Senior Manager, Databricks Architect, AI&Data, FS

EY UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

EY’s Financial Services AI & Data team seeks a Senior Manager to lead Databricks Data Engineering architecture in a FS context. You will drive scalable data solutions, mentor engineers, and partner with stakeholders to deliver compliant data transformations and real-time analytics.

The role emphasizes design leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and hands-on optimization of Databricks platforms to support risk, trading, and regulatory reporting across London and Edinburgh.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering large Databricks data transformations.
• Deep understanding of Financial Services to tailor AI, Data and Analytics.
• Experience building high performing teams and strong leadership.
• Comfort engaging with senior stakeholders and managing large projects.
• Knowledge of cloud and advanced data technologies shaping the market.
• Ability to deliver across multiple engagements with quality and risk focus.
• Degree holder with strong academic credentials or outstanding alternatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of scalable data architecture using Databricks on Azure.
• Architect and optimize data pipelines for structured and unstructured financial data, ensuring performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Demonstrate experience in standing up and operationalizing Databricks platforms including workspace setup and CI/CD.
• Lead and execute large-scale lift-and-shift data migrations from legacy platforms to Databricks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align data architecture with GDPR, Basel III, MiFID II.
• Drive adoption of Delta Lake, Apache Spark, and MLflow for analytics and ML use cases.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to data engineers and analysts across financial domains.
• Establish best practices for data governance, lineage, and metadata management in Databricks.
• Translate business needs into robust data products for real-time decision-making and predictive modeling.
• Lead performance tuning, cost optimization, and security hardening of Databricks on Azure.

Skills

Databricks data transformations

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication & storytelling

Cloud-based data technologies

Consulting experience

Data governance & compliance

Education

University degree (2:1 or equivalent)

Tools

Databricks on Azure

Delta Lake

Apache Spark

MLflow

Job description

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join EY and help to build a better working world.

Senior Manager – Data Engineering – Databricks Architect

Financial Services

London/ Edinburgh

The opportunity

The EY Financial Services AI & Data team is continuing to grow and develop unique advisory propositions aligned to market needs and demand. We are currently looking for an exceptional Senior Manager to lead on developing our Data Engineering Capability with an initial focus on Databricks. This is a senior architecture role and will require an individual with an exceptional track record of delivering data transformation programs in the Financial Services sector.

The AI & Data practice works collaboratively with our clients to enhance their ability to solve complex business problems by exploiting data and analytics strategies and solutions. We provide expertise and delivery in three core areas which all work closely together:

Data Architecture & Engineering – Focusing on next generation data solution architecture design and implementation

Data Management & Strategy – Supporting our clients with Data Strategy, Data Governance Data and Analytics Target Operating Model Design and wider Data Office and CDO support functions

Data Science and Information Analysis - Working with our clients to design build and integrate Machine Learning and AI solutions into their core business platforms and processes to drive greater insight and increased process efficiency and automation. We also help them design and implement modern data visualisation and reporting solutions

Your key responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable data architecture solutions usingDatabricks on Azure.
• Architect and optimizedata pipelinesfor structured and unstructured financial data, ensuring performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Demonstrateprior experience in standing up and operationalizing Databricks platforms, including workspace setup, cluster configuration, and CI/CD integration.
• Lead and executelarge-scale lift-and-shift data migrationsfrom legacy platforms to Databricks, ensuring minimal disruption and high data fidelity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align data architecture withfinancial regulations(e.g., GDPR, Basel III, MiFID II).
• Drive adoption ofDelta Lake,Apache Spark, andMLflowfor advanced analytics and machine learning use cases.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to data engineers and analysts across financial domains such as risk, trading, and compliance.
• Establish best practices fordata governance, lineage, and metadata management within the Databricks environment.
• Translate business needs into robustdata productsthat support real-time decision-making and predictive modeling.
• Lead performance tuning, cost optimization, andsecurity hardeningof Databricks on Azure.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• A track record of delivering large Databricks data transformations & appropriate Databricks industry certifications
• A deep understanding of Financial Services to develop the right AI, Data and Analytics solutions to meet their needs
• Experience of building high performing teams and exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills
• Deep understanding of the emerging technology trends including adoption of cloud-based technologies and advance data technologies with a clear perspective on where the market is going.
• Ability to successfully deliver across multiple engagements, exceed client expectations, manage commercial aspects and manage quality and risk
• Ability to engage with senior stakeholders and manage large cross functional projects
• Intellectual strength / flexibility to rapidly understand complex problems and rationalise these into workable solutions which can then be delivered
• Exceptional storytelling, communication, presentation, business writing and professional skills, including being able to liaise with both technical and business contacts at our clients.
• Previous consulting experience will be greatly valued
• A university degree, 2:1 (or equivalent) or above is usually preferred, however we would be open to outstanding candidates who may have followed an alternative academic path.

What we look for

We are looking for highly motivated individuals who are passionate about AI, Data and Analytics and want to assist clients to become truly data driven organisations. If you think you can meet the challenges of a focused consulting organisation, understand how to grow and lead in a large practice and work in the most complex of sectors our AI & Data team is looking forward to hearing from you.

What working at EY offers

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you

About EY

As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we’re using the finance products, expertise and systems we’ve developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime. And with a commitment to hiring and developing the most passionate people, we’ll make our ambition to be the best employer by 2020 a reality.

Who we are

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly, and at times be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance

Please note:Prior to finalizing your application, you will be asked to provide personal information across several dimensions of diversity and inclusiveness. The information you provide is kept entirely confidential and will not be used to evaluate your candidacy. We collect this data to help us analyse our recruitment process holistically and implement actions that promote diversity and inclusiveness. While optional, we encourage you to provide this information to hold us accountable towards our goal of building a better working world. We ask because it matters!

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories