principal cloud data engineer

Randstad Digital New Zealand; Wellington; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Digital New Zealand seeks a Principal Cloud Data Engineer to guide enterprise data platform strategy, design, and execution from Wellington. You will lead cross-functional teams spanning data products, platforms, and governance to deliver secure, scalable cloud-native data solutions aligned with business roadmaps.

The role requires senior-level expertise in Azure Databricks, Python, Delta Lake, Spark, and Azure Data Services, with hands-on IaC/DevOps experience (Terraform, Bicep, Azure

Qualifications

• 5+ years senior-level experience in cloud data engineering, data architecture, or platform delivery.
• Hands-on expertise with Azure Databricks, Python, Delta Lake, Spark, and Azure Data Services.
• Strong experience designing cloud pipelines and implementing IaC/DevOps (Terraform, Bicep, Azure DevOps).
• Deep understanding of data modeling, metadata management, and governance tools like Unity Catalog.
• Proven dedication to public sector standards, strict data governance, and national security frameworks
• Bachelor Degree

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and tactical technical leadership across enterprise data platform and product teams.
• Design, build, and optimise scalable, secure cloud-native data pipelines (batch and streaming).
• Lead the technical development of reusable, fit-for-purpose data products on Azure Databricks.
• Establish, document, and evolve engineering standards, data governance, and DevOps best practices.
• Provide expert architectural advice, risk assessments, and technical strategy to senior ICT leadership.
• Mentor, coach, and uplift the capabilities of engineers and analysts across squads.

Skills

Cloud data engineering

Data architecture

Platform delivery

Mentoring

Stakeholder leadership

Education

Bachelor Degree

Tools

Azure Databricks

Python

Delta Lake

Spark

Azure Data Services

Terraform

Bicep

Azure DevOps

Unity Catalog

Job description

About The Role

Reporting to the Head of ICT Architecture, the Principal Cloud Data Engineer is a key technical leadership position responsible for guiding the strategy, design, and execution of enterprise data platform services. In this role, you will lead complex initiatives spanning platform and data product teams, driving the adoption of cloud-native architectures that are secure, scalable, and fit-for-purpose. You will serve as a trusted technical advisor to senior platform owners and principal architects, ensuring that data solutions align with overall business vision and long-term capability roadmaps.

• Principal/Enterprise Level focused on technical governance, platform strategy & technical advisory
• Azure Databricks, Python, Delta Lake, Spark, and Azure Data Services IaC/DevOps

Wellington based, Fixed Term till June 2027 (potential extension/multi-year program).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and tactical technical leadership across enterprise data platform and product teams.
• Design, build, and optimise scalable, secure cloud-native data pipelines (batch and streaming).
• Lead the technical development of reusable, fit-for-purpose data products on Azure Databricks.
• Establish, document, and evolve engineering standards, data governance, and DevOps best practices.
• Provide expert architectural advice, risk assessments, and technical strategy to senior ICT leadership.
• Mentor, coach, and uplift the capabilities of engineers and analysts across squads.

Skills & Experience

• 5+ years senior-level experience in cloud data engineering, data architecture, or platform delivery.
• Hands-on expertise with Azure Databricks, Python, Delta Lake, Spark, and Azure Data Services.
• Strong experience designing cloud pipelines and implementing IaC/DevOps (Terraform, Bicep, Azure DevOps).
• Deep understanding of data modeling, metadata management, and governance tools like Unity Catalog.
• Proven dedication to public sector standards, strict data governance, and national security frameworks
• Bachelor Degree

Eligibility

• Please note, we can only consider applicants that are legally entitled to work in New Zealand at the time of application.

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.