Head of Data Engineering

Manchester Airport plc.; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airport service provider in Manchester is looking for a Head of Data Engineering to lead their data leadership team. You will shape the centralized data engineering function and ensure platforms and architecture are robust. The position requires strong experience in modern data engineering practices, specifically with Databricks and team leadership. This is an opportunity to innovate and enhance data infrastructure in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

25 days holiday, increasing with service (up to 28)

Option to buy up to 10 extra days + 4 flexible bank holidays

10% company pension

On-site gym

Flexible benefits and discounts on products

Rail and retail discounts

2 paid volunteering days per year

Access to health & wellbeing events

Formal and informal development options

Qualifications

• Strong experience with medallion architecture and Databricks.
• Proficiency with ETL tools and ML-Ops frameworks.
• Strong programming skills in Python, Scala or Java.
• Experience with cloud platforms in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Excellent communication skills to clarify complex matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of data engineers.
• Develop and execute the data engineering strategy.
• Design and improve the data storage and processing architecture.
• Ensure the delivery of scalable, high-quality data pipelines.
• Partner with other teams to ensure data accessibility and quality.

Skills

Medallion architecture

Databricks

ETL tools

Machine Learning

Python

Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Job description

About CAVU

At CAVU, our purpose is to find new and better ways to make airport travel seamless and enjoyable for everybody—from the smallest ideas to the biggest transformations. Every day is an opportunity to create better travel experiences.

From our revenue-accelerating single-platform technology, Propel, through to our world‑class hospitality venues including 1903 and Escape Lounges, our solutions make travel smoother for passengers and more profitable for our clients and partners.

We know that to bring your best ideas, you need the space to think, the support to grow, and the freedom to be your authentic self. Whether you’re working from our offices, from home, in our lounges, or on the road, we provide an environment where you can create, innovate, and help transform airport travel.

If you’re looking for a career where you can make a real impact, bring new ideas to life, and push boundaries, then CAVU is the place for you.

What’s the role?

CAVU is well into an exciting digital and data transformation journey. With the acquisition of new brands, the expansion of our product portfolio, and a commitment to best‑in‑class technology, data has become fundamental to how we operate and grow.

As we progress towards a fully event‑based architecture with data quality at the heart of everything we do, we’re now looking for a Head of Data Engineering to join our Data leadership team.

This role will shape, strengthen, and scale our centralised data engineering function—ensuring our platforms, pipelines, and architecture are robust, forward‑thinking, and fit for the future. You’ll bring deep expertise across modern data engineering practices, strong technical solution‑design capability (particularly with Databricks), and the leadership to empower a high‑performing engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead, manage and mentor a team of data engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and innovation.
• Strategic Ownership: Develop and execute the data engineering strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term data ambitions.
• Data Architecture: Design, oversee, and continually improve CAVU’s data storage, processing, and integration architecture.
• Pipeline Excellence: Ensure the delivery of scalable, high‑quality data pipelines for ingestion, transformation and storage.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with data science, analytics, product, and engineering teams to ensure data is accessible, discoverable, and meets CAVU standards.
• Data Quality & Governance: Establish and champion best practices for data quality, governance, observability, and security.
• Technology Evaluation: Stay ahead of data engineering trends and evaluate emerging tools to enhance the team’s capabilities.
• Budget & Resource Management: Own the data engineering budget and ensure efficient use of infrastructure and resources.
• Stakeholder Management: Anticipate issues, remove blockers, and communicate effectively with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

About You

You’re a strategic and hands‑on data leader with a passion for building scalable systems, high‑performing teams, and exceptional data products. You’re motivated by solving complex problems, enabling others to thrive, and shaping the future of data at CAVU.

Qualifications & Experience

• Strong experience with medallion architecture and Databricks
• Proficiency with ETL tools (e.g., Rivery) and ML‑Ops frameworks
• Strong programming skills (Python, Scala or Java)
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to bring clarity to complexity
• Proven ability to anticipate problems and resolve them with ease

Preferred

• Experience working in a SaaS environment
• Exposure to machine learning and AI tooling

The Perks

• 25 days holiday, increasing with service (up to 28)
• Option to buy up to 10 extra days + 4 flexible bank holidays
• 10% company pension
• On‑site gym
• A range of flexible benefits and discounts, including up to 50% off CAVU products such as Escape Lounges and Airport Parking
• Rail and retail discounts
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Access to health & wellbeing events, ID&E activities, and learning opportunities
• Formal and informal development options, including mentoring programmes and learning grants
• Enhanced parental leave (T&Cs apply)

The Interview Process

• Recruiter Screen (approx. 15 minutes) – We’ll cover your experience, motivations, and role fit
• Skills & Competency Interview
• Values Interview

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

We’re building something brilliant at CAVU: a diverse team of People who reflect the global customer base that we serve. We’re proudly part of MAG and together we’re on a mission to be number one in our industries, and that takes talent in all its forms. With so many exciting roles across businesses, there’s space of your unique strengths to shine.

Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you – even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know. We’re committed to helping you perform at your best.

At MAG and CAVU, every journey matters. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that: Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.