We’re recruiting a Principal Data Engineer to set the technical direction for our enterprise data platform and raise the bar for modern, trusted, high-quality data across Skipton.
Who Are We?
Not just another building society. Not just another job.
We're the fourth biggest building society in the UK and what makes us a bit different is that we're a mutual organisation. We don't have shareholders; we're owned by our members.
Our colleagues say Skipton's a great place to work, and you could be one of them, bringing with you new ideas on how we can keep customers at the heart of what we do.
Whatever your background, and whatever your goals, we'll help you take the next step towards a better future.
You’ll be joining our Data Capability function, working at enterprise scale across product, platform, analytics, governance, cyber, and delivery teams.
As a Principal Data Engineer, you’ll operate with company wide scope, shaping how data is ingested, modelled, governed, and consumed across Skipton. You’ll collaborate closely with Data Platform, Architecture, Data Governance, BI & Analytics, Cyber Security, DevSecOps, Quality Engineering, and Risk teams to ensure data is secure, trusted, observable, and fit for purpose.
This is a senior leadership role where your impact is multiplied through standards, Golden Path patterns, and the development of talented Data Engineers across the organisation.
What’s In It For You?
Skipton values work/life balance and we are proud to support hybrid and flexible working, where possible. We have a newly refurbished head office which offers a vibrant and collaborative working space.
We have a range of other benefits available to you including;
Annual discretionary bonus scheme
25 days standard annual leave + bank holidays + rising 1 day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days
Holiday trading scheme allowing the ability to buy and sell additional annual leave days
Matching employer pension contribution (up to 10% per annum)
Colleague mortgage (conditions apply)
Salary sacrifice scheme for hybrid & electric car
A commitment to training and development
Private medical insurance for all our colleagues
3 paid volunteering days per annum
Diverse and inclusive colleague networks available for you to join including our Carers and Pride Alliance groups
We care about your health and wellbeing – we provide a range of benefits that support this including cycle to work initiative and discounted gym membership
What Will You Be Doing?
As our Principal Data Engineer, you’ll provide both technical and people leadership, acting as a bar raiser for modern data engineering across Skipton. Key deliverables include:
Defining enterprise wide data engineering standards, principles, and Golden Path patterns
Leading hands‑on greenfield data platform implementations where no existing pattern exists, establishing reference architectures and engineering standards through delivery
Setting the technical direction for cloud native, secure‑by‑design data platforms
Improving data quality, freshness, lineage, observability, and operational resilience
Shaping and delivering multiyear data platform and modernisation roadmaps
Line managing, coaching, and developing Data Engineers and future technical leaders
Evaluating data initiatives across data science, analytics, and reporting to determine the most appropriate platform strategy
What Do We Need From You?
We’re looking for an experienced data engineering leader with technical depth and credibility to influence at enterprise scale. You’ll bring:
Deep, hands-on expertise in modern data engineering, such as lakehouse platforms, cloud data architectures, ingestion frameworks, and data modelling with a clear understanding of architectural trade-offs
Proven experience establishing reusable data standards, patterns, and frameworks through greenfield implementations, with adoption driven through delivery rather than documentation alone
Strong knowledge of data governance, security, lineage, metadata, and observability, including how to embed these concerns into platform design rather than layering them on afterwards
Experience improving data quality, reliability, or delivery speed at enterprise scale
Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching and developing engineers into senior-level technical leaders
The confidence to provide technical direction, challenge ambiguous problems, and make high‑impact decisions
Skills Required
- Deep expertise in modern data engineering
- Experience with lakehouse platforms and cloud data architectures
- Knowledge of data governance and security
- Demonstrated people leadership experience
- Ability to provide technical direction
What We Do
Not just another building society. Not just another job. Imagine how good it would feel to help someone choose the mortgage they’ll use to buy their first home. Or the account they’ll use to save for it. We’ve been helping people make big financial decisions since 1853. It’s why over a million customers trust us as a good place for their money, and why our colleagues say we’re a good place to work. The Bailey (our head office) The Bailey is the vibrant hub where you’ll find all our central functions. We’re always looking for new talent because we love hearing new ideas. You can choose from a variety of roles that range from marketing and IT, through to audit, risk, products, digital and more – or maybe you’ll join our lively contact centre team. We’re based in Skipton, just a short train ride from Bradford and Leeds, we’re a stone’s throw from the A65 and have some cracking views of the Yorkshire Dales. Our network of UK branches Our branch colleagues are the face of Skipton Building Society. They’re relationship-builders, team workers, great talkers and they’re brilliant at listening too. Everything they do is designed to help customers make the best financial decisions, whether that’s choosing the right kind of savings account or having a full financial review. The Skipton culture Happy colleagues mean happy customers. So, when we recruit, we don’t just think about what’s in it for us, we think about what’s in it for you. It’s one of the reasons we’ve been recognised as one of The Times Best Companies to Work for the last 6 years. Mind, body and spirit With our colleagues’ support, we’ve created a culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. We understand the rich diversity in our Society, and how harnessing that diversity through effective inclusive practice has profound benefits for individuals, teams and the Society it self. This includes a progressive approach to personal well-being.
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