At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop engineering teams in integration, data, and GenAI at AJ Bell.
- Company: Join AJ Bell, a fast-growing investment platform with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, pension contributions, bonuses, and health plans.
- Other info: Hybrid working, regular social events, and a commitment to inclusion and diversity.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while making a real impact in financial services.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership and technical experience in engineering across multiple disciplines.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
hackajob is collaborating with AJ Bell to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
We’re looking for a Head of Integration, Data & GenAI Engineering to lead a critical engineering capability within Technology Services at AJ Bell. This role brings together leadership across three important parts of our technology landscape: integration engineering, data engineering and Generative AI engineering. Reporting to the Director of IT Strategy & Architecture, you will lead through three senior technical leaders: Senior Engineering Manager (EA), Senior Data Engineering Manager, and Software Engineering Team Lead (GenAI). You will help shape the platforms, capabilities and engineering practices that support AJ Bell’s long-term strategy. This is a senior leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking with strong technical credibility and a clear delivery focus. You will be responsible for building high‑performing teams, setting clear direction, and ensuring AJ Bell has secure, scalable and well‑governed engineering foundations across integration, data and AI.
What does the role involve?
- Leading and developing AJ Bell’s engineering capability across enterprise integration, data engineering and GenAI, with overall responsibility for three direct reports and their teams.
- Setting the strategic direction for integration, data and GenAI engineering in line with AJ Bell’s technology strategy, business priorities and regulatory obligations.
- Providing strong leadership to senior managers and technical leads, creating clarity of purpose, clear accountability and a collaborative, high‑performing culture, while supporting recruitment, succession planning, capability development and retention across the teams.
- Leading the development of event‑driven and data streaming solutions, with a strong focus on integration architecture, API and messaging patterns, reusable engineering standards and modern delivery practices.
- Overseeing the development and operation of AJ Bell’s data engineering capabilities, including data ingestion, transformation, provisioning, governance, security, privacy and access to trusted data.
- Driving the design and adoption of GenAI engineering capabilities, including development of a core platform and integration of GenAI solutions into products, services and internal processes where they create clear business value, with appropriate guardrails around security, risk and responsible use.
- Ensuring engineering solutions are secure, scalable, resilient and supportable, with appropriate governance, standards, observability and controls built in from the outset.
- Working closely with product‑aligned engineering teams, infrastructure, information security, architecture and business stakeholders to deliver joined‑up solutions, support data‑driven decision‑making and create long‑term value.
What Skills And Experience You’ll Bring
- Strong leadership experience in senior engineering roles, with a track record of leading technical teams across multiple specialist disciplines.
- Broad technical credibility across software engineering, integration architecture, event‑driven systems, data engineering and modern platform architecture.
- Experience leading engineering teams responsible for APIs, backend services, event‑driven integration, data platforms and AI‑enabled products and services within a complex enterprise environment.
- Strong understanding of modern data engineering practices, including data pipelines, ETL/ELT, data modelling, data governance, security, privacy and access management.
- Experience working with data platforms and technologies such as Snowflake, SQL‑based data environments and a range of operational data sources.
- Good understanding of Generative AI and LLM‑related engineering patterns, with the ability to lead teams in applying these capabilities pragmatically, securely and responsibly in an enterprise setting.
- Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to translate business goals into clear engineering roadmaps and delivery priorities.
- A strong delivery mindset, with experience balancing long‑term platform improvement with short‑term business outcomes.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leadership, technical teams and non‑technical stakeholders, and to translate complex technical concepts into clear business direction.
- Strong people leadership skills, including coaching senior leaders, developing talent, managing performance and building engaged, high‑performing teams.
- A collaborative, pragmatic and outcome‑focused approach, with the confidence to challenge, influence and lead through change in a regulated environment with a strong focus on customer outcomes.
- Experience of working in a regulated environment, ideally within financial services, with a clear understanding of risk, control and customer outcomes.
About AJ Bell
AJ Bell is one of the UK’s fastest‑growing investment platform businesses, providing award‑winning solutions for everyone, from professional financial advisers to first‑time investors. Today, over 723,000 customers trust us to manage more than £108.7 billion of assets. By continually striving to make investing simpler and more accessible, we’re helping more people take control of their financial futures. We’re proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years, and a Great Place to Work® in 2025 and 2026 — a reflection of our supportive and collaborative culture.
What we offer
- 28 days holiday, increasing with service + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
- 8 % Pension with matched contributions
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Share schemes (including free shares and BAYE)
- Health Cash Plan and discounted private healthcare
- Free onsite gym
- Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
- Travel and bike loan schemes
- Employee Assistance Programme
Life at AJ Bell
- Regular social events including summer and Christmas parties
- Learning and development opportunities tailored to you
- Casual dress code
- Friendly, supportive team environment
Our ways of working
We offer hybrid working, with a minimum of 60 % of your working time per month spent in the office. For new starters, there’s an initial period of full‑time office working to help you settle in and build relationships.
Inclusion & Diversity
We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential.
Senior Leader, Data, Integration & GenAI Platform in Manchester employer: Limelight Health
AJ Bell is an exceptional employer, recognised as one of the UK’s Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years. With a strong focus on employee growth and a supportive culture, we offer tailored learning opportunities, a collaborative environment, and generous benefits including a competitive pension scheme, health cash plan, and enhanced family leave. Our hybrid working model promotes work-life balance, making AJ Bell a great place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the financial services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Leader, Data, Integration & GenAI Platform in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those at AJ Bell. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experience. Be ready to discuss how you’ve led teams and tackled challenges in data engineering and integration.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for Generative AI! Be prepared to share your thoughts on its future in the industry and how you can contribute to AJ Bell’s innovative projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining the AJ Bell team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Leader, Data, Integration & GenAI Platform in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role. Highlight your leadership experience in engineering and any relevant technical skills that align with integration, data, and GenAI. We want to see how you can bring value to AJ Bell!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this senior leadership role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams and driven successful projects in the past.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking:In your application, demonstrate your ability to translate business goals into engineering roadmaps. We’re looking for someone who can think strategically while also focusing on delivery, so make sure to highlight those skills!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Limelight Health
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of integration engineering, data engineering, and Generative AI. Be ready to discuss specific technologies like Snowflake and SQL-based environments, as well as modern data practices. This will show that you’re not just a leader but also technically savvy.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a collaborative culture. Highlight your experience in coaching senior leaders and managing performance. This is crucial for a role that requires strong people leadership skills.
✨Align with Business Goals
Be ready to discuss how you can translate AJ Bell’s business priorities into clear engineering roadmaps. Think about how your strategic thinking can contribute to their long-term goals, especially in a regulated environment like financial services.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You’ll need to communicate effectively with both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders. Show that you can bridge the gap between technology and business outcomes.
