At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we’re looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we’re more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That’s someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK’s leading Social Enterprise, we don’t discriminate based on any protected attribute. In fact, we’re dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.
So, what are you waiting for? Join a Community that cares about you!
More about the team
The Data and Platform Engineering team are the foundation for the Data Office function. Responsible for designing, building, and maintaining PfP’s data platform we extract data from source, transform it into a usable format, load it into consumer models and marts and build and manage the infrastructure to do all this work.
Data Engineering are transforming the way PfP consumes data. Having transitioned from On Premise to Google Cloud we are in the process of building a leading-edge Data Mesh platform. This is an exciting time to join a growing business function, with the opportunity to make your mark in the architecture of the platform and the development of the data engineering function.
More about your role
The Principal Data Engineer is a senior technical leader who drives the engineering strategy, architecture, and best practices across product domain squads. This role is pivotal in enabling decentralised data ownership while ensuring consistency, scalability, and interoperability across the data mesh.
Key responsibilities include:
- Technical leadership across product domains
- Architecture and design
- Mentorship and capability building
- Cross domain interoperability
- Governance and compliance enablement
- Innovation and strategic influence
With a solid understanding of Google Cloud Platform, the Principal Data Engineer is responsible for the ensuring that the design and build of all data processes on the data platform are robust, performant, and compliant. This includes, data ingestion, data quality / integrity, transformation, security and encryption, batch management, monitoring, alerting and cost control.
In addition to leading data processing the Principal Data Engineer will help design and build the Data Mesh including data modelling and the processing of data from raw through the semantic layers.
The Principal Data Engineer will identify opportunities for automation and process improvement, coach and mentor data engineers, set coding standards and best practices, implement and document data integrity and quality checks, optimise queries, and facilitate data engineering collaboration across the team.
The Principal Data Engineer will work hand in glove with the Principal Data Platform Engineer and the Data Domain Architect to ensure that the data platform and data pipeline design is optimised and reliable within Google Cloud Platform, documenting the approach and explaining the solution to engineers and non-technical business users.
More about you
You will have an extensive cloud data engineering background with deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud platforms and modern data stacks. You will have a strong understanding of domain driven design, data mesh and product thinking. You will be an excellent communicator and collaborator across technical teams.
Having worked on multiple projects within the cloud you have hands on experience in many of the tools and technologies on offer, and you embrace and learn new technologies quickly.
You have a very clear view of what good looks like and can formulate plans to deliver a target state working closely with managers and engineers to deliver that vision.
You will have multiple years’ experience working in GCP with good knowledge across the platform and deep knowledge in core processing and orchestration products such as Big Query, Data Flow, Data Fusion, Data Stream, Cloud Functions, Data Proc and Airflow / Composer.
You will have excellent problem-solving skills, a rigorous approach to code checks / peer reviews and have the strength of character to drive high standards in the team. You will be able to manage and participate in the full development lifecycle of data products.
You will have held a leading role in a Data Engineering function with responsibility for the directing the efforts of other data engineers though the design, build and deployment of complex data solutions. This includes driving the implementation and adoption of CI / CD.
You will be self-motivated with excellent leadership qualities, capable of driving innovation and mentoring data engineers.
Experience & Skills
- A proven track record within Data Engineering,
- Experience in a Lead / Principal Engineer role
- Experience in a cloud data platform experience
- GCP experience and associated tech stack
- Strong understanding of Data Mesh principles (direct experience beneficial)
- Technical mentoring / coaching skills
- Extensive experience with Data Lake / Warehouse solutions
- Strong proficiency in multiple languages with SQL and Python as must haves
- In-depth knowledge of query optimization techniques and experience in fine-tuning complex queries.
- Strong understanding of Data Governance including Data Dictionaries, MDM, Lineage, Data Legislation, and the handling of PII
- Exceptional communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams
- Experience of Agile / Scrum / SDLC
We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.
We know that there’s always more we can do to make you smile, that’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:
- Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly
- Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
- Excellent holiday package – 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave
- Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
- A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2%
- Training and development
- Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more.
What’s next?
If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then click apply. You will be redirected to our careers site where you can discover more about the role, read a full job description and apply directly to us.
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a guaranteed interview to candidates who are disabled, neurodiverse, or have served in the Armed Forces, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in your application. We are dedicated to creating a supportive and accessible recruitment process for all.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview experience, please let us know. We’re happy to work with you to ensure you have the opportunity to perform at your best.
If you are a Places for People customer and you’re looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on skillsemployment@placesforpeople.co.uk.
