At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise data solutions on cloud platforms, focusing on Databricks.
- Company: Join Standard Life, a leader in retirement savings with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 38 days annual leave, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Embrace a dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of pensions through innovative data engineering and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Experience in Python, SQL, and cloud platforms; strong data pipeline skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 65000 £ per year.
We have an incredible opportunity to join us here at Standard Life as a Senior Data Engineer to join our Digital, Engineering & Delivery team within Pensions & Savings. We're looking for someone with strong experience in data engineering and you'll play a key role in delivering scalable, high-quality data solutions.
Job Type: Permanent
Location: This role could be based in either our Birmingham, Telford or Edinburgh offices with time spent working in the office and at home.
Closing Date: 03/08/2026
Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.
Salary and benefits: £45,000 - £65,000 depending on experience plus bonus, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.
Who are we? We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.
The Role: We are seeking a Senior Data Engineer to join the Digital, Engineering & Delivery team within Pensions & Savings. This is a pivotal role for candidates with a strong background in data and engineering who want to shape how data drives every aspect of a modern pensions business. From operational efficiency and digital transformation to regulatory compliance and customer engagement, your work will influence decisions and enable change across the organisation.
As a Senior Data Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing data solutions on cloud platforms, with a strong emphasis on Databricks. Beyond analytics, you will help embed data capabilities into core business processes, supporting areas such as operations, digital services, risk management, accounting and actuarial. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams—including data scientists, analysts, product owners, and operational leaders—to ensure data is a trusted, integrated asset powering innovation and business outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Build and maintain reliable, scalable data pipelines to support digital enablement, reporting, analytics, and data science
- Work closely with analysts, data scientists, and business teams to understand data requirements
- Support and optimise our Databricks platform, ensuring it is used efficiently and at scale
- Develop and maintain ETL/ELT processes to integrate data from multiple systems
- Identify and fix performance issues in data pipelines and queries
- Ensure data quality, security, and governance standards are met
- Create clear documentation for data pipelines and platform design
What are we looking for?
- Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred)
- Proven experience in Python and SQL
- Experience building and optimising data pipelines and large-scale data processing systems
- Good understanding of data modelling and data warehouse design
- Experience with Databricks or similar modern data platforms
We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.
Senior Data Engineer in Birmingham employer: Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
Standard Life is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where BPA Actuaries can thrive and make a meaningful impact in the life insurance sector. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive salaries, and an attractive benefits package that includes private medical cover and generous annual leave, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance. The hybrid working model allows for flexibility, making it an ideal workplace for those seeking both professional development and personal fulfilment.
Contact Details:
Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group) Recruitment Team
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