Principal Software Engineer (Data)

About our Data & ML teamData & AI powers our growth and innovation. We build enterprise platforms to create actionable insight enabling colleagues to make effective decisions and create proactive, automated, hyper-personalised experiences for our customers.
We have a growing data and AI team in the UK and Netherlands. We function as the backbone for a variety of data-hungry consumers and platforms across the business within Marketing, Finance, Operations and Product teams. Our AI photo services are at the heart of our consumer experience and we’re expanding our footprint towards decentralised ML adoption within the business.
As a team, we have come together through mergers. We are at the end of a phase of simplification of legacy infrastructure and moving into the next phase of consolidation and growth.
Who we’re looking forWe are looking for an experienced Principal Data Engineer to join our London-based data team and help us (re-)build a platform that accelerates a decentralised-by-design data adoption model within the business. We care about providing trustable, usable data that meets business needs. We want you to own and drive technical excellence within your team to make this organisation-level change happen.
You’re a software engineering technical leader at heart. You thrive in the data engineering and analytics engineering domain. You care deeply about customer outcome-focused data engineering excellence.
Areas of ExpertiseTechnical Leadership:- Extensive experience in data engineering, including designing, building, and maintaining robust and scalable data platforms that enable key business initiatives.- Proven ability to lead technical design and architecture discussions, influencing technical strategy and decisions across the organization.- Experience mentoring and coaching junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence within the team.
Data Engineering Expertise:- Deep understanding of data engineering principles and best practices, including data modeling, observable ETL/ELT processes, data warehousing, and data governance.  - Proficiency in data manipulation languages (e.g., SQL/DBT) and programming languages relevant to data engineering (e.g., Python).- Experience with a variety of data processing frameworks and technologies, including cloud-based data services.
Software Engineering Practices:- Experience with software development lifecycle (SDLC) best practices, including version control (e.g., Git), testing, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD).- A focus on building high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented code.
Collaboration and Communication:- Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.  - Proven ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment, collaborating with product managers, analysts, and other stakeholders.  - -Proven effective influencer, capable of driving change outside of your direct team, contributing to the wider engineering community.
Education:- A degree in a STEM field (e.g., Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics) or equivalent practical experience.

Your Daily Adventure at Storio

• Collaborate effectively within a cross-functional, mission-led team, led by a product manager and engineering manager, contributing to the team’s strategy, roadmap, and OKRs.
• Define and champion technical principles and practices to raise the bar on implementing a well-engineered, well-governed data platform that meets the needs of our customers.
• Be accountable for the technical health of your team’s codebase, driving continuous improvement and establishing metrics to track progress.
• Lead technical solution design on multiple complex initiatives within your team, demonstrated by successful and timely implementation, driving resolutions for complex and difficult problems.
• Drive continuous improvement on key metrics such as business value, cost efficiency, speed, and quality of delivery.
• Coach a team of data and analytics engineers on best practices in the software development lifecycle, delivering high-quality software through your own work, and fostering a feedback culture within the team.
• Influence key decision-making across the data and ML engineering domain on technical approaches to balance delivering near-term commercial impact and building long-term foundations.

Our Tech Stack

• Cloud Data Warehouse - Snowflake
• AWS Data Solutions - Kinesis, SNS, SQS, S3, ECS, Lambda
• Data Governance & Quality - Collate & Monte Carlo
• Infrastructure as Code - Terraform
• Data Integration & Transformation - Python, DBT, Fivetran, Airflow
• CI/CD - Github Actions / Jenkins

Nice to Have Experience

• Understanding of various data architecture paradigms (e.g., Data Lakehouse, Data Warehouse, Data Mesh) and their applicability to different business needs.
• Experience with data governance principles and practices, ensuring data quality, accuracy, and compliance.
• Familiarity with data security best practices and technologies.
• Experience in the e-commerce domain

About Storio groupImagine being part of a team that doesn't just create products, but helps people preserve and share life's most precious stories. That's Storio Group. We're a place where memories are made tangible, where we innovate to connect generations, and where we strive to make joy unforgettable. We bring our customers' stories to life through beautifully personalised photo products – think photo books, stunning wall art, calendars, and heartfelt gifts. Our cutting-edge technology empowers them to create unique keepsakes, whether for themselves or as the perfect, thoughtful present.
But Storio Group is more than just a company; it's a community. We believe every individual brings something unique, leaving a lasting impact on our work, our culture, and our success. Here, you'll see and feel the difference you make, every single day. A career with us is an opportunity to truly leave your mark, both on our customers' lives and on your own professional journey.
What's in it for you?
- Meaningful Work: You'll be part of a team that creates something truly special, helping people connect with their memories and loved ones.
- A Culture of Heart: We put people first. We embrace diversity and build genuine relationships based on mutual understanding and respect. You'll be valued for who you are.
- A Commitment to Excellence: We strive for the best, always. We work together to make informed decisions and build a better business, knowing we play a vital role in our customers' lives.
- Ownership and Growth: You'll be empowered to take ownership of your work, driving things forward and shaping your own future. We believe in your potential.
- A Spirit of Curiosity: We encourage curiosity and innovation. You'll be part of a team that's always asking "why" and "what's next," seeking diverse perspectives and embracing new ideas.
- A Focus on Joy: We believe in finding and creating joy, both in our work and in our interactions with each other. While we're realistic, we make an effort to find and share joy with our customers and team mates.
Equal opportunities statementStorio Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. 1 If you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process due to a disability or special need, please contact our HR team. We will work with you to find a suitable solution.
Right to WorkApplicants must possess the legal right to work in the country where the position is located, without requiring sponsorship