Data Engineering Manager

This is your chance to lead the charge in shaping the backbone of Virgin Red’s data capability. We’re looking for a passionate Data Engineering Manager to drive our technical vision, guide cross-functional teams, and power up the data platforms that keep our our loyalty products and systems ticking. 

Our Virgin Family 

Join the Virgin Group – a diverse collective driving change, enhancing customer experience, and having a blast. We're daring, disrupting industries from finance to space, united as part of the Virgin Family. 

Virgin Red rewards customers who live the Virgin lifestyle. Earn Virgin Points across our vast partner network, unlocking everyday rewards and exclusive experiences. As the Virgin network hub, we foster deeper customer understanding, opening doors for partners. Bold, distinctive, customer-centric – that's Virgin Red. 

We’re a huge brand, but not a huge team, which means we take a hands-on approach while thinking strategically. Everyone rolls up their sleeves to get things done, making it an exciting and collaborative place to work. 

Tell me more 

• Lead, grow and support a team of up to 15 engineers across multiple squads, blending strategic direction with hands-on guidance. 

• Define and deliver a future-fit data engineering roadmap alongside our Principal Data Engineer. 

• Drive quality and innovation across our data platform, warehouse and pipelines – ensuring scalability, security and sustainability. 

• Keep engineering outcomes sharp and focused, balancing today’s delivery with tomorrow’s tech ambitions. 

• Collaborate across Product, Commercial and Marketing teams, aligning data capabilities with business impact. 

• Promote a culture of curiosity, inclusion and experimentation, with an eye on emerging AI opportunities. 

What you’ll need 

• Strong technical know-how, particularly in Python, SQL, modern data stacks (Snowflake, DBT, Spark, Airflow) and cloud platforms like AWS. 

• Experience leading high-performing engineering teams with empathy and clarity. 

• A knack for building scalable data solutions and making strategic tech decisions without losing sight of day-to-day pragmatism. 

• Familiarity with CI/CD, DevOps, data governance and responsible AI practices. 

• Strong data modelling skills – e.g. dimensional modelling 

• Experience leveraging AI tooling to accelerate and automate tasks 

• Experience with Data Mesh practices is a plus 

• Confidence in setting direction, managing ambiguity, and bringing people with you – from engineers to execs. 

• Curiosity and courage to explore the new, while delivering the now. 

The extra details 

Role type: Permanent  
Location: London hub (approx. 1-2 days per week) & your home space  
Salary: £105,000 - £123,000 plus bonus - We're putting our salaries out there for everyone to see - no smoke and mirrors, just honest numbers. We'll offer a salary that matches your skills, always aiming for room to grow. 
Working hours: Full time - We embrace flexible working. Let us know what hours empower you to be at your best both professionally and personally, we’ll try to find a perfect match for you and us. 
Benefits: Buckle up for an adventure with Virgin! Our benefits package isn't just a list - it's your ticket to an extraordinary career and life. Imagine unlimited leave for your globe-trotting dreams, a "Screw it, let's do it pot" to enjoy being you, and a learning budget to fuel your curiosity. We've got your back with top-notch health care, family support that goes the extra mile, and a pension plan to keep your future bright. From electric vehicles to flexible volunteering, we're not just offering a job - we're inviting you to join a community that celebrates your whole self.  

Closing date: 28 July 2025 

Some of the attributes that define a Virgin person just can’t be quantified in words. We pride ourselves on welcoming people from all walks of life, with all sorts of skill sets. Most recently, we successfully campaigned to add ‘Dyslexic Thinking’ as a skill on LinkedIn. We truly value passion for Purpose and Sustainability, welcoming creative thinkers and innovators. Any uniqueness is a strength and will be considered an asset to our workforce. If there is something you would like us to consider, to tailor the hiring process to the way you work best, please don’t hesitate to let us know.  

Ready to turn your career into the ultimate adventure? Virgin's got the map, the compass, and the crew. Your great adventure awaits!