Principal / Lead Data Engineer

British Airways PLC; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

British Airways is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to lead a sophisticated data team. The role emphasizes innovation in data product development and requires strong leadership capabilities, deep technical knowledge, and effective stakeholder management. Join a dynamic environment where your contributions will shape strategic data initiatives and drive business value.

Benefits

Unlimited standby tickets on British Airways flights

Discounted airfares for friends and family

Opportunities for personal development and progression

Qualifications

• Expert level SQL development skills (Teradata, Oracle or Snowflake essential).
• Proven experience with AWS cloud services and PaaS technologies.
• Strong hands on expertise in Python and Airflow for data orchestration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of robust, scalable data products.
• Provide hands-on leadership to a team of data engineers.
• Champion best practices in data engineering and support product lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership

SQL Development

Stakeholder Management

Python

Data Orchestration

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or related field

Tools

Teradata

Oracle

Snowflake

AWS

Airflow

Git

Job description

A career without limits

As the nation's flag carrier, we take great pride in connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

It's something we've been doing for over 100 years, ever since we launched the world's first international scheduled air service between London and Paris.

This originality has been in our blood since day one. It's the spirit we share with the people that fly with us, our partners, and our colleagues.

So, whether you are a reassuring voice on the end of a phone, a smile at the door, under a wing keeping the turbines spinning or landing us gently in far-flung places, a job at British Airways is yours to make.

We know great things can happen when you're inspired to think big and bring your ambition to work every day, which is why, at British Airways the sky is never the limit.

The Role: Principal Data Engineer

Join our forward thinking Data team at British Airways as a Principal Data Engineer, a pivotal leadership role guiding the design, development, and delivery of innovative data products that drive strategic value across the business. You'll lead from the front, setting technical direction and mentoring a high performing team to deliver data excellence at scale.

What You'll Do

- Provide hands on leadership to a team of data engineers, ensuring high standards of delivery, quality, and technical innovation
- Work closely with Product Owners, Data Architects, and Technical Architects to define solutions that align with strategic business goals
- Lead the design and development of robust, scalable, and flexible data products that anticipate future analytics and reporting needs
- Champion best practices in data engineering, including version control, testing, and documentation across all codebases
- Shape cross product frameworks and influence enterprise wide data engineering strategies
- Take ownership of the full product lifecycle from initial discovery and MVPs to support, enhancement, and retirement

What You'll Bring to British Airways

- Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities with a passion for team development and collaboration
- A structured data driven mindset with the ability to translate complex business problems into technical solutions
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to challenge constructively and drive alignment

Your Experience

- Expert level SQL development skills (Teradata, Oracle or Snowflake essential)
- Proven experience with AWS cloud services and PaaS technologies
- Strong hands on expertise in Python and Airflow for data orchestration and transformation
- Proficient in version control using Git and deploying reliable maintainable data pipelines
- Deep understanding of enterprise data warehousing principles and methodologies
- A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or a related field (preferred)

Ready to lead with impact? Apply now and shape the future of data at British Airways.

What we offer:

We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It's one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.

From the day you join us, you'll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights. You'll also receive up to 30 discounted Hotline' airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.

At British Airways you'll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you. We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.

We never stand still, and we don't expect our people to either.

Inclusion & Diversity

At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity is a key driver of innovation and we're committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves. We're looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.