Principal Data Scientist

Job Title: Principal Data Scientist

Salary: £74,200 - £99,250

Location: Cambridge/Hybrid with 2 day per week at the office

Contract: Permanent 

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Are you excited by the challenge of applying data science and AI to problems that genuinely matter? At Cambridge Assessment, we are transforming how assessments are designed, delivered and marked worldwide. As a Principal Data Scientist, you will play a pivotal role at the heart of this transformation – leading our data science capability for AI-enabled assessment products used by millions of learners globally.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge. 

This is a senior, influential role where you will combine deep technical expertise with strategic leadership. You will shape our data strategy, lead and mentor a growing team, and work closely with researchers, engineers and product teams to turn complex data into insight, innovation and trusted solutions.

About the role  

As Principal Data Scientist, you will lead the operational data science and analytics capability within our Assessment & Research Capabilities (ARC) function. You will be the data leader for automarking, representing ARC's data capability across Exam Technology and the wider organisation.

You will:

• Set the direction for data science and analytics supporting automarking and AI-driven assessment
• Lead and grow a small, high-impact team of data scientists and engineers
• Curate high-quality data products used across research, machine learning and product teams
• Act as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders, influencing product and research decisions with evidence and insight
• Ensure sensitive exam and candidate data is handled responsibly and ethically

Additional responsibilities and accountabilities include: 

• Lead data science, data engineering and analytics activities within ARC
• Define and own the data strategy for automarking and related AI capabilities
• Design and oversee data warehouses, pipelines and integrations with the wider organisation
• Translate complex business and research needs into robust data solutions
• Provide expert input into product, research and architectural decisions, up to board level
• Build strong relationships with internal teams and external research partners
• Champion best practice in data quality, DataOps and analytics engineering

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition. 

About You  
To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Extensive experience in data science, analytics or analytics engineering in a complex environment
• Advanced SQL skills, including writing, analysing and optimising large analytical queries
• Strong experience with a data science programming language such as Python, R or Julia
• Hands-on experience with data transformation tools such as dbt, Dataform or SQLMesh
• Experience using BI and visualisation tools such as Metabase, Looker, Tableau or Power BI
• A strong understanding of data warehousing principles (e.g. Kimball methodology)
• Experience designing data models that enable self-service analytics
• Proven ability to translate business or research questions into data-driven insights
• Experience communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical and senior audiences
• Leadership experience, including mentoring and guiding other data professionals

If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria: 

• Machine learning or AI product experience
• Exposure to automarking, assessment, or high-stakes data environments
• Skills in experimentation and statistical analysis (A/B testing, forecasting)
• Familiarity with DataOps (CI/CD, testing, orchestration, observability)

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long-term health condition, and best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov.uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.

Rewards and benefits  

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including: 

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays 
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance  
• Discretionary annual bonus  
• Group personal pension scheme 
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary  
• Green travel schemes  

Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be 13 March 2026. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place shortly after it closes.

As part of the application process, you can expect:  

At application stage: four technical questions to answer when submitting your CV.

Stage 1: 30-minute screening call with the hiring manager.

Stage 2: 60-minute session includes questions about key skills as well as a code review or whiteboard exercise.

Stage 3: 90-minute system design exercise with an assignment provided at least three days before the interview. During the interview, is where the designs are explained and discussed.

Stage 4: Leadership and cultural 45-minute interview.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. 

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter. 

Why join us 

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background. 

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.