At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale Databricks solutions.
- Company: Join a dynamic consultancy focused on Data & AI transformation.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, training opportunities, and a collaborative culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and influence in engineering standards.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-stakes client programmes with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in data engineering and strong consulting skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
We are looking for an experienced Principal Data Engineer to join us on a contract basis, supporting complex client engagements across Data & AI transformation programmes. This is a highly client-facing consultancy role, suited to someone who is comfortable operating at both strategic and hands-on technical levels. You will work directly with senior client stakeholders, delivery teams and architects to design and deliver scalable modern data platforms.
We are specifically looking for someone with deep expertise in Databricks, either operating at Architect level or leading high-performing engineering teams within enterprise environments. The successful candidate will bring strong consulting capability, commercial awareness and stakeholder management skills alongside exceptional technical depth.
Key Responsibilities- Client Engagement & Stakeholder Management
- Act as a trusted technical advisor across client engagements.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, delivery leads and engineering teams.
- Translate complex technical concepts into clear business value and delivery outcomes.
- Support clients through technical decision-making, platform strategy and roadmap planning.
- Databricks Leadership & Solution Architecture
- Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale Databricks solutions and modern data platforms.
- Provide architectural leadership across cloud-native data engineering initiatives.
- Define engineering standards, best practices and scalable delivery approaches.
- Drive platform optimisation, resilience and performance improvements.
- Delivery & Consultancy
- Lead technical delivery across multiple client engagements within a consultancy environment.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams including Data Engineers, Architects, Product Owners and client stakeholders.
- Support project planning, technical governance and delivery execution.
- Ensure high-quality, scalable and maintainable engineering solutions.
- Technical Leadership
- Mentor and guide engineering teams across modern data engineering practices.
- Lead technical problem-solving and incident resolution where required.
- Drive adoption of engineering best practices, automation and DevOps principles.
- Proven experience operating as a Principal Data Engineer, Lead Data Engineer or Data Architect within enterprise environments.
- Strong consultancy and client-facing experience, ideally across multiple customer engagements.
- Deep expertise in Databricks, including architecture, optimisation and leading delivery teams.
- Strong experience designing and delivering cloud-native data platforms within Azure and/or AWS environments.
- Advanced experience with PySpark, SparkSQL and large-scale distributed data processing.
- Strong understanding of modern data architecture, ETL/ELT frameworks and data modelling.
- Excellent SQL skills and experience working with large-scale datasets.
- Strong understanding of data governance, security and platform reliability principles.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and consulting skills.
- Ability to operate confidently in fast-paced, delivery-focused environments.
- Opportunity to work on complex, high-impact client programmes.
- Exposure to enterprise-scale Data & AI transformation initiatives.
- Flexible remote-first working model aligned to client requirements.
- Access to AWS & Databricks partner training and certifications.
- Collaborative culture focused on technical excellence and innovation.
- Opportunity to influence engineering standards, delivery capability and client success across Colibri Digital.
Principal Data Engineer (Contract) in London employer: Nasstar
Colibri Digital is an exceptional employer for a Principal Data Engineer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that prioritises technical excellence and innovation. With a flexible remote-first working model, employees have the opportunity to engage in complex, high-impact client programmes while benefiting from access to partner training and certifications in AWS and Databricks. The company fosters employee growth through mentorship and the chance to influence engineering standards, making it an ideal environment for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Data Engineer (Contract) in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the role you want. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving Databricks or cloud-native platforms. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to data engineering. Be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled challenges in past roles, especially around stakeholder management and technical delivery.
✨Apply Through Our Website
We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you! Make sure to apply through our website to get the best chance at landing that Principal Data Engineer role. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Data Engineer (Contract) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Principal Data Engineer role. Highlight your expertise in Databricks and any relevant consultancy experience to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about data engineering and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your client engagement skills and how you can add value to our team!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, be specific about your technical abilities, especially with Databricks, PySpark, and cloud-native platforms. We want to see how you’ve applied these skills in real-world scenarios.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nasstar
✨Know Your Databricks Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Databricks knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with architecture, optimisation, and leading delivery teams. Prepare specific examples of how you've implemented Databricks solutions in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Consultancy Skills
Since this role is highly client-facing, it's crucial to demonstrate your consultancy capabilities. Think of instances where you've successfully managed stakeholder relationships or translated complex technical concepts into business value. Practice articulating these experiences clearly.
✨Prepare for Technical Problem-Solving
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss how you've tackled issues in previous roles. Consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership and Mentoring
As a Principal Data Engineer, you'll likely be mentoring others. Be ready to share your experiences in guiding engineering teams and promoting best practices. Highlight any specific strategies you've used to foster collaboration and innovation within your teams.
