Lead Data Engineer

MetLife • Cary, NC

31d • $110,000 - $145,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

This team is at the core of Actuarial IT's Legacy Modernization valuation process and reporting transformation initiatives, leading the design and implementation of modern, AI-enabled architectures. Its mission is to power advanced analytics, business intelligence, and agentic solutions through scalable, secure, and high-performance platforms. By promoting best practices in data governance, performance optimization, and AI-driven data engineering, the team delivers real-time insights and predictive analytics that create tangible business value. Join MetLife as a Lead Data Engineer and help shape the future of data modernization. In this role, you'll design and implement AI-driven data architectures that power advanced analytics, business intelligence, and predictive insights. Collaborate with global teams to build scalable, secure, and high-performance platforms that transform legacy systems into cutting-edge solutions driving real business value. The Opportunity The Lead Full Stack Software Engineer is responsible for Build, optimize, and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines for large, complex datasets, ensuring compliance with data standards and best practices. Institutionalize best practices and accelerate solution delivery through reusable frameworks, prototypes, and innovation initiative To modernize legacy systems and build scalable, AI-enabled data intelligence actuarial valuation platforms that support MetLife's digital transformation strategy. This role advances MetLife's purpose by delivering Actuarial solutions using AI-driven data engineering solutions that enable smarter decisions, better customer experiences, and a more confident future This is an exciting opportunity to lead data modernization efforts that transform how MetLife leverages information. You'll design AI-driven architectures, enable real-time analytics, and deliver predictive insights that shape strategic decisions and improve customer experiences. This role offers the chance to make a tangible impact on business performance while working with cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative, global environment. Success in this role requires strong expertise in modern data Engineering and analytics skills to drive collaboration and innovation. The Lead Data Engineer is responsible for designing scalable, AI-enabled data platforms and ensuring robust data governance across enterprise systems. You'll collaborate closely with actuaries, data scientists, business analysts, and cloud engineering teams in an environment where every contribution is respected, and every perspective is heard.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of experience in data engineering and architecture for enterprise-scale platforms.
• Expertise in cloud platforms (Azure Databricks) to design and deploy scalable data architectures and solutions
• Strong expertise in data technologies such as Apache Spark, along with proficiency in data pipeline tools for building robust ETL processes, and hands-on experience with Databricks features, including Unity Catalog and/or AI/BI Genie
• Strong knowledge of SQL, Python, and modern data modeling techniques to optimize performance and enable advanced analytics.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across actuarial, analytics, and technology teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and problem-solving in complex data ecosystems.

Nice To Haves

• Practical experience with leading AI/ML frameworks—including Azure ML, Databricks ML, PyTorch, and MLflow—for developing advanced analytics solutions and predictive models
• Ability to drive innovation and mentor teams, fostering best practices in data engineering, governance, and performance optimization.
• Strong Actuarial business acumen with the ability to translate complex technical solutions into measurable business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of modern, AI-enabled data Engineering solutions that power advanced analytics and business intelligence.
• Create scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions that enable real-time insights and predictive analytics.
• Oversee data governance, quality, and compliance across enterprise platforms to ensure integrity and trust.
• Manage end-to-end data engineering processes, including performance optimization and cloud migration strategies.
• Develop innovative data pipelines and frameworks that support actuarial modeling, reporting, and advanced analytics.
• Coordinate with actuaries, data scientists, business analysts, and technology teams to deliver integrated, impactful solutions.

Benefits

• Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families.
• We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability.
• We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees