Principal Data Engineer

Younity; New Zealand; Hybrid; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Jora New Zealand is seeking an experienced Senior or Principal Data Engineer to design and deliver modern data platforms for NZ organisations, balancing hands-on delivery with technical leadership. You’ll work across Microsoft Fabric, Azure and Databricks, shaping architecture, data modelling and governance while mentoring colleagues and collaborating with clients.

You’ll lead data engineering workstreams from requirements through deployment, building robust ingestion, transformation and

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience designing modern data platforms.
• Strong leadership in data engineering delivery and client mentoring.
• Excellent consulting and stakeholder communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver scalable data platforms across Fabric, Azure and Databricks, including lakehouse and medallion architectures.
• Lead data engineering workstreams from requirements and solution design through deployment.
• Build robust ingestion, transformation, modelling and warehousing solutions using SQL, Python and modern ETL/ELT practices.
• Provide technical leadership and customer advice, mentor Data Engineers and contribute to engineering standards.
• Collaborate with architects, consultants and delivery teams to turn complex business needs into secure data solutions.

Skills

SQL

Python

ETL/ELT

Data modelling

Data warehousing

Lakehouse/Medallion architectures

Leadership

Consulting

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure

Databricks

Power BI

Spark/PySpark

dbt

Snowflake

Purview

CI/CD

Terraform/Bicep

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

The company:

Our client is an established technology consultancy with a growing Data & Analytics practice. This creates a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Senior or Principal Data Engineering Consultant who wants to stay close to the technology while taking a lead role in designing and delivering modern data platforms for some of New Zealand’s leading organisations.

Why this role?

This is a great opportunity if you're an experienced Senior or Principal Data Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems but doesn't want to move away from hands‑on delivery.

You’ll work across Microsoft Fabric, Azure and Databricks, combining hands‑on engineering with technical leadership, client engagement and mentoring.

You’ll lead technical workstreams, influence solution design and work directly with customers, while still getting into the detail and building solutions yourself. With exposure to different customers, industries and data environments, you’ll have the flexibility to use the technology that best fits the problem rather than being tied to a single platform.

What you'll be doing:

• Design and deliver scalable data platforms across Microsoft Fabric, Azure and Databricks, including lakehouse and medallion architectures.
• Lead data engineering workstreams from requirements and solution design through to deployment and handover.
• Build robust ingestion, transformation, modelling and warehousing solutions using SQL, Python and modern ETL/ELT practices.
• Provide technical leadership and customer advice, while mentoring Data Engineers and contributing to engineering standards and best practice.
• Work alongside architects, consultants and delivery teams to turn complex business requirements into secure, governed and practical data solutions.

What we're looking for:

We’re looking for an experienced Senior or Principal Data Engineers who can operate confidently within a consulting environment.

• Strong experience designing and delivering modern data platforms, with deep hands‑on capability across Microsoft Fabric and/or Databricks and Azure.
• Strong SQL and Python skills, with expertise across ETL/ELT, data modelling, warehousing and lakehouse/medallion architectures.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical delivery, take ownership of workstreams and provide technical direction.
• Strong consulting and stakeholder skills, with the ability to understand requirements and translate complex technical concepts clearly for customers.
• Experience across technologies such as Power BI, Spark/PySpark, dbt, Snowflake, Purview, CI/CD and Terraform/Bicep would be advantageous.

Why you'll want this:

You’ll be joining a growing Data & Analytics practice where you’ll have genuine influence over how solutions are designed and delivered.

You’ll get the opportunity to work across Fabric, Azure and Databricks, tackle complex customer problems and continue developing your technical and consulting capabilities alongside experienced architects and data professionals.

The environment is collaborative and supportive, with flexible working, a strong focus on work-life balance and clear career progression opportunities.

If you're a Senior or Principal Data Engineer and looking for more variety, influence and technical challenges, we’d love to hear from you!