We understand the importance of a supportive and inclusive work culture so please talk to us at interview about flexibility you may need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we promise not to judge you for asking. For this role we are open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours, flexible start and finish times or compressed hours.
If you are a recruitment agency please note we operate a PSL and do not take cold calls
Safeguarding
At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.
We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.
By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities
Description
Data Engineer
Location: Farnborough, with flexibility to work from home dependent on business demands
Salary: ÂŁ47,000 - ÂŁ61,000
Join our UK Team who are committed to a Mission!
The Role:
We are looking for an experienced Data Engineer to join us on a permanent basis.  We need talented individuals to apply their software development and data engineering skills for solving problems with data across a number of critical UK sectors.
We are on a mission to ensure that Leidos stands out in what is becoming an increasingly popular market place. It means creative solutions to problems using innovative design implementation and testing of systems and services with a focus on scalability and sustainability.
What will I be doing?
You will work closely with the Data Architect, Senior Data Engineers and fellow Data Engineers to form an integral part of the team. Our team comprises of a blend of seasoned experts and intermediate level engineers. It is a great place to be able to use your skills, learn from others and form one of the best performing teams in the business.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Working in a team of peer Data Engineers in an Agile manner
- Build, Maintain and Operate Data environments in the cloud
- Debug and resolve data processing and analytics issues
- Being proactive in evaluating and developing tools and technologies in improving the data platforms
- Supporting the development of data integration and data processing processes
- Sharing and collaborating with engineering, testing and dev-ops teams
- Supporting the creation of project plans, identification of risks, and generation of risk mitigation plans
- Supporting the migration of test and sensitive production data
- Supporting the operational system in a 3rd Tier support capacity
What does Leidos need from me?
As a minimum you will have:
- Postgres Database administration
- SQL programming (PL-SQL a plus)
- Experience with AWS Database offerings such as RDS, Aurora
- Expertise with AWS Data Migration Services (DMS)
- Leading a team of Data engineers in an Agile / Scrum environment
- Good communication skills
- Experience estimating task effort and identifying dependencies
- Experience analysing and improving query performance
The following would be advantageous:
- AWS Aurora Database or similar RDS managed database
- Experience supporting the operations of a large database, preferably Postgres.
- Large scale data migration experience
- Familiarity with DB2
- Familiarity with Oracle
- Scripting language experience (e.g. Python)
Clearance Requirements:
SC Clearance to start (we will support obtaining this)
SC Clearance for role
Unleash your talents at Leidos UK! Grow and advance rapidly in your career by letting us challenge you with the world’s toughest technical problems.
What we do for you:
At Leidos we are PASSIONATE about customer success, UNITED as a team and INSPIRED to make a difference. We offer meaningful and engaging careers, a collaborative culture, and support for your career goals, all while nurturing a healthy work-life balance.
We provide an employment package that attracts, develops and retains only the best in talent. Our reward scheme includes:
•   Contributory Pension Scheme
•   Private Medical Insurance
•   33 days Annual Leave (including public and privilege holidays)
•   Access to Flexible benefits (including life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, annual buy and sell holidays and a cycle to work scheme)
•   Flexi-Time Working
Commitment to Diversity:
We welcome applications from every part of the community and are committed to a truly diverse and inclusive culture. We foster a sense of belonging, welcoming all perspectives and contributions, and providing equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages please let us know, and we will respond in a way that best fits your needs.
Who We Are:
Leidos UK & EUROPE – we work to make the world safer, healthier, and more efficient through technology, engineering and science.
Leidos is a growing company delivering innovative technology and solutions focused on safeguarding critical capabilities and transformation in frontline services, our work in the United Kingdom includes addressing some of the most complex problems in defence, healthcare, government, safety and security, and transportation.
What Makes Us Different:
Purpose: you can use your passion and abilities at Leidos to keep the people you care about safe. We are at the forefront of machine learning, AI, cyber security and solutions. Using your skills in the technology frontline by helping to build a safer world. You can inspire change.
Collaboration: having flexibility to do your job is one of our core benefits, enabling you to become part of our extraordinary team. We have been empowering our people to work flexibly for years. Whether you work from home, the office or on customer sites, we will give you the digital tools and the flexibility to work smarter and align your needs and ours.
People: Leidos empowers people from every background to be themselves and gives you the tools to learn new skills by enabling growth whilst developing. We believe that extraordinary people need opportunities to grow, to be inspired and to inspire others. At Leidos, we invest in technical academies, career rotations and a career development plans that enhance your future.
If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Pay and Benefits
Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.
Securing Your Data
Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
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