Senior Data Engineer

Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Alderley Park (Wilmslow) or Glasgow
Working Style: Hybrid - 50% from home / 50% office based

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Data Engineer to join Royal London’s Group Data & AI Office. This is a newly created role within our Core Engineering team, supporting the development and curation of foundational data products that underpin strategic transformation activity and business‑as‑usual delivery across Royal London.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys hands‑on data engineering, working with modern cloud‑based technologies and helping shape scalable, governed data solutions. You’ll play a senior technical role in designing, building and optimising data pipelines and data products, using tools such as Databricks, PySpark and Python.

About the role

As Senior Data Engineer, you’ll help create, maintain and improve high‑quality data products that support key business initiatives. You’ll work as part of a mature engineering environment, taking ownership of workstreams and contributing to engineering standards, governance and continuous improvement.

You’ll collaborate with stakeholders and wider engineering teams to understand requirements, build robust solutions and make sure our data products are scalable, secure and fit for purpose. While this role does not include formal people management responsibilities, you’ll have the opportunity to support, coach and mentor colleagues where appropriate.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Designing, building and optimising data pipelines and data products.
• Developing data engineering solutions using Databricks, PySpark and Python.
• Creating and maintaining notebooks, frameworks and reusable engineering components.
• Contributing to data governance, technical standards and engineering best practice.
• Identifying opportunities to improve performance, efficiency and delivery processes.
• Taking ownership of technical workstreams and driving them through to completion.
• Collaborating with technical and non‑technical stakeholders across Royal London.
• Supporting and mentoring colleagues within the wider engineering community.

What you’ll bring to the role

We’re looking for a Senior Data Engineer with strong hands‑on technical expertise and the confidence to work in a senior engineering role. You’ll be comfortable taking ownership, solving complex problems and explaining technical concepts clearly to different audiences.

We’re particularly interested in experience of:

• Strong commercial experience with Databricks.
• Advanced knowledge of PySpark and strong Python development skills.
• Building enterprise‑scale data pipelines and data products.
• Working within mature engineering environments.
• Applying data governance principles, controls and engineering standards.
• Improving performance, resolving technical challenges and driving continuous improvement.
• Communicating technical detail clearly, with practical examples and evidence of hands‑on delivery.

Financial services experience would be helpful, but it isn’t essential. We’re more interested in your technical capability, engineering maturity and ability to build robust, scalable and well‑governed data solutions. Candidates from other sectors are encouraged to apply where they can demonstrate strong engineering practices and an appreciation for data quality, integrity, security and auditability.

If you feel you’d be a great fit for Royal London but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Research shows some candidates are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria - if you meet most requirements and are keen to learn, we encourage you to apply.

About Royal London

We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long‑term savings and asset management products and services.

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We’re an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.