Principal Data Control Engineer

Overview

In this role you will lead data governance and management across complex defence and aerospace programmes, ensuring data integrity, security, and traceability through the product lifecycle. You’ll partner with engineering, quality, and configuration teams to implement data management practices aligned with policy and industry standards, while supporting audits and continuous improvement. You will drive data lifecycle controls, escalation, and cross-system integration to enable compliant, access-controlled, and auditable programme data. This position offers impact in a mission-focused, regulated environment with opportunities to mentor others and shape data governance practices.

Pay / Benefits

• Time to Recharge: up to 12 flexi-days per year
• Employer pension contribution up to 15%
• Mental health support and financial advice
• Coursera and LinkedIn Learning access
• Bonus scheme eligibility
• Flexible benefits including private healthcare and discounts

Responsibilities

• Deliver data management activities in line with approved Data Management Plans (DMPs)
• Ensure data is correctly identified, structured, version-controlled, approved, and accessible
• Maintain data status, integrity, and visibility across programme datasets
• Ensure compliance with organisational governance, contractual requirements, and DMPs
• Lead development, implementation, and maintenance of programme DMPs
• Monitor compliance, manage deviations, and provide evidence for audits and reviews
• Lead integration between data management and configuration management systems
• Ensure data security, export control, protective marking, and access controls
• Lead internal, customer, and regulatory audits, including corrective actions
• Lead data management throughout the full product lifecycle and ensure data completeness, accuracy, and approval status to meet programme milestones
• Collaborate with engineering, configuration, quality, and programme teams
• Provide guidance and mentoring to Data Management Engineers
• Exposure to cryptography

Key requirements

• Proven experience in data management within defence, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries
• Thorough understanding of data lifecycle control, document management, and information governance
• Experience in creating and working to Data Management Plans and organisational procedures
• Experience in working with sensitive, classified, or export-controlled data

• good attitude and willingness to learn
• Data management
• Governance and information governance
• Data Lifecycle management
• Data Management Plans (DMPs)
• Export control and data security

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