At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data engineering initiatives and set standards for cross-industry data products.
- Company: Join DFTO, the government’s public sector rail owning group, transforming rail services.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support your work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of Great British Railways with innovative data solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in data engineering and strong SQL skills required; Python preferred.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 104500 £ per year.
About DFTO
DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership. DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 8,500 services a day and delivers over 640 million customer journeys across its networks every year. Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership.
Primary Purpose of Job
The Principal Analytics Engineer is the technical leadership post within the DFTO Data function, and the data engineering authority across the Common Data Service portfolio. The role combines hands-on technical delivery with cross-portfolio data engineering leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the overarching technical approach across all active Common Data Service initiatives.
- Manage the boundary between product leadership and data engineering leadership at the initiative level.
- Sequence data engineering activity across concurrent initiatives.
- Gate the recognition of shared, canonical data engineering artefacts.
- Define and maintain the data engineering standards that apply across the portfolio.
- Remain a hands-on technical contributor on the most complex or architecturally critical initiatives.
- Act as the senior technical interface for initiative leads across the portfolio.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience delivering data products in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Proven ability to exercise technical authority across a hybrid team environment.
- Strong SQL and proficiency in at least one analytics programming language, with Python strongly preferred.
- Deep familiarity with layered data modelling approaches and transformation frameworks.
- Experience designing and maintaining data ingestion and transformation pipelines across cloud-native environments.
- Comfort working across multi-cloud platform environments including AWS and Microsoft Azure/Fabric.
- DataOps disciplines at a leadership level.
- Ability to lead convergence of locally developed data assets toward shared canonical standards.
- Clear written and verbal communication.
Desirable
- Experience and delivery capability is more important than formal qualifications.
- A degree in a STEM, quantitative, or related field may be beneficial but is not required.
- Experience in a technical lead or principal engineer role within a data product or analytics engineering function.
- Familiarity with production machine learning and AI ops patterns.
Organisational Context
The postholder will be the senior technical role within a new central Data function at DFTO, working alongside an Analytics Engineer and under the strategic direction of the Group Head of Data.
Vacancy Details
- Duration: Permanent
- Location: London Waterloo
- Salary: £90,000 - £104,500
- Closing date: 12th June 2026
DFTO Benefits
- Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to a maximum of 30 days.
- DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution.
- Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry.
Contact
If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact Amra.Hurley@dftoperator.co.uk.
Principal Analytics Engineer employer: DfT Operator
DFTO is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets public service. With a commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive learning opportunities and a supportive culture that values flexibility and inclusivity. Located in London Waterloo, our team enjoys competitive benefits, including generous annual leave and a robust pension scheme, all while contributing to the future of Great British Railways.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Analytics Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially since DFTO is all about improving rail services. Tailor your answers to show how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through projects or a portfolio. If you've worked on relevant data engineering projects, make sure to highlight them. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your hands-on experience and technical prowess.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the DFTO team. Don’t forget to follow up after applying to express your enthusiasm!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Analytics Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in data engineering and analytics. We want to see how your skills align with the Principal Analytics Engineer role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!
Show Off Your Technical Skills:Since this role is all about technical leadership, be sure to mention your proficiency in SQL and any analytics programming languages you know, especially Python. We love seeing examples of your hands-on work, so include any relevant data products you've delivered.
Highlight Your Leadership Experience:As a Principal Analytics Engineer, you'll be leading teams and influencing others. Share examples of how you've successfully managed cross-functional teams or led projects in complex environments. We’re keen to see your leadership style in action!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at DfT Operator
✨Know Your Data Engineering Standards
Familiarise yourself with data engineering standards and practices relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you would define and maintain these standards across a multi-organisational environment, as this will show your understanding of the complexities involved.
✨Demonstrate Hands-On Experience
Be ready to share specific examples from your past work where you delivered data products in complex environments. Highlight your hands-on experience with SQL and analytics programming languages, especially Python, as well as your familiarity with data ingestion and transformation pipelines.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Since this role involves technical leadership, think about how you've influenced others in previous positions. Prepare to discuss how you’ve managed cross-initiative dependencies and maintained quality standards while working collaboratively with diverse teams.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect to face technical questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Brush up on layered data modelling approaches and be ready to critique and improve code. This will demonstrate your capability to lead by example and ensure high-quality outputs.
