Senior Data Engineering Manager

Fidelity Life; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Fidelity Life in Auckland seeks a Senior Data Engineering Manager to lead and grow our data engineering capability, ensuring secure, scalable data platforms that enable analytics, AI and enterprise decision-making. You will set patterns, roadmaps and ways of working, advancing cloud data engineering and real-time integration.

You'll mentor a diverse team, collaborate with Technology leadership, governance and business units, and drive data platform decisions across finance, actuarial, reporting,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, data management or related field.
• Certifications in Microsoft, AWS or Google Data Engineering or Architecture are advantageous.
• 15+ years in data engineering, architecture or data platforms with cloud experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a diverse team of data engineers and data platform specialists.
• Translate the Enterprise Data & AI strategy into an actionable engineering capability and technology roadmap.
• Define data and AI engineering practices and standards with Tech leadership.
• Make data platform decisions across digital, policy, finance, actuarial, reporting, pricing and underwriting.
• Lead quarterly change delivery and align stakeholders for efficient execution.
• Design the platform roadmap focusing on cost optimisation and sustainability.
• Develop patterns, recipes and designs that are maintainable, scalable and secure.
• Ensure alignment with governance, security, architecture and operational principles.

Skills

Microsoft Fabric

Lakehouse architecture

Spark

SQL

Python

Event-driven architecture

Domain-driven design

Stakeholder management

AI design

GitHub Copilot

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science / Information Systems / related field

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Lakehouse architecture

Spark

Job description

About Us:

At Fidelity Life, we take pride in our role in New Zealand's Growth Story, safeguarding the way of life for New Zealanders for over 50 years. Our success contributes directly to the growth of New Zealand, through our shareholders, customers, and people, making us a unique player in the market. As a trusted and dedicated contributor to protecting New Zealanders, we invite you to join our team and make a meaningful impact.

Role Overview:

We are looking for a Senior Data Engineering Manager to lead and develop our Data Engineering capability. You will ensure Fidelity Life has secured, reliable, scalable, and high-performing data platforms and engineering solutions that enable analytics, AI and enterprise decision-making.

You will set engineering patterns, frameworks, delivery roadmaps, and ways of working, while driving the evolution of cloud data engineering, real-time and event-driven integration, DataOps and AI-enabled engineering practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor and develop a diverse team of data engineers and data platform specialists.
• Translate the Enterprise Data & AI strategy into an actionable engineering capability and technology roadmap.
• Define data and AI engineering practices and standards in partnership with Technology leadership.
• Make data platform decisions that enable digital, policy and claims administration, finance, actuarial, reporting, pricing, and underwriting domains.
• Lead quarterly change delivery and align stakeholders to deliver efficiently and effectively.
• Design the platform roadmap with a focus on cost optimisation, simplification, and sustainable outcomes.
• Develop and share engineering patterns, recipes and technical designs that are maintainable, scalable, testable, secure, and standard-aligned.
• Ensure alignment with Data & AI governance, security, architecture, engineering, and operational principles.
• Promote an Agile engineering culture and support proofs of concept, research, and AI innovation.
• Identify and manage key technology risks, while ensuring legal, compliance, regulatory and conduct obligations are met.
• Build strong relationships across the business and with external partners to align delivery to strategic goals.

What We’re Looking For:

Qualifications:

A bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, data management, or a related field. Relevant Microsoft, AWS or Google Data Engineering or Architecture certifications would be an advantage.

Experience:

15 years' proven experience across data engineering, data architecture, data platforms, or related roles, with strong exposure to modern cloud data architectures and streaming platforms. You will have delivered data platform and engineering roadmaps that support whole-of-business transformation and led significant organisational change and risk management.

Skills:

Hands-on experience with Microsoft Fabric, Lakehouse medallion architecture and Spark, together with strong SQL and Python skills. You will bring knowledge of event-driven architecture and domain-driven design, excellent communication and coaching capability, strong commercial acumen and effective stakeholder management. Experience designing generative and agentic AI solutions, and applying an AI-first engineering approach such as GitHub Copilot, would be an advantage

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to shape Fidelity Life's Data Engineering capability and influence the platforms, practices and roadmaps that enable analytics, AI and enterprise decision-making. You will lead a specialist team, partner across Technology and the wider business, and help deliver secure, scalable, and sustainable solutions that support our strategy.

Fidelity Life is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Recruitment agencies:

Please be aware that we have established partnerships with a small number of preferred suppliers and will not engage with unsolicited communication from agencies outside of this pool.