Manager, Software Engineering Product Manager (Annuity Data Platform)

Nationwide Technology offers a collaborative, agile environment with a hybrid in Columbus, OH. This leadership role guides the Annuity Data Platform team to deliver data capabilities, AI enabled solutions, and modernization outcomes, with in-office cadence two days per week on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Location: Columbus, OH (hybrid) with in-office Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for the Annuity Data Platform, aligning with corporate goals, the Annuity Modernization Program, and the broader Data Strategy priorities.
• Craft an outcomes-based roadmap for the ADP that balances early delivery with long-term scalability, reuse, analytics, and AI enablement.
• Collaborate with architecture and business leaders to ensure the platform supports modernization capabilities, downstream consumers, and future-state reporting, analytics, and AI needs.
• Lead the ADP team in delivering data capabilities for the first launch of Annuity Modernization, including priority business capabilities and critical-path features.
• Ensure backlog readiness, sequencing, and alignment to milestone planning and cross-team handoffs so the team can execute against committed outcomes.
• Resolve scope, dependency, and capacity issues impacting delivery while maintaining focus on business value, schedule commitments, and quality.
• Oversee the design, development, and operationalization of scalable, secure, and resilient data platform capabilities that meet business and technology needs.
• Establish and mature engineering practices across the ADP team, including DevSecOps, automation, observability, and reliable run operations support.
• Maintain strong controls around platform health, data quality, stability, support readiness, and risk mitigation as ADP becomes foundational to multiple annuity capabilities.
• Partner with enterprise and program data leaders to shape and implement the Annuity Data Strategy, including data modeling, lineage, governance, and reusable platform patterns.
• Identify high-value opportunities for AI-based solutions enabled by trusted, governed, and reusable data assets on the ADP platform.
• Help define and mature foundational AI capabilities in the data space, including reliable data pipelines, governed data assets, reusable data products, and platform patterns for analytics, automation, and AI use cases.
• Ensure the platform delivers trusted, consumable data for operational processes, regulatory needs, reporting, analytics, and future AI-driven solutions.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand pain points, process inefficiencies, and decisioning opportunities addressed through data and AI-based solutions.
• Translate opportunities into actionable use cases, roadmaps, and delivery plans in partnership with business and technology teams.
• Promote pragmatic adoption of AI-enabled capabilities that improve operational efficiency, speed to insight, and business value while aligning with enterprise standards and risk controls.
• Ensure AI and data solutions are tied to measurable business outcomes and support Annuity Modernization goals.
• Foster partnerships across Annuity Technology, IDS, Data Architecture, Program Leadership, and business stakeholders for seamless delivery of platform capabilities.
• Coordinate with partner teams such as ALIP, Real Time Integrations, Workflow, and Correspondence to manage interdependencies and align delivery plans.
• Act as a leadership representative for ADP in planning, governance, and escalation forums.
• Develop and manage a workforce strategy for the ADP team, aligning skills and capacity with modernization demand and first-launch commitments.
• Manage vendor relationships and external partnerships to ensure high-quality delivery, smooth onboarding, and scalable impact when needed.
• Optimize build and run costs while preserving delivery quality, platform resiliency, and long-term value realization.
• Build a strong engineering culture that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen the team's ability to plan, execute, and support data platform work through clear operating rhythms, performance measures, and talent development.
• Stay current on industry trends in data platforms, cloud, automation, analytics, and AI, applying insights to improve team effectiveness and platform outcomes.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience leading software engineering and/or data platform teams in large, complex technology environments; proven ability to empower and develop teams across multiple technologies.
• Strong understanding of data platforms, data engineering, data architecture, and modern software delivery practices.
• Experience leading transformational programs with cross-functional dependency management, delivery execution, and operational accountability.
• Deep knowledge of DevSecOps, SRE, automation, and engineering maturity improvement.
• Experience enabling data-driven and AI-supported solutions through strong partnerships with business stakeholders, architects, and engineering teams.
• Solid understanding of foundational analytics, automation, and AI capabilities, including data quality, governance, lineage, and scalable platform design.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across business and technology organizations.
• Ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams while balancing immediate delivery needs with long-term strategic platform outcomes.
• Up-to-date knowledge of technology trends in cloud, data, analytics, and emerging AI capabilities.
• Undergraduate studies in management information systems, engineering, math, computer science, or comparable experience and education preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• PTO with a minimum of 18 days per year for new hires, pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
• Nine paid holidays
• 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
• 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid pension plan
• Business casual attire