At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale Databricks solutions for clients.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking consultancy focused on Data & AI transformation.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, training opportunities, and a collaborative culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-stakes client projects while developing your technical skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in data engineering and strong consulting skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ 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.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- 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.
Benefits
- 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) employer: Nasstar
Colibri Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic remote-first work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Principal Data Engineer, you will engage with high-impact client programmes, benefiting from access to cutting-edge training and certifications in AWS and Databricks. The company prioritises employee growth through mentorship and the opportunity to influence engineering standards, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in data engineering.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Data Engineer (Contract)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend virtual meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those involving Databricks and cloud-native data platforms. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to data engineering. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the format.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Data Engineer (Contract)
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 catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've engaged with clients and led data engineering projects, showing off your consulting chops.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on detailing your technical abilities! We want to see your experience with cloud-native platforms, PySpark, and large-scale data processing. Make it easy for us to see your depth of knowledge.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
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 teams in enterprise environments. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully implemented Databricks solutions in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Consulting Skills
Since this role is highly client-facing, it's crucial to demonstrate your consulting capabilities. Think of scenarios where you've acted as a trusted advisor, translating complex technical concepts into business value. Highlight your stakeholder management skills and how you've built strong relationships with clients.
✨Prepare for Technical Problem-Solving
Expect to face some technical challenges during the interview. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss how you've tackled technical issues in previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
This role requires a strategic mindset, so be ready to discuss platform strategy and roadmap planning. Familiarise yourself with modern data architecture and how it fits into the broader context of Data & AI transformation. Show that you can think beyond just the technical aspects and understand the overall impact on the business.
