Skills

Communication Leadership SQL NoSQL CI/CD DevOps Architecture Recruitment Infrastructure as Code Microservices

Job Specifications

Job Title: Database Principal Engineer
Location: Sheffield
Start Date: 19/01/2026
Job Type: Contract
Overview:
One of our leading financial services clients is seeking an experienced Database Principal Engineer to play a key leadership role within its global Database Platform team in the Chief Technology Office. This is a senior, hands-on engineering position focused on defining strategy, architecture, and engineering excellence across enterprise-scale database platforms.
Key responsibilities:
Define and drive the long-term strategy for database infrastructure and shared services (DBaaS/PaaS).
Act as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor on database technologies and engineering decisions.
Lead architecture, design, and implementation of resilient, secure, and scalable database platforms.
Collaborate with architects, product owners, and senior stakeholders across a global organisation.
Champion automation, DevOps, SRE practices, and continuous improvement.
Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and influence across cross-functional engineering teams.
Required Skills/Experience
The ideal candidate will have the following:
10+ years in engineering roles, including significant experience at senior/principal level.
Deep expertise in database technologies (relational, NoSQL, distributed SQL) across IaaS and DBaaS environments.
Strong background in platform engineering, performance tuning, capacity planning, and infrastructure automation.
Hands-on experience with microservices, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and SRE/DevOps practices.
Proven ability to lead large-scale, enterprise platforms within regulated environments.
Excellent communication skills with the gravitas to engage and advise senior executives.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply now with your updated CV in Microsoft Word/PDF format.
Disclaimer:
Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.
Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.

About the Company

With over 25 years in the technology recruitment sector, Square One is an award-winning specialist recruitment agency. Based in London, we manage recruitment on an international scale with clients ranging from start-ups to global corporations. Our goal is to offer a comprehensive recruitment service for our clients, building long-term relationships with them to ensure candidates receive the best career opportunities possible. Our consultants continually upskill, ensuring that they're at the forefront of industry, market an... Know more