advisor for data engineering, working with senior stakeholders across Technology & Change and the wider organisation.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with Data Product Managers, Data Scientists, Analysts, Enterprise Architecture, Security and Delivery teams to ensure successful outcomes.
• Supplier Engagement: Provide technical leadership in engagements with third-party suppliers and partners where required.

Data Governance and Quality

• Ensure engineering practices support organisational data governance, security and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with data governance colleagues to embed governance controls within engineering processes and platforms.
• Champion the adoption of engineering practices that support secure, reliable and well-managed data products.

Skills & experience

• Extensive experience in senior data engineering leadership roles, with significant experience delivering cloud-based data platforms.
• Strong understanding of modern data architecture principles including data lakes, lakehouses, medallion architecture, data products and distributed data platforms.
• Significant experience with Azure data technologies including Microsoft Fabric, Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory and Azure Data Lake Storage.
• Experience defining technical strategy, architecture standards and engineering roadmaps.
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, resilience and operational best practice.
• Experience providing technical leadership across complex change and transformation programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to balance technical decisions with organisational priorities and value.

Other

Other

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.