Lead Cloud Engineer (Data)

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Job location: Bedford or London

Lead Cloud Engineer

Purpose of the Role: The Lead Cloud Engineer is responsible for the strategic design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our Azure-based platforms across the Data division within the organisation. Working closely with Enterprise Engineers, group IT, Infrastructure and networking teams to ensures that the platforms efficiently and securely handle the organisation’s data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

• Strategically design and implement enhancements to the Azure platforms.
• Contribute to and provide leadership qualities in the development and deployment of cloud technologies.
• Work individually and as part of a team to carry out end-to-end implementation of primarily public cloud-based technologies.
• Drive best practice tooling, process, documentation both personally and with the wider team.
• Proactively identify opportunities and risks within designs and/or live cloud hosted services and direct follow up remediation activities.
• Advise and assist Group Engineering teams in developing cloud solutions.
• Ensure the platform supports data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.
• Develop and enforce data security measures, including encryption and access controls.
• Monitor platform performance and guide technical optimisations and upgrades.
• Establish data management policies and refine processes for efficient data handling.
• Engage with stakeholders to understand and meet their data technology needs.

Knowledge and Experience:

• In-depth knowledge and experience of Azure data services and architecture.
• Strong experience with Azure DevOps services, experience with other CI/CD tools will be considered.
• Experience with data security practices, and information security.
• Experience with Azure Databricks and other cloud-based data technologies.
• Experience of cloud technologies deployed in an enterprise environment.
• Familiarity with data management policies, processes, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to collaborate with stakeholders and understand their data technology requirements.
• Track record of fostering innovation and a collaborative environment.

Professional Qualifications:

• Proven experience in Azure data platform architecture and management.
• Strong technical background in data services, including deployment of Azure Databricks.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices for efficient deployment and management of data services.
• Relevant Azure or data management certifications.

With these qualifications, the Lead Cloud Engineer will be well-equipped to handle the deployment and management of data services, ensuring a secure, efficient, and scalable data platform.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent