At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data engineering projects and design scalable data pipelines for British Airways.
- Company: Join British Airways, a pioneering airline with over 100 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy staff travel perks, competitive salary, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic environment while shaping the future of data engineering.
- Qualifications: Strong SQL skills and experience with cloud data management tools like Snowflake or AWS.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
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.
Principal Data Engineer (14 Month FTC)
You’ll be part of the Operations Delivery Intelligence (ODI) directorate, acting as a technical leader for data engineering across the organisation.
This area plays a critical role in enabling secure, scalable and high‑performing data platforms that underpin data products and decision‑making across British Airways.
What you’ll do
- Act as a technical leader for data engineering best practice across delivery teams
- Lead the design, build, test and deployment of secure and scalable data pipelines
- Maintain and operate data products, ensuring availability, performance and resilience through monitoring and incident management
- Provide assurance on code quality and automation used to manage data flows
- Lead service reviews, health checks and root cause analysis to improve reliability and reduce operational overhead
- Set and embed standards for data processing documentation and version control
- Support and coach engineers on engineering patterns, coding standards and automated testing
- Lead agile ceremonies, delivery planning and retrospectives to support continuous improvement
- Define and improve developer experience by working with data product teams to resolve data processing issues
- Line manage Senior Data Engineers and support their development
- Participate in an on‑call rota to support live data products
What you’ll bring to British Airways
- Strong hands‑on technical leadership in data engineering
- Deep understanding of cloud‑based data ingestion, processing and storage techniques
- Expert knowledge of data processing, testing and monitoring practices
- Strong understanding of enterprise data management, optimisation and security at scale
- Confidence influencing technical direction and engineering standards
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills across business and technical teams
- Ability to break down complex problems and work effectively in ambiguous environments
- Delivery‑focused, accountable and pragmatic mindset
- Collaborative approach with a focus on capability building and knowledge sharing
Your experience
- Excellent SQL development experience.
- Highly experienced in data ingestion, processing and storage techniques on cloud native tooling.
- Experience cloud data management i. e. Snowflake, AWS, DBT, or similar Paas and Saa S offerings.
- Experience of enterprise data management and security at scale.
- Knowledge of data modelling and optimisation.
- Expert in data processing, testing, and monitoring practices and frameworks.
- Experience supporting production data systems and resolving operational issues in CI/CD processes and agile development workflows.
- Expert in information security principles and access control within data environments.
- Degree or equivalent training in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline is desirable.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Principal Data Engineer (14 Month FTC) employer: British Airways
At British Airways, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a Lead Network Engineer, you'll enjoy unparalleled staff travel benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a commitment to inclusion and diversity that ensures every voice is heard. Join us in shaping the future of air travel while enjoying a fulfilling career that truly takes you places.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Data Engineer (14 Month FTC)
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like British Airways before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Check Out Specialist Job Boards
For temp roles, hit up job boards dedicated to tech and data science, like Stack Overflow Jobs or DataJobs. These platforms often feature openings that you won’t find on general job sites, including contracts with companies like British Airways.
✨Leverage University Resources
If you're currently at uni or recently graduated, tap into your school's career services. They often have connections with companies looking for temporary data science interns or contract workers, and they might even host job fairs with employers like British Airways.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Data Engineer (14 Month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at British Airways, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to British Airways, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab British Airways’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at British Airways
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at British Airways.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at British Airways.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at British Airways.
