Royal London
Senior Data Engineer (Data and AI Operations)

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Senior Data Engineer
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Alderley Park (Wilmslow)
Working Style: Hybrid - 50% from home / 50% office based
We’re looking for a Senior Data Engineer to join our evolving Data & AI Operations team within our Group Data & AI Office. This is an opportunity to combine hands-on engineering expertise with operational leadership, helping us strengthen the platforms and practices that support data, AI and automation across Royal London.
You’ll play an important role in shaping standards, improving services and supporting emerging capabilities across Data-Ops, AI-Ops and MLOps. Alongside solving complex technical challenges, you’ll help colleagues grow through coaching, mentoring and clear technical direction.
What you’ll do
- Set standards and promote best practice across Data & AI Operations.
- Lead continuous improvement, including optimising long-running data pipelines and operational processes.
- Support DataOps, AIOps and MLOps activities across the team.
- Oversee the operational monitoring and governance of AI solutions, including emerging agentic AI capabilities.
- Support the implementation and ongoing optimisation of Databricks Genie and wider AI tooling.
- Lead service and incident management activities and contribute to change impact forums.
- Support sprint planning and workload management in an Agile environment.
- Coach and mentor junior colleagues and associate-level engineers.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About you
You’ll be an established Senior Data Engineer who is comfortable providing technical leadership, influencing standards and helping to shape a developing operational capability. You’ll also bring:
- Strong experience with SQL, Python and PySpark.
- Experience across on-premises and cloud-based data environments.
- Knowledge of SQL Server technologies and CI/CD best practice.
- Experience of service management and incident management.
- Experience working in Agile delivery environments.
- A collaborative approach to coaching, mentoring and supporting others.
- An inquisitive mindset and enthusiasm for emerging AI technologies.
It would be great if you also had
- Experience with Databricks.
- Experience with Azure or AWS.
- Exposure to MLOps or AI Operations.
- Experience with Power Apps or the wider Power Platform.
- Experience in financial services.


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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.
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