Principal Data Engineer, Manchester

We’re currently recruiting for a Principal Data Engineer to join 1st Central, acting as a key bridge between business opportunities and technical solutions. This is a hands‑on technical role, where you’ll provide leadership on data solutions across both project delivery and ongoing data products.

You’ll take responsibility for defining the technical direction of the data platform and solution design, working closely with architects to ensure alignment with overall platform patterns and standards and will also provide clarity and technical direction to engineers building solutions against agreed designs.

While this role does not include direct line management responsibilities, you’ll play an important role in supporting, coaching and mentoring data engineers, ensuring delivery meets the required standards of quality and integrity.

• Data Engineering: As a Principal Data Engineer, you’ll bring expertise across all stages of the SDLC, alongside strong coaching, leadership and mentoring skills.
• Cloud Platforms: You’ll have deep experience with Microsoft Azure data platforms, ensuring best practices are followed to build and maintain a well‑managed, high‑performing platform.
• Technical Skills: Strong experience using Microsoft Azure, Apache Spark and Databricks for scalable, high‑performance data processing.
• Agile Working: You’ll understand how to develop solutions iteratively within agile teams, always focusing on delivering business value.
• Business Intelligence: With BI as the primary consumer of our data solutions, you’ll have a strong grasp of reporting, dashboards, and advanced modelling.
• Problem Solving & Thinking: A creative problem solver who thrives on creating simplicity out of complexity with ability to bring together multiple different views and perspectives to create agreed designs and solutions.

This is a flexible hybrid working role with occasional visits to our offices, when required, in either Salford Quays, Manchester, Haywards Heath, West Sussex or Guernsey. We offer great flexibility in working patterns and a company‑wide culture to be proud of.