MLOps Engineer

hastingsdirect; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Hastings Direct in the UK is seeking an MLOps Engineer to turn pricing models and data science work into reliable production workflows. You’ll collaborate with Pricing, Data Science, Data Engineering and ML Engineering teams to build pipelines that are easier to test, release, monitor and maintain in a regulated environment.

The role is hands-on, with a focus on Python, SQL, automation and good engineering practice, plus governance and traceability.

Qualifications

• Strong Python skills and experience building data or machine learning workflows.
• Good SQL skills and confidence working with structured datasets.
• Experience building reliable, reusable and maintainable code or pipelines.
• Understanding of machine learning fundamentals, especially supervised learning.
• Experience with Git, code review, testing and technical documentation.
• Exposure to cloud-based data or engineering environments.
• Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to explain technical ideas to different audiences.
• Comfortable working with data scientists, analysts, engineers and business stakeholders.
• A practical focus on quality, reliability, governance and maintainability.

Responsibilities

• Build, improve and maintain ML pipelines used within Market Pricing.
• Productionise Python-based models, notebooks and data science workflows.
• Help move models from development into repeatable, tested and documented production processes.
• Improve how model workflows are tested, released, monitored and maintained.
• Investigate issues across data, model and pipeline workflows.
• Automate manual steps where this improves quality, speed or control.
• Support good engineering practices, including Git, code review, testing and documentation.
• Make sure pipelines and model workflows are traceable, auditable and safe to change.
• Work closely with Pricing, Data Science, Data Engineering, ML Engineering and governance stakeholders.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data pipelines

Git

Cloud platforms

Machine learning fundamentals

Problem solving

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Azure DevOps

GitHub Actions

Snowflake

Databricks

Airflow

MLflow

Job description

Job Title: MLOps EngineerLocation: Leicester / Bexhill / London - Hybrid

Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position

Welcome to Hastings DirectWe're a digital insurance provider with a clear strategy to become the best and biggest player in the UK market. As a company, we've made huge investments in our technology, pricing, data and analytics capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture and substantial investment in our people. And as a Finance team, we're doing exactly the same - building a market leading finance technology platform, investing in our team and our approach to leadership development, with a real focus on commercially adding value to the business.

The fact you're now reading this job advert means we've tempted you to find out more about #lifeatHD. If you like what you see, we hope you'll consider joining our team.

We have high standards and understand some people may not apply for jobs unless they feel they tick every box. If you're excited about joining us and think you have some of what we are looking for, even if you're not 100% sure, we would love to hear from you.

Role Purpose:

We're looking for an MLOps Engineer to help turn pricing models and data science work into reliable production workflows.

You’ll work with Pricing, Data Science, Data Engineering and ML Engineering teams to build pipelines that are easier to test, release, monitor and maintain. The role is hands‑on, with a focus on Python, SQL, automation, good engineering practice and controlled delivery in a regulated environment.

You’ll own defined MLOps components and pipelines, while working with senior colleagues on wider standards, architecture and governance.

What you’ll do

• Build, improve and maintain machine learning pipelines used within Market Pricing.
• Productionise Python‑based models, notebooks and data science workflows.
• Help move models from development into repeatable, tested and documented production processes.
• Improve how model workflows are tested, released, monitored and maintained.
• Investigate issues across data, model and pipeline workflows.
• Automate manual steps where this improves quality, speed or control.
• Support good engineering practices, including Git, code review, testing and documentation.
• Make sure pipelines and model workflows are traceable, auditable and safe to change.
• Work closely with Pricing, Data Science, Data Engineering, ML Engineering and governance stakeholders.

Technology and ways of working

You’ll work in a modern data and machine learning environment. The role is likely to involve:

• Python, including libraries such as Pandas, NumPy and scikit‑learn.
• SQL and large structured datasets.
• Cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks or similar.
• Git‑based version control and code review.
• CI/CD and automated testing using tools such as Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions or similar.
• Model deployment, monitoring, versioning and governance.
• Reusable engineering patterns for production machine learning.

You do not need experience with every tool listed. Strong Python, SQL, engineering fundamentals and a willingness to work across data science and production workflows are most important.

What we’re looking for

• Strong Python skills and experience building data or machine learning workflows.
• Good SQL skills and confidence working with structured datasets.
• Experience building reliable, reusable and maintainable code or pipelines.
• Understanding of machine learning fundamentals, especially supervised learning.
• Experience with Git, code review, testing and technical documentation.
• Exposure to cloud‑based data or engineering environments.
• Good problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to explain technical ideas to different audiences.
• Comfortable working with data scientists, analysts, engineers and business stakeholders.
• A practical focus on quality, reliability, governance and maintainability.

Nice to have

• Hands‑on experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS or GCP.
• Exposure to modern data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, Spark or similar.
• Experience with MLOps practices such as model deployment, monitoring, versioning or model registries.
• Exposure to workflow orchestration or deployment tools such as Airflow, MLflow, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions or similar.
• Experience in pricing, insurance, financial services or another regulated environment.
• Understanding of model governance, responsible AI or explainability.

The interview process:

• Recruiter screening call
• Intro with Hiring manager
• Interview with hiring team - Case study
• Final chat with business leader

As a Disability Confident employer, we're committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive - what this means to you is if you're applying for a job with us, you'll have fair access to support and adjustments throughout your recru