Principal Data Engineer

About The RoleHippo Digital is recruiting for a Principal Data Engineer to join our Hippo Herd. Principal Data Engineers work in multi-disciplinary teams that build, support & maintain User-Centred digital solutions that offer real value and work for everyone. Hippo’s Principal Data Engineers are experts in their field. You will act as a principal consultant providing technical expertise in data engineering practices both internally and to our clients. You will drive the team's technical deliverables, maintain client relationships and be passionate about developing and upskilling others.Your role in nutshell:Act as a technical SME within the Hippo engineering community to produce and ensure user-centred software is developed based on business requirements and following best practiceWork collaboratively with colleagues to explore, design and deliver solutions to client problemsMaintain client relationships and troubleshoot issues through collaboration Design and manage software development and deployment pipelines resolving issues and potential bottlenecks before they occurContinuously reviews and prioritises the delivery teams workload and can anticipate the need for realignment with evolving operational prioritise and complex work-streams and assignments Be a strong communicator and presenter, presenting prototypes, solutions and progress to internal/external stakeholders in a clear concise mannerBuild great relationships with your team and stakeholders, identifying and ensuring that challenges are overcomeLead in the recruitment of other engineers, and support other consultants in their professional developmentEnsure Hippo’s Data and Engineering communities contribute to Hippo’s business at a strategic levelLead on new business opportunities, writing technical bids and proposalsPromote Hippo’s Data Herd externally (for example through writing Blogs, Workshops, Seminars or Conferences)Skills and experience that you needExcellent experience delivering in Python and experience with at least one other core languageExcellent experience of SQL and relational databases. NoSQL databases is also desirable.Solid experience of at least one Cloud provider such as AWS, Azure or GCP. Strong experience of working with different data formats, e.g., CSV, JSON and XMLBuilding reliable Data PipelinesBroader knowledge of IT — e.g., Security and NetworkingWorking in an Agile EnvironmentTest-Driven Development and/or Behaviour Driven DevelopmentContinuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)Experience of operating as a technical leader on complex projects and able to manage stakeholder expectations and influencing decisionsCoaching and guiding others on the best way to achieve an optimal solution Excellent verbal/written communication skills, able to articulate in both technical/non-technical terms depending on audienceTechnical leadership and/or mentoringDefine working procedures and methodologies for the teamWhat makes us greatAs well as a competitive salary which we’re transparent about from the outset, you can also expect a range of benefits:Contributory pension scheme (Hippo 6% with employee contributions of 2%)25 days holiday plus UK public holidaysPerkbox access for a wide range of discountsCritical illness coverLife assurance and death in service coverVolunteer daysCycle-to-work scheme for the avid cyclistsSalary sacrifice electric vehicles schemeSeason ticket loansFinancial and general wellbeing sessionsFlexible benefits scheme with options of:private health coverprivate dental coveradditional company pension contributionsadditional holidays (up to an extra 2 days)wellbeing contributioncharity contributionstree plantingHi, we’re Hippo Digital.At Hippo Digital, we design with empathy and build for impact. We do this by combining data-informed evidence, human-centred design and software engineering.  We're a digital services partner who is genuinely invested in helping our clients thrive as modern organisations. Our delivery methodology is truly agile, from concept to reality, supporting innovation and continuous improvement to achieve your desired outcomes.We firmly believe that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. We take a human-centred approach to everything we do because we understand that complex problems require a service design approach. This means understanding how users behave and ensuring our solutions work for them in the real world. Our combination of data, design, and engineering delivers bespoke digital services that make a positive and meaningful impact on organisations and society. We're confident in our abilities, authentic in our approach, and passionate about what we do. If you're looking for a digital services partner that can deliver real results, let us help you build for the future and make a lasting impact.Hippo locationsWe are headquartered in Leeds and located across the UK in Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol. We're on the lookout for top talent nationwide, so don't let location hold you back from applying. We welcome candidates from all over the UK who possess the flexibility to work from any of our locations. Plus, we offer a generous relocation support package of up to 8k to help make your move a smooth one. It's worth noting that, given the dynamic nature of our business, you may be required to work on-site at client locations or from your own home.Diversity and Inclusion at Hippo Digital: A commitment to lasting changeAt Hippo Digital, we're wholeheartedly dedicated to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion. For us, it's not about checking off boxes but about making a true, lasting difference. Having a diverse team unlocks our capacity for innovation, creativity and problem-solving while fostering an inclusive environment that benefits everyone. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us on this important journey.LocationVarious LocationsAdvertising Salary79,000 - 100,000 (London up to 112,000) + benefitsVacancy TypePermanentDivision:Data EngineeringLevel:Principal Consultant