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# Principal Data Engineer

- **Company:** OSB Group
- **Location:** Wolverhampton, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** £90,000.0 - £105,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Computing Platforms, Automation of Tests, Microsoft Azure, Cloud Engineering, Continuous Integration, Data Architecture, Information Engineering, Data Governance, Data Infrastructure, Extract Transform Load (ETL), Data Systems, Data Warehousing, DevOps, Industry Standard Architecture, Meta-Data Management, Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Azure, Cloud Services, DataOps, Azure Data Lake, Azure Service Bus, Azure Data Factory, Infrastructure Automation Frameworks, Bicep, Real Time Data, Terraform, Stream Processing, Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Pipelines, Databricks
- **Published:** September 10, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerjet.co.uk/job/gbfcdc2f6ecd52413301dc528ff6fbcad8/eaa

## About the Role

* Proven experience as a Data Solution Architect, Principal Data Engineer, or similar senior-level role, with a track record of delivering Azure-based data solutions within a regulated environment
 * Deep expertise in the Microsoft Azure Data Platform, including services such as Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, Azure SQL and Event Hubs
 * Extensive experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures, including data modelling, ETL/ELT frameworks, Lakehouse solutions, batch and real-time data processing, and cloud-native data platforms
 * Strong understanding of data governance, security, architecture best practices and platform engineering, with experience implementing scalable, resilient and compliant data solutions
 * Proven experience driving DataOps and DevOps practices within Agile environments, including CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/Bicep), automated testing, platform monitoring and cross-functional collaboration across Architecture, Engineering, Security and Infrastructure teams
 * Certifications (preferred but not essential)

## Description

OSB Group is undertaking a significant transformation programme, building new cloud-based customer journeys and experiences supported by a modern enterprise data architecture. In parallel, the Group Data Office is responsible for maintaining a complex legacy data landscape that continues to run the bank today. What you will be doing?:
As a senior technical leader within the Data Engineering function, the Principal Data Engineer will act as the organisation's Azure Data Platform subject matter expert, providing architectural leadership and technical direction across all data engineering initiatives.
Working closely with the Head of Data Engineering, this role will define, govern and deliver the target-state Azure Data Platform, ensuring data solutions are scalable, secure, resilient and aligned to the organisation's data modernisation strategy. The successful candidate will bridge business objectives and technology delivery, driving the adoption of modern cloud-based data architectures that enable trusted data, advanced analytics, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
As the senior Azure expert within the team, the Principal Data Engineer will establish engineering standards, shape platform strategy, mentor engineers and provide authoritative guidance on best practices across data architecture, platform design, DataOps, governance and cloud engineering.
Your responsibilities will include…

 * Act as the senior Azure Data Platform expert within the Data Engineering function, providing technical leadership, architectural governance and strategic direction across the organisation's data estate
 * Partnering with the Head of Data Engineering to define, evolve and deliver the target-state Azure Data Platform architecture, supporting the organisation's data modernisation and cloud transformation strategy
 * Leading the design and implementation of scalable, secure and resilient Azure-based data solutions that align with business objectives, enterprise architecture standards and regulatory requirements
 * Architecting and delivering modern data platforms leveraging Azure technologies including Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, Azure SQL and Event Hubs
 * Designing and developing robust ETL/ELT frameworks, data pipelines, Lakehouse architectures and real-time data solutions, ensuring engineering excellence and reusability across the platform
 * Establishing and governing enterprise data models, engineering standards, security controls, data quality frameworks, lineage and metadata management practices across the Azure Data Platform
 * Leading the migration and modernisation of legacy data warehouse and SQL Server environments, driving adoption of cloud-native Azure services and best-practice engineering approaches
 * Providing technical leadership, mentorship and guidance to Data Engineers while championing DataOps, DevOps, CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code practices to drive continuous improvement, platform optimisation and operational excellence


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