Vice President - Head of Data Platforms

New York Life • New York, NY

197d

About The Position

Our New York Life culture has laid the foundation for over 180 years of commitment to our employees, agents, policy owners, and the communities where we live and work. Here you become a valued part of a welcoming, inclusive, and caring organization with a long-standing legacy in stability and growth. The strength revolves around our diversified, multi-dimensional business portfolio that goes beyond life insurance. As a Fortune 100 company and industry leader, we provide an environment where you can explore your career ambitions, offering opportunities to tackle meaningful challenges and stretch your skills while balancing work and life priorities. You will be part of an inclusive team guided by our belief to always be there for each other-providing the support and flexibility to grow and reach new heights while making an impact in the lives of others. You are our future, and we commit to investing in you accordingly. Join Strategic Capabilities and collaborate with a winning team developing and executing game-changing business strategies, informed by cutting-edge data and competitive insights. Fuel business growth through smart acquisitions, innovative partnerships, and impactful technology integration. Leverage AI and strategic data management to bring ideas to life, all while ensuring effective governance and project management.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, platform engineering, or related technical fields
• 8+ years in senior leadership roles managing large engineering organizations
• Proven track record of scaling data platforms at high-growth companies or enterprises
• Experience leading digital transformation and cloud migration initiatives
• Background in both startup and enterprise environments preferred
• Deep expertise in modern data stack technologies (Spark, Kafka, Airflow, dbt, Databricks, etc.)
• Strong knowledge of AWS cloud platform and infrastructure automation
• Experience with containerization, microservices, and distributed systems architecture
• Familiarity with machine learning platforms and MLOps practices
• Background with real-time data processing and streaming analytics
• Experience implementing a data mesh architecture and domain-driven design principles
• Previous experience as a VP or C-level executive at a technology company
• Active participation in open source communities or technology thought leadership
• Experience is scaling AI driven Software and Data Engineering

Nice To Haves

• Exceptional leadership and people management skills with experience building high-performing teams
• Strong business acumen with ability to translate technical concepts to executive stakeholders
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience managing P&L responsibility and large technology budgets
• Track record of driving cultural change and organizational transformation

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term technical vision and roadmap for data platform architecture
• Partner with C-suite executives and business stakeholders to align data platform capabilities with business objectives
• Drive platform strategy decisions including build vs. buy, technology stack selection, and architectural patterns
• Establish data platform standards, governance frameworks, and best practices across the organization
• Lead digital transformation initiatives and modernization of legacy data systems
• Oversee the design and implementation of scalable, reliable, and secure data platforms
• Champion engineering best practices including CI/CD, infrastructure as code, observability, and automated testing
• Drive platform strategy to support core insurance functions including underwriting, claims, actuarial analysis, and agent operations
• Enable advanced analytics for risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer lifetime value optimization
• Lead technical architecture reviews and technology evaluation processes
• Build, lead, and mentor a diverse team of data engineers, platform engineers, and technical managers
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Develop talent pipeline through strategic hiring, succession planning, and career development programs
• Collaborate with VP of Analytics, VP of Data Science, and CTO to deliver integrated data solutions
• Partner with Product Management to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Work closely with Engineering teams across the organization to enable data-driven product development
• Engage with external partners, vendors, and technology communities to stay current with industry trends

Benefits

• Full package of benefits for employees
• Leave programs
• Adoption assistance
• Student loan repayment programs
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility
• Incentive program participation eligibility

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees