We’re recruiting for a Principal Data Analyst to support sensitive MOD / aerospace programmes within the Defence & Security sector. This is a contract role based in Reading (hybrid) and requires active SC clearance. Job title Principal Data Analyst Reading, Berkshire (hybrid) Active SC clearance is mandatory Up to £77.50 per hour inside IR35 The role You’ll contribute to a data-driven strategy by delivering high-quality analysis, insight, and reporting to support informed decision-making. You’ll work with stakeholders to translate analytical needs into scalable solutions, ensuring strong data quality, governance, and clear communication of findings. Key responsibilities * Analyse data from multiple sources to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies * Develop and maintain reports, interactive dashboards, and KPI monitoring (Power BI) * Write complex SQL for data extraction, transformation, validation, and analysis * Create scalable and efficient data models for reporting * Ensure data quality, reliability, and consistency for analysis * Document analytical logic, metrics, and data sources for transparency and repeatability * Manage analytical work end-to-end and present findings clearly to stakeholders Skills and experience required * Strong experience in data analysis / BI / analytics roles, ideally in MOD, Defence Digital, Defence, or UK aerospace environments * Advanced SQL skills * Strong Power BI dashboarding and visualisation experience * Understanding of data warehousing, data modelling, and ETL pipelines * Awareness of security, privacy, and data governance principles * Confident communicating complex insights to technical and non-technical audiences * Strong attention to detail and high ethical standards handling sensitive information Desirable * Degree in a relevant discipline (Statistics / Maths / Economics / Computer Science / Engineering or similar) * BI/analytics certifications (Power BI / Tableau) * Cloud data environment familiarity (BigQuery / Snowflake / Redshift) * Python or R for statistical analysis * Professional membership of a STEM-related organisation Apply If you’re a security-cleared Principal Data Analyst with strong Power BI and SQL capability and want to work on high-profile Defence/aerospace programmes, please apply now