Data Engineering Leader, Workforce Benefits

Pacific Life • Charlotte, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Pacific Life is seeking a Data Engineering Leader for its Workforce Benefits Team in Newport Beach, California. Reporting to the Head of Data Engineering, this leader owns the strategy, lifecycle, delivery, and operational performance of Workforce Benefits Division data products. The role leads data engineers and analysts in building secure, scalable data pipelines, infrastructure, models, marts, and real-time data solutions that support reporting, analytics, operations, and business decisions.

The Data Engineering Leader translates stakeholder needs and data strategy into prioritized agile backlogs, provides technical direction, and partners with business, technology, architecture, governance, and vendor teams to deliver trusted data products aligned with business goals. The role includes team leadership, operational support, budget and expense management, and vendor oversight. Technical support outside standard business hours may be required for planned releases or critical production issues. Travel may be required up to 25% for planning, leadership, and technology meetings.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience delivering enterprise data products, data warehouses, data integrations, and enterprise data architecture.
• 5+ years leading a data engineering team at the Director level or equivalent, including people leadership, resource planning, and budget accountability.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with data warehouses, advanced analytics, and cloud-based data engineering.
• Demonstrated experience with agile product ownership, backlog management, technical requirements, delivery metrics, and cross-functional stakeholder leadership.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python.
• Experience with semantic layers, ontology, and reference data management.
• Experience with data management and orchestration technologies, including Snowflake and dbt.
• Experience with RESTful APIs, event-driven integration, and microservices administration platforms.
• Experience in insurance data domains such as Distribution, Product, Underwriting, Enrollment, Finance, Billing, and Claims.

Responsibilities

• Own the vision, roadmap, lifecycle, and delivery of Workforce Benefits Division data products; partner with business and technology stakeholders to define outcomes, prioritize demand, and align data investments with business goals.
• Translate stakeholder requirements into delivery plans and sequenced product backlogs; lead Agile execution, capacity planning, metrics, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical leadership for the architecture, design, implementation, and optimization of secure, scalable data pipelines, integrated and published data marts, and real-time data solutions.
• Embed data quality, security, privacy, and governance standards throughout delivery, including controls for protected health information and HIPAA-regulated data.
• Lead day-to-day execution and operational support, including release readiness, quality assurance, production support, root-cause resolution, enhancements, and delivery against scope, schedule, and budget.
• Recruit, coach, develop, and manage the performance of employees on a high-performing team.
• Establish and monitor KPIs for data-product delivery, quality, and business value; use results to manage priorities, risks, resources, and service improvements.
• Manage and forecast department, project, software, contractor, and vendor expenses.
• Oversee vendor service agreements, staff augmentation, and technology contracts as assigned.
• Partner as a trusted subject matter expert with Workforce Benefits functions, analytics and reporting, data architecture, data governance, and corporate technology teams.
• Provide technical support outside standard business hours when required for planned releases or critical production issues.
• Travel up to 25% for planning, leadership, and technology meetings.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Wellbeing Reimbursement Account for the employee or eligible dependents.
• Paid time off, holiday schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption assistance program.
• 401(k) savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation.
• Additional incentive pay may be available to most employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director