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About The Company
British Airways, as the United Kingdom’s flag carrier, has a rich history spanning over a century of connecting Britain with the world. Since launching the world’s first international scheduled air service between London and Paris, the airline has been at the forefront of aviation innovation and service excellence. British Airways takes pride in its global reach, commitment to safety, and dedication to providing exceptional passenger experiences. The company fosters a culture of ambition, collaboration, and continuous improvement, striving to be a leader in the aviation industry while maintaining its core values of integrity, respect, and innovation.
About The Role
We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Data Engineer for a 14-month fixed-term contract to join our Operations Delivery Intelligence (ODI) directorate. In this pivotal role, you will serve as a technical leader, guiding data engineering practices across various delivery teams. Your expertise will be instrumental in designing, building, and maintaining secure, scalable, and high-performing data platforms that support critical data products and enable data-driven decision making throughout British Airways. You will lead the development of robust data pipelines, ensure operational excellence, and foster best practices in data management and engineering standards. This role offers an exciting opportunity to influence the technical direction of our data initiatives and work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that support the airline’s strategic objectives.
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Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline (desirable)
- Extensive hands-on experience in SQL development
- Proficiency in cloud-native data ingestion, processing, and storage techniques
- Experience with cloud data management platforms such as Snowflake, AWS, or similar SaaS/PaaS offerings
- Deep understanding of enterprise data management, security, and optimization at scale
- Knowledge of data modelling, testing, and monitoring frameworks
- Experience supporting production data systems within CI/CD workflows and agile environments
- Strong understanding of information security principles and access control mechanisms in data environments
- Proven ability to influence technical standards and lead engineering teams
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Responsibilities
- Act as a technical leader, promoting best practices in data engineering across delivery teams
- Lead the design, development, testing, and deployment of secure and scalable data pipelines
- Maintain and operate data products, ensuring their availability, performance, and resilience through proactive monitoring and incident management
- Provide assurance on code quality, automation, and adherence to engineering standards
- Conduct service reviews, health checks, and root cause analysis to enhance reliability and reduce operational overhead
- Establish and embed standards for data processing documentation, version control, and automation
- Support and mentor engineers on engineering patterns, coding standards, and automated testing practices
- Lead agile ceremonies, including delivery planning and retrospectives, to foster continuous improvement
- Collaborate with data product teams to resolve processing issues and improve developer experience
- Line manage Senior Data Engineers, supporting their professional development
- Participate in on-call rotations to support live data products and ensure operational stability
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Benefits
- Access to comprehensive staff travel benefits, including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights
- Up to 30 discounted 'Hotline' airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family
- Opportunities for career development and internal mobility across the organization
- Inclusive work environment that values diversity and promotes a culture of innovation
- Supportive team environment with a focus on capability building and knowledge sharing
- Competitive salary package with additional benefits and rewards
Equal Opportunity
British Airways is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives and experiences drive innovation and excellence. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities to join us on our journey to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are made based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.
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