Principal Engineer (Engineering Manager) — Data Platform (FT Core)

About Us

The Financial Times is one of the worlds leading news organisations globally recognised for its authority integrity and accuracy with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide.

At the FT curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Together we help audiences stay better informed and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Our Product & Technology teams drive us forward in an ever-evolving digital landscape delivering cutting-edge products to over one million digital subscribers daily. Our growth relies on a diverse dedicated and dynamic group of product tech delivery and data specialists.

With a supportive culture entrepreneurial spirit and opportunities at every turn there are no limits to where your FT career can take you.

Our Commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced technology leader to join our Core Platforms (FT Core) group and lead the Data Platform a cornerstone of FTs broader Data Modernisation programme.

The Data Platform provides the foundation for how we produce manage and consume data across the Financial Times. It underpins the creation and distribution of data products that support analytics personalisation reporting and insight generation across the business.

You will lead multiple engineering teams responsible for designing building and operating our cloud-native data services. Working closely with the Principal Technical Architect you will ensure the platforms design and delivery align with FTs strategic direction for data enabling trusted discoverable and reusable data products across all business domains.

This is a senior technical leadership role that combines strategic thinking hands-on guidance and people leadership. You will play a key role in defining and realising the future of data at the FT while nurturing and empowering a high-performing engineering team.

This role is a Principal Engineer (People Manager) position according to our competency framework. Please review further competencies and job family via link available here.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering and operational development of the FTs cloud-native Data Platform ensuring it provides scalable secure and high-quality data capabilities across the organisation.
  
  
• Shape and deliver the platform roadmap in alignment with FTs data architecture in close partnership with the Product Managers Data and Technical Architects and other technical leaders across FT Core.
  
  
• Foster a culture of technical excellence collaboration and continuous improvement supporting engineers in developing mastery of data engineering and platform operations.
  
  
• Champion best practices in modern data management including automation observability cost efficiency and platform resilience.
  
  
• Drive data product enablement ensuring teams across the FT can easily publish discover and consume data through the platform.
  
  
• Collaborate with Product and Delivery peers to ensure outcomes are aligned with business goals and deliver tangible value.
  
  
• Represent the Data Platform within the wider FT data community working closely with teams in Data & Analytics Subscriptions and Content.
  
  
• Mentor and develop engineers and technical leads aligning their growth and progression with FTs Engineering Competency Framework.
  
  
• Advocate for diversity and inclusion helping build balanced teams that thrive on collaboration and different perspectives.
  
  

Required Knowledge Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable experience leading teams responsible for building and operating data platforms or distributed data systems in a cloud environment.
  
  
• Strong understanding of data engineering pipelines and cloud-native architectures (AWS preferred).
  
  
• Proven ability to influence architecture design and delivery decisions that balance quality speed and sustainability.
  
  
• Experience creating a learning culture mentoring engineers and supporting professional growth.
  
  
• Proven skill in communication and collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders both technical and non-technical.
  
  
• Ability to connect engineering decisions to broader business outcomes demonstrating strategic awareness and pragmatic judgment.
  
  
• Passion for data as a product and for enabling others to create own and use data responsibly.
  
  
• Commitment to continuous improvement both in technical delivery and in developing inclusive high-performing teams.

Additional Skills and Experience (Non-essential but Advantageous)

• Background in software engineering or data engineering with hands-on experience in modern cloud data tooling and practices (e.g. dbt Airflow streaming IaC).
  
  
• Familiarity with data governance quality and cataloging concepts (e.g. DataHub Collibra Alation or their AWS equivalents).
  
  
• Experience working in a federated or domain-oriented organisation supporting cross-functional delivery.
  
  
• Strong interest in emerging technologies and their potential to evolve how the FT manages and leverages data.
  
  
• Experience collaborating with architectural peers to drive end-to-end alignment between design delivery and operational excellence.
  
  

Whats in it for you

We offer a flexible inclusive working culture and a generous range of benefits tailored to your location. Our benefits include

• Annual bonus scheme
• 25 days paid leave
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance
• Enhanced Parental Leave policy
• Food Allowance
• Multisport Card
• Comprehensive in-house training and external training programs (subject to approval)

Further Information

At the FT we embrace innovation and the use of technology and we appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills experience and qualifications.

Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.

#LI-MG1