Senior Data Engineering Manager
Unum UK
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Unum UK is seeking a Senior Data Engineering Manager to lead transformation of our data ecosystem, modernising cloud and on-premises platforms to enable advanced analytics and AI. You will head a team of engineers, set standards, drive innovation, and deliver scalable data products delivering real business value.
You will guide end-to-end delivery, balance quality and timelines, and partner with Architecture, Governance, and Data Science teams to achieve business-focused outcomes.
Qualifications
- Proven experience building modern data platforms and pipelines from the ground up.
- Strong track record transforming legacy/on-prem environments to cloud/hybrid architectures.
- Expertise across Azure data ecosystem including ADLS, Synapse, Databricks, ADF, Fabric, Event Hub/Kafka, Functions, Key Vault, Purview.
Responsibilities
- Lead and coach a team of Data Engineers to foster a high-performance culture.
- Define and implement modern engineering standards for coding, testing, observability and data quality.
- Design and deliver scalable cloud and hybrid data platforms, pipelines and tooling with automation-first principles.
- Drive modernisation of the data estate and migration from legacy tech to strategic platforms.
- Own end-to-end delivery of data engineering initiatives with risk, timeline and resource management.
- Collaborate with Architecture, Product, Governance, Data Science and Insights teams to deliver aligned solutions.
- Champion secure, reliable, and compliant engineering practices across platforms.
- Communicate strategy, options, risks and progress to senior leadership.
Skills
Tools
Job description
We’re a specialist employee benefits provider, striving to create healthy, happy workplaces. As part of the international Unum Group, we’re on a collective mission to help the working world thrive.
Job Posting End Date: August 19
14 Senior Data Engineering Manager
Hybrid – 3 days minimum in office
Location – Dorking or Basingstoke (option for 1 day a week in London)
We're looking for an experienced and visionary Senior Data Engineering Manager to lead the transformation of Unum's data ecosystem. This is a rare opportunity to shape and modernise both our cloud and on-premises data platforms, establishing the foundations that will enable advanced analytics, AI, and data-driven decision-making across the business.
You'll lead a talented team of engineers while remaining close to the technology, setting engineering standards, driving innovation, and creating scalable, automated data products that deliver real business value. If you're passionate about building modern data platforms, leading high-performing teams, and leaving a lasting technical legacy, we'd love to hear from you.
- Lead, coach and inspire a team of Data Engineers, fostering a collaborative, innovative and high-performance culture.
- Define and implement modern engineering standards, ensuring excellence in coding practices, testing, observability, documentation and data quality.
- Design and deliver scalable cloud and hybrid data platforms, pipelines and tooling using automation-first engineering principles.
- Drive the modernisation of our data estate, reducing technical debt and leading migration from legacy technologies to strategic platforms.
- Own end-to-end delivery of data engineering initiatives, balancing quality, timelines, resources, risk management and vendor relationships.
- Partner with Architecture, Product, Governance, Data Science and Insights teams to deliver aligned, business-focused solutions.
- Champion secure, reliable and compliant engineering practices across all platforms and services.
- Communicate technical strategy, options, risks and progress effectively to senior leaders and non-technical stakeholders.
- Help shape the future direction of data engineering, analytics and AI capabilities across Unum.
You’ll bring a combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking and people leadership, alongside:
- Proven experience building modern data platforms and pipelines from the ground up.
- A strong track record of transforming legacy or on-premises environments into modern cloud or hybrid data architectures.
- Deep expertise across the Azure data ecosystem, including:
- Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
- Azure Synapse Analytics / SQL
- Databricks
- Azure Data Factory (ADF) / Microsoft Fabric
- Event Hub and Kafka
- Azure Functions
- Key Vault
- Microsoft Purview
- Strong knowledge of data platform engineering principles, including storage and compute patterns, batch and streaming architectures, orchestration, APIs, schema design, performance optimisation and reliability engineering.
- Experience leading engineering teams and developing technical capability.
- A strong understanding of data governance, privacy, lineage and data quality frameworks.
- Proven success in driving engineering excellence and technical debt remediation.
- Generous annual bonus
- Car allowance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Defined Contribution pension scheme
- Life assurance, income protection and medical cover
- Access to a remote GP service, nutrition coaching, personal training, unlimited mental health support and medical second opinions
- 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 additional days
- Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme with free on-site charging
- Flexible and supportive working environment focused on wellbeing and development
If you're excited by the prospect of modernising a complex data landscape, leading talented engineers, and building the platforms that will support the next generation of analytics and AI, we'd love to hear from you.
At Unum, we’ve created a workplace where people feel supported to progress and grow, and can see their ambitions coming to life.
As a part of our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace, we actively encourage applications from those with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions.
If you meet the essential criteria for the role and choose to opt in to the scheme during your application, you will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to careers@unum.co.uk.
Unum UK
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