Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement

Aviva
London
2 days ago
Create job alert

Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement

National: circa £120,000 / London: circa £140,000

Join Aviva’s Data Revolution

At Aviva, data is more than a function—it’s our foundation. We’re on a bold journey to transform how we harness data to drive innovation, power AI, and deliver exceptional outcomes for our customers. As we accelerate this transformation, we’re seeking a visionary leader to join us as Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement.

A bit about the job:

This is a pivotal, high-impact role at the heart of our Insurance, Wealth & Retirement (IWR) business—one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic financial services portfolios. You’ll lead the modernisation of our data platforms, architect next-generation solutions, and embed AI-driven intelligence into the fabric of our operations. Working in close partnership with our Data Science and Technology teams, you’ll shape and execute a bold data engineering strategy that delivers secure, scalable, and high-quality solutions—empowering smarter, faster decisions across the enterprise.

Beyond the technology, you’ll build and inspire a high-performing team of data engineers, champion a culture of innovation and agility, and ensure our data assets are governed, accessible, and future-ready.

What you’ll be doing:

Define and lead the data engineering strategy for IWR, aligning with business goals and future data needs.

Transform legacy systems into scalable, cloud-native platforms with embedded AI and machine learning.

Deliver data solutions focused on business fulfilment, operational efficiency, and measurable impact.

Champion best practices in data quality, governance, metadata, and regulatory compliance.

Partner across functions and lead a high-performing data engineering team, fostering innovation and agility.

Skills and experience we’re looking for:

Demonstrated success leading complex data initiatives and transformation programmes within large-scale organisations, particularly in financial services.

Skilled in managing outsourced and third-party data environments, with a strong focus on aligning data capabilities to business transformation goals.

Deep knowledge of data architecture, modelling, integration, and governance, with hands-on experience in tools like Snowflake, DBT, SQL Server, and programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala.

Proficient in big data tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and embedding AI/GenAI into scalable data infrastructures.

Strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to translate technical solutions into strategic business value, with a solid understanding of regulatory and financial environments.

What you’ll get for this role:

Our purpose - with you today, for a better tomorrow – is a promise we make to our colleagues too. And one of the ways we live up to that promise is by investing in you. We have so much to offer when it comes to being an Aviva colleague.

National salary circa £120,000 and London salary circa £140,000 (depending on location, skills, experience, and qualifications)

Bonus opportunity – 25% of annual salary Actual amount depends on your performance and Aviva’s.

Generouspensionscheme - Aviva will contribute up to 14%, depending on what you put in.

29 daysholidayplus bank holidays, and you can choose to buy or sell up to 5 days

Make your money go further - Up to 40%discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts

Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through ourMatching Share Planand share in the success of Aviva with ourSave As You Earnscheme

Brilliantlysupportive policiesincluding parental and carer’s leave

Flexible benefitsto suit you, includingsustainability optionssuch as cycle to work

Make a difference, be part of ourAviva Communitiesand use your 3paid volunteering days to help others

We take yourwellbeingseriously with lots of support and tools

Take a look to learn more. Put a salary into this calculator to see what your total Aviva Reward could be.

Aviva is for everyone:

We’re inclusive and welcome everyone – we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares.

We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spending around 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Head of Credit Risk IT

Head of Digital & ICT

Head of Data Analytics

Head of Technical Services

Head of Data Platform Services

Head of IT - Data & Applications

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Top 10 Best UK Universities for Machine Learning Degrees (2025 Guide)

Explore ten UK universities that deliver world-class machine-learning degrees in 2025. Compare entry requirements, course content, research strength and industry links to find the programme that fits your goals. Machine learning (ML) has shifted from academic curiosity to the engine powering everything from personalised medicine to autonomous vehicles. UK universities have long been pioneers in the field, and their programmes now blend rigorous theory with hands-on practice on industrial-scale datasets. Below, we highlight ten institutions whose undergraduate or postgraduate pathways focus squarely on machine learning. League tables move each year, but these universities consistently excel in teaching, research and collaboration with industry.

How to Write a Winning Cover Letter for Machine Learning Jobs: Proven 4-Paragraph Structure

Learn how to craft the perfect cover letter for machine learning jobs with this proven 4-paragraph structure. Ideal for entry-level candidates, career switchers, and professionals looking to advance in the machine learning sector. When applying for a machine learning job, your cover letter is a vital part of your application. Machine learning is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, and your cover letter offers the chance to demonstrate your technical expertise, passion for AI, and your ability to apply machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems. Writing a cover letter for machine learning roles may feel intimidating, but by following a clear structure, you can showcase your strengths effectively. Whether you're just entering the field, transitioning from another role, or looking to advance your career in machine learning, this article will guide you through a proven four-paragraph structure. We’ll provide practical tips and sample lines to help you create a compelling cover letter that catches the attention of hiring managers in the machine learning job market.

Veterans in Machine Learning: A Military‑to‑Civilian Pathway into AI Careers

Introduction Artificial intelligence is no longer relegated to sci‑fi films—it underpins battlefield decision‑support, fraud detection, and even supermarket logistics. The UK Government’s 2025 AI Sector Deal forecasts an additional £200 billion in GDP by 2030, with machine‑learning (ML) engineers cited as the nation’s second most in‑demand tech role (Tech Nation 2024). The Ministry of Defence’s Defence AI Strategy echoes that urgency, earmarking £1.6 billion for FY 2025–28 to embed ML into planning, logistics, and autonomous systems. If you have ever tuned a radar filter, plotted artillery trajectories, or sifted sensor data for actionable intel, you have already worked with statistical modelling—the backbone of machine learning. This guide shows UK veterans how to reframe military experience for ML roles, leverage MoD transition funding, and land high‑impact positions building the models shaping tomorrow’s defence and commercial landscapes. Quick Win: Bookmark our live board for Machine‑Learning Engineer roles to see who’s hiring today.