At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and implement real-time data pipelines to combat fraud and financial crime.
- Company: Join Vanguard Europe, a leader in safeguarding clients' assets.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and comprehensive benefits with a hybrid work model.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for continuous learning and growth.
- Why this job: Make a real-world impact by protecting millions from financial harm.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in data engineering, strong Python/Java skills, and cloud experience.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This Senior Data Engineer role sits within Vanguard Europe's Enterprise Security & Fraud (ES&F) team, building advanced, cloud-native data pipelines and real-time systems that protect clients from fraud and financial crime. The position combines hands-on engineering – spanning ELT development, streaming architectures, IaC, testing, deployment, and operations – with close collaboration across product, engineering, and agile teams. It requires deep experience in Python/Java, SQL, AWS, Kafka/Flink, and data transformation frameworks, with an emphasis on high-quality engineering practices, continuous improvement, and innovative problem-solving in a cybersecurity-focused environment.
Location: London (Hybrid: Tue - Thu in office, Mon/Fri remote)
Make an impact where it matters most. Vanguard manages more than $11 trillion in assets worldwide, and with that scale comes a deep responsibility: safeguarding our clients from fraud and financial crime. Our Enterprise Security & Fraud (ES&F) team sits at the heart of this mission. We build advanced, cloud-native technology that detects, prevents, and responds to emerging threats across the UK and Europe.
As a Senior Data Engineer, you'll join a highly skilled, cybersecurity-focused development team delivering real-time data pipelines, decisioning systems, and tooling that protect hundreds of thousands of clients. If you want to apply your engineering expertise to problems with genuine societal and financial impact, this is the place to do it.
What you'll do
- Data Engineering & Real-Time Systems
- Design and implement real-time data pipelines that power fraud detection and operational decision making.
- Build robust ELT workflows from source ingestion through to data presentation for internal stakeholders.
- Develop event-driven solutions using technologies such as Apache Kafka and Apache Flink.
- Engineering Excellence
- Write high-quality, testable, maintainable code in Python or Java, with strong SQL capability.
- Contribute to solution design, code reviews, automated testing, and documentation.
- Apply industry-leading engineering standards with a focus on code quality, consistency, and resilience.
- Cloud, DevOps & Operations
- Build and maintain cloud infrastructure using AWS and Infrastructure-as-Code tooling (CloudFormation/Terraform).
- Own deployment and operational support across development, test, and production environments.
- Champion continuous improvement across tooling, processes, and engineering practices.
- Collaboration & Agile Delivery
- Partner closely with developers, product owners, scrum masters, and analysts to ensure data enables an exceptional client experience.
- Participate fully in agile ceremonies including sprint planning, daily scrums, reviews, and retrospectives.
What we're looking for
- 5+ years of experience as a data engineer.
- Strong proficiency in Python or Java, SQL, cloud environments (preferably AWS).
- Hands-on experience with Kafka and streaming frameworks such as Flink.
- Proficiency with data transformation tools (PySpark, Pandas).
- Familiarity with data quality frameworks (e.g., Great Expectations).
- Experience with graph databases is a plus.
- Exposure to building cloud infrastructure via IaC.
- Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex topics for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Understanding of agile development; scrum experience preferred.
- A continuous learning mindset and willingness to expand both technical and non-technical skills.
- A degree in a STEM field is beneficial but not required.
Why ES&F at Vanguard?
- ES&F is where security engineering, fraud prevention, and advanced data technology converge. You'll join a mission-driven group that blends deep technical expertise with real-world impact:
- Purposeful work: Every pipeline, every event stream, and every decisioning workflow contributes directly to protecting investors from financial harm.
- Serious scale: Work with high-volume behavioural, transactional, and event-driven datasets across multiple markets.
- Cutting-edge tooling: We invest in cloud-native, real-time, and streaming architectures – this is not legacy data warehousing.
- Strong engineering culture: Thoughtful design, quality code, operational excellence, and continuous improvement are non-negotiable.
- Collaborative environment: Partner daily with security specialists, fraud analysts, architects, and data scientists.
If you want your engineering skills to translate into real-world protection for millions of people, ES&F offers that rare blend of technical depth and meaningful purpose.
Interview Process
- Technical conversation with senior engineers
- Hands-on coding exercise
- Competency-based interview focused on collaboration, ownership, and problem-solving
Working at Vanguard
We offer a competitive base salary, annual performance bonus (January), partnership bonus (June), and comprehensive benefits. Our hybrid model blends collaboration with flexibility: in office Tuesday-Thursday, remote on Monday and Friday.
How We Work
Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
Senior Data Engineer, Anti-Fraud Technology employer: Vanguard Group, Inc.
Vanguard Europe is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that prioritises both innovation and employee growth. As a Senior Data Engineer in London, you'll be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to safeguarding clients from fraud, while enjoying a hybrid working model that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration. With competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a strong emphasis on continuous improvement, Vanguard provides a meaningful environment where your engineering skills can make a real-world impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Engineer, Anti-Fraud Technology
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Vanguard, especially in the ES&F team. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your Python/Java skills and SQL queries. Practice coding challenges that focus on data pipelines and real-time systems to show off your expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for cybersecurity! Be ready to discuss how your work can impact fraud prevention and financial security. This will resonate well with the mission-driven culture at Vanguard.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Vanguard team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Engineer, Anti-Fraud Technology
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Data Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Python, SQL, and cloud environments like AWS. We want to see how your skills align with our mission in anti-fraud technology!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for cybersecurity and how your engineering expertise can make a real impact. Let us know why you’re excited about joining Vanguard's ES&F team.
Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on relevant projects, don’t hold back! Include links or descriptions of your work with data pipelines, streaming architectures, or any innovative solutions you've developed. We love seeing practical examples of your skills!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Vanguard!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vanguard Group, Inc.
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python, Java, SQL, and AWS. Brush up on your knowledge of Kafka and Flink too, as these are crucial for building real-time data pipelines.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've tackled complex engineering challenges. Think about how you’ve applied innovative solutions in previous roles, especially in a cybersecurity context, as this will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with various teams, be ready to share experiences that highlight your teamwork skills. Discuss how you’ve partnered with product owners or analysts to deliver exceptional results, showcasing your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
✨Prepare for Hands-On Coding
Expect a hands-on coding exercise during the interview. Practice coding problems related to data engineering and ensure you can write clean, maintainable code under time constraints. Familiarise yourself with common algorithms and data structures relevant to the role.
