Principal Data Engineer - AWS
Capco is hiring a Principal Data Engineer - AWS in London, United Kingdom. Level rates it ; you can apply on Capco.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this data engineer role is Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- The posting mentions Databricks and AI safety among its tools and skills.
- Level classes it as a lead role.
- Capco has 702 other open roles on Level.
AI in this role
Location: London (Hybrid) | Practice Area: Technology & Engineering | Type: Permanent
Engineer future-ready data platforms that power financial transformation.
The Role
We’re looking for a Principal Data Engineer with AWS to join our growing team of engineering experts driving next-generation transformation for Tier 1 financial services clients. You’ll play a pivotal role in designing, building, and deploying cloud-based data pipelines that enable trusted, scalable data platforms. Working across greenfield initiatives and enterprise-scale programmes, your work will directly influence how data is ingested, transformed, and consumed across the financial services industry. You'll also embrace AI-enabled ways of working, using approved AI and automation tools where appropriate to enhance productivity, improve delivery quality, and accelerate engineering outcomes while applying sound engineering judgement and responsible AI practices.
What You’ll Do
- Design and build end-to-end data pipelines using AWS-native services and modern cloud data architectures, ensuring scalable, secure, and resilient solutions.
- Partner with clients and cross-functional teams to understand business requirements, define technical solutions, and deliver production-grade data platforms.
- Apply AWS Well-Architected Principles, engineering best practices, CI/CD, and AI-enabled development approaches to improve quality, efficiency, and operational excellence.
- Lead the development of robust, tested, fault-tolerant data engineering solutions while promoting responsible engineering standards and governance.
- Mentor engineers, share technical expertise, and encourage the effective and responsible use of approved AI tools and automation to enhance collaboration and delivery.
What We’re Looking For
- Strong proficiency in Python, Scala, or Java, with hands-on experience of Big Data technologies including Spark, Hadoop, or similar distributed processing frameworks.
- Experience building real-time event streaming solutions using technologies such as Kafka, Spark Streaming, or Amazon Kinesis within AWS environments.
- Proven expertise designing modern data architectures including Data Lakehouse and Data Warehousing solutions, alongside CI/CD, DevOps practices, and data governance including GDPR.
- A collaborative engineering mindset with experience delivering scalable cloud solutions and using AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve engineering productivity while maintaining appropriate human oversight and quality assurance.
- Excellent stakeholder communication skills with the ability to translate business requirements into practical, high-quality technical solutions.
Bonus Points For
- Expertise in data modelling, schema design, and working with structured and semi-structured datasets.
- Experience with distributed technologies including Hadoop, Spark, HDFS, Hive, Databricks, or AWS Lake Formation.
- Knowledge of automating ingestion and transformation frameworks within cloud-native data platforms.
- Experience delivering solutions within highly regulated industries such as financial services.
- Passion for mentoring others, driving engineering best practices, and exploring responsible AI and automation to continually improve delivery.
Why Join Capco
- Deliver high-impact technology solutions for Tier 1 financial institutions.
- Work in a collaborative, flat, and entrepreneurial consulting culture.
- Access continuous learning, training, and industry certifications.
- Be part of a team shaping the future of digital financial services.
- Help shape the future of digital transformation across Financial Services & Energy.
Benefits
We offer a competitive, people-first benefits package designed to support every aspect of your life:
- Core Benefits: Discretionary bonus, competitive pension, health insurance, life insurance and critical illness cover.
- Mental Health: Easy access to CareFirst, Unmind, Aviva consultations, and in-house first aiders.
- Family-Friendly: Maternity, adoption, shared parental leave, plus paid leave for sickness, pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, menopause, and bereavement.
- Family Care: Eight complimentary backup care sessions for emergency childcare or elder care.
- Holiday Flexibility: Five weeks of annual leave with the option to buy or sell holiday days based on your needs.
- Continuous Learning: Minimum 40 hours of training annually through workshops, certifications and e-learning, plus a dedicated Business Coach from day one to support your career development.
- Healthcare Access: Convenient online GP services.
- Extra Perks: Wellhub (Gympass), travel insurance, Tastecard, season ticket loans, Cycle to Work, and dental insurance.
Inclusion at Capco
We’re committed to making our recruitment process accessible and straightforward for everyone. If you need any adjustments at any stage, just let us know—we’ll be happy to help. We value each person’s unique perspective and contribution. At Capco, we believe that being yourself is your greatest strength. Our #BeYourselfAtWork culture encourages individuality and collaboration—a mindset that shapes how we work with clients and each other every day.
#LI-DNI
How we rate this
Principal Data Engineer - AWS at Capco rates 66 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in data engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- Typical data engineer job
- $150k
This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical data engineer figure when pay comes up. See data engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- How do you think about the risk of an AI system in this kind of role failing silently?
- Walk me through how you've used Databricks in your day-to-day work.
- Describe a typical day in a role like this one: which parts run through AI directly?
- If you removed AI from this role, what would be left, and how do you decide what still needs a human?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: AI Safety and Databricks. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.
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