Principal Data Engineer

We are seeking a Principal Data Engineer to lead our Data Engineering practice. This is a role for a hands‑on technical expert who can contribute to shape data solutions for world‑renowned brands while mentoring a team of talented engineers. As a technical leader, you will set the vision and standards for how VML MAP delivers data infrastructure, integrations , governance & orchestration . Architecture : Collaborate with architects to define standards for data pipelines, transformations, and integrations across cloud platforms (GCP, Snowflake, Azure) and CRM platforms (Salesforce DataCloud, Adobe Experience Platform, etc.), spanning both traditional data engineering and marketing technology ecosystems. Implementation : Ensure correct adoption of modern data stacks using dbt, orchestration tools (Airflow), infrastructure‑as‑code (Terraform), and ELT/ETL frameworks, with a focus on analytics‑ready data models. Serve as the final technical escalation resource when projects face complex implementation challenges. Client Advisory : Act as the trusted technical advisor for clients, providing strategic guidance on their data architecture and identifying opportunities where data infrastructure can drive business value. Pioneer emerging capabilities—including agentic automation and AI‑driven engineering—while building repeatable solution frameworks and service offerings that reduce time‑to‑value and enable consistency across client engagements. Practice Leadership : Work closely with the Global Data Practice Lead and domain practice peers to shape practice direction, standards, and growth. You will join a team of hands‑on Data Engineers who are passionate about building reliable, scalable data infrastructure. They're technically strong but need someone who can provide architectural direction and help them taking their Data Practice to the next level. You are a natural technical leader who thrives on both hands‑on coding and high‑level architectural strategy. You excel at mentoring engineers and can clearly communicate complex technical trade‑offs to clients and stakeholders. Extensive years of hands‑on data engineering experience building production data pipelines and data warehouses. Deep expertise in the modern data stack : dbt, Airflow, Terraform, and cloud data platforms (GCP BigQuery, Snowflake). Strong architectural skills with a deep understanding of data modeling, quality, and governance. Proficiency in SQL, Python , and modern engineering workflows (Git, CI/CD, testing). Commercial awareness and client‑facing skills , with an ability to connect technical solutions to strategic business value. Intellectual curiosity and learning agility : enthusiasm for exploring emerging technologies, testing new approaches, and continuously expanding your technical repertoire. Excellent communication skills in English . Experience with CRM data platforms (Salesforce Data Cloud, Adobe AEP). Familiarity with data governance and privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA). Cloud or dbt certifications. Experience building data pipelines for AI/LLM applications. A leader in personalized customer experiences VML MAP is a world‑leading Centre of Excellence that helps businesses humanize the relationship between the brand and the customer through hyper personalization at scale, marketing automation and CRM. With the brain of a consultancy, the heart of an agency and the power of technology and data, we work with some of the world's most admired brands to help them on their transformation journey to becoming truly customer‑centric. Together, we are 1000 + technology specialists, data scientists, strategic thinkers, consultants, operations experts, and creative minds from 55+ nationalities. A global network We are part of the global VML network that encompasses more than 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 60+ markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. #To learn more about how we process your personal data during when you apply for a role with us, on how you can update your information or have the information removed please read our Privacy policy.