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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Data Scientist - Finance & Transformation - **Company:** British Airways - **Location:** Harmondsworth, UK - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Microsoft Excel, Agile Methodology, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Spreadsheets, Decision Support Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning, Microsoft Office, Natural Language Processing, Microsoft PowerPoint, Scrum Methodology, Raw Data, Recommender Systems, Software Engineering, SQL Databases, Management of Software Versions, Data Processing, Deep Learning, Git, Build Management, Machine Learning Operations, Data Delivery, Software Version Control - **Published:** September 21, 2026 - **Apply:** https://find.jobs/jobs-near-me/apply/ats-redirect/?id=2981095523-2 ## About the Role * Can apply software engineering principles and concepts eg using Git and Python * Can build and deploy production ready machine learning pipelines eg using Python * Comprehensive cloud understanding * Comfortable designing user interface solutions for Machine Learning applications * Advanced data wrangling skills applicable to large data eg using SQL, Python * Can apply advanced spreadsheet modelling to complex problems eg using Excel * Able to apply a range of advanced machine learning and multivariate techniques * Proficient in use of Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel and Powerpoint Skills * Advanced analytical skills, including the ability to apply a range of data science and analytic techniques to quickly generate accurate business insights * Able to structure business and technical problems, identify trade-offs, and propose solutions * Communication of advanced technical concepts to audiences with varying levels of technical skills * Managing priorities and timelines to deliver features in a timely manner that meet business requirements * Collaborative team-working, giving and receiving feedback, and always seeking to improve team processes Your experience: * Numerate degree or equivalent with data science components * Experience of leading others in applying data science to business problems * Experience in developing industrialised software, especially data science or machine learning software products (required) * Experience in relevant business domains (transportation, airlines, operations, network problems) (preferred) ## Description The role: Principal Data Scientist - Finance & Transformation * As a senior leader within the Data & AI function, reporting to the Head of Data Delivery, the Principal Data Scientist is accountable for the end-to-end delivery and lifecycle management of high-value data science products or initiatives that support or automate decision-making across critical business areas. * Operating within Agile cross-functional squads, they lead teams to scope, design, build, deploy and maintain scalable, production-ready solutions - including predictive models, optimisation engines, and decision-support tools - that integrate seamlessly with business processes and technical infrastructure. * The Principal Data Scientist delivers in line with the strategic direction for data science delivery, ensures model compliance and ethical responsibility, and drives continuous improvement in team capabilities and ways of working. * They also line manage and coach others to achieve their full potential, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and impact. What you'll do: * The Principal Data Scientist has accountabilities across the full value chain and coordinates the execution of high-value data science initiatives: * Manages and coaches data science teams to deliver a portfolio of data science products from scoping to delivery * Scopes and documents ill-defined client needs and frames data science solutions that align with business goals * Responsible for the quality and timely delivery of the data science products for an area of the business * Reporting on team key performance indicators * Acquires, processes and manipulates complex and large raw data to ensure high-quality inputs for models * Designs, builds and trains data science products such as business models, predictive analytics tools, recommender systems, natural language processing, anomaly detection, forecasts, optimisation models and decision support systems * Works with Digital teams to productionise models and deliver application front ends * Translates results in to actionable recommendations * Provides guidance to stakeholders on how models created can improve business outcomes * Works within cross-functional business and Digital teams * Oversees management, improvements to and decommissioning of existing data science products for business area to ensure they are valuable, feasible and usable * Monitors industry trends and advancements in data science * Ensures adherence to published frameworks in team * Ensures model compliance & ethical responsibility in team * Ensures best practice is followed in their team * Line manages others to achieve full potential * Provides ad hoc team cover on an exceptional basis * Contributes to conversations on feature prioritisation and roadmap, with an understanding of the trade-off between speed vs. long-term value * Communicates feature and modelling approach, trade-offs, and results with the internal team and business stakeholders * The Principal Data Scientist is also accountable for ways of working fit for an Agile cross-functional development squad, including: * Using Git-versioning best practices for version control * Contributing and reviewing pull-requests and product / technical documentation * Giving input on prioritization, team process improvements, optimizing technology choices * Working independently and giving predictability on delivery timelines What you'll bring to British Airways: * Can structure ill-defined business problems and support others * Can communicate to large/senior groups * Can effectively challenge senior colleagues * Can build strong stakeholder relationship networks and set data science strategy * Can coach and manage a team * Leads scrum methodology and ceremonies ## Related Videos - [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail) - [Data Governance in the Era of AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1622-data-governance-in-the-era-of-ai) - [Alibaba Big Data and Machine Learning Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/37-alibaba-big-data-and-machine-learning-technology) - [How a Small Team Shrank a Microsoft Monorepo by 94%](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1236-how-a-small-team-shrank-a-microsoft-monorepo-by-94) - [Intelligent Automation using Machine Learning](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/157-intelligent-automation-using-machine-learning) - [PySpark - Combining Machine Learning & Big Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/44-pyspark-combining-machine-learning-big-data) ## Related Articles - [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Software Engineer Salary London](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/252-software-engineer-salary-london) - [Software Engineer Salary in The UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/231-software-engineer-salary-in-the-uk) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production)