Principal Data Engineer

Job Description: Your impact At Leonardo, our Principal Data Engineers lead the design and delivery of secure, scalable data solutions that underpin critical defence, government, and commercial operations. As a technical authority and people manager, you’ll guide engineering teams through the full data lifecycle—transforming raw data into actionable insight across hybrid and cloud environments. This role blends technical leadership, stakeholder engagement, and team development, offering the opportunity to shape data strategy and capability across multiple programmes. Your work at Leonardo will see you take the lead in solving customer problems in an agile, innovative and team-centric manner. The role may involve a blended hybrid working model, with a mixture of working from home and working on site at one of our Leonardo offices to ensure close collaboration with the wider team and with our customers.

What you will do as a Principal Data Engineer

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for data engineering delivery within your team
• Lead the design, implementation and maintenance of end-to-end data solutions: acquisition, integration, storage, processing, and analysis
• Implement scalable data solutions using big data architectures and workflow management systems
• Guide the development of tools for data-driven insights and task automation
• Continuously test and monitor systems to improve performance and reliability
• Research and adopt emerging technologies
• Work with cloud platforms and diverse operating systems
• Support development and deployment of machine learning models
• Collaborate with DevOps Engineers, Data Scientists, Analysts and Cyber Consultants
• Mentor and coach junior data engineers to build team capability, while managing project tasks across your own and their workloads.
• Support technology assessments, feasibility studies, and roadmap development
• Engage with stakeholders and customers, presenting and defending technical solutions
• Manage a small team of direct reports, providing guidance, mentorship and support for their career development
• Support the effective operation of the wider team through utilisation tracking, chairing team meetings and resource management

What you’ll bring

• Demonstrated leadership in data engineering, with experience managing and mentoring others.
• Ability to take ownership of engineering delivery and drive team performance.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A proactive mindset with a commitment to continuous learning and capability development.
• Proven ability to work across disciplines and collaborate effectively in multi-functional teams.
• A strategic approach to problem-solving and technical decision-making.

Core Areas (must have):

• Strong Python and SQL skills
• Experience with ETL flows, data pipelines, and orchestration tools
• Understanding of database architecture (SQL and NoSQL)
• Experience with cloud technologies
• Experience with cloud platforms
• Experience with CI/CD practices
• Experience with big data tools e.g. Spark, Hadoop, NiFi
• Experience managing direct reports, providing regular guidance and performance feedback
• Ability to create delivery plans with estimated timelines for personal and team workloads
• Experience supporting ML model deployment and DevOps collaboration

Desirable:

• Degree in STEM, Data, AI, or Programming-related field
• Awareness of data security best practices
• Experience with designing data architecture
• Experience with scaling infrastructure and code, (e.g. Kubernetes)
• Exposure to Ansible and Terraform
• Understanding of ML algorithms and deployment

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role. For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

Leonardo operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working: Hybrid International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo. The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know-how across the generations. Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!