Senior Data & Automation Engineer (IT Ops)

Pacific Life • Newport Beach, CA

1d • $137,610 - $168,190 • Hybrid

About The Position

Pacific Life is seeking a talented Senior Data & Automation Engineer (IT Ops) to join their Infrastructure & End User Services team in Charlotte, NC. This role is based in the Charlotte, NC office with an in-office requirement of 4 days per week. The position involves building and operating automation, data, and AI-enabled solutions to improve IT operations and the end-user experience. The engineer will partner with cross-functional IT teams to deliver secure, scalable, and production-ready capabilities across the service lifecycle, including request fulfillment, incident workflows, operational analytics, and continuous improvement. This role is suited for a self-starter who is curious about modern engineering practices and enjoys translating operational needs into measurable outcomes.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in IT development, automation engineering, data engineering/analytics engineering, application architecture, and/or applied AI/ML engineering.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent professional experience.
• Hands‑on expertise with Python and SQL; working knowledge of AI/ML tools and MLOps practices.
• Proven track record of delivering applications and/or AI‑driven automations to production, including CI/CD, testing, observability, and reliability best practices.
• Advanced Data Analysis & Insight Extraction – Demonstrated ability to deeply analyze complex datasets, identify patterns and trends, and translate findings into clear, actionable insights that inform automation, optimization, and technical decision making.
• Strong problem‑solving and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and mentor peers effectively.

Nice To Haves

• Automation focused – You reduce manual effort in IT operations through measurable workflow automation outcomes.
• Strategic and outcome‑oriented – You help shape technical direction and long‑term platform planning for IT and AI with a focus on delivering results.
• Proven AI leadership – Demonstrated success advancing AI technologies and driving measurable business impact.
• Collaborative and innovative – Passion for cross‑functional teamwork and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Committed to staying ahead – Dedicated to keeping pace with modern practices in data, application development, and AI/ML.

Responsibilities

• Automate IT Operations Workflows – Identify and implement automations that reduce manual effort and improve consistency across IT operations, including service request fulfillment, incident workflows, and operational processes supporting end users and infrastructure teams.
• Operational Data Engineering & Insight – Build and optimize data pipelines and analytical datasets from operational systems (e.g., service/ticketing platforms, endpoint/telemetry sources, knowledge bases), applying data quality checks and cost/performance optimization.
• AI‑Augmented Automation & Decision Support – Apply AI/ML concepts to enhance operational workflows and analytics (e.g., enrichment, classification, search, summarization, recommendations), incorporating evaluation practices and human‑in‑the‑loop feedback where appropriate.
• Manage Application Environments – Establish and maintain both non‑production and production environments, ensuring alignment with identity and access controls, data governance policies, and secure data‑handling standards.
• Deliver Reliable, Scalable Solutions – Design, build, and operate production‑grade applications and automation services with a strong focus on reliability, scalability, performance, and observability.
• Drive Continuous Improvement – Champion enhancements based on user feedback, operational metrics, and measurable outcomes; prioritize initiatives that improve productivity, reduce friction, and elevate end‑user experience.
• Collaborate Across Teams – Partner with cross‑functional stakeholders to translate objectives into technical roadmaps, clear requirements, and acceptance criteria. Maintain a transparent, outcome‑driven backlog.
• Ensure Compliance and Security – Uphold security, privacy, and regulatory standards by implementing guardrails, conducting reviews, and recommending updates over time.
• Document and Share Knowledge – Create and maintain documentation, runbooks, patterns, and reference architectures. Mentor team members and foster a culture of knowledge sharing.

Benefits

• Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
• Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
• Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees