Lead Sonata SME

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Royal London seeks a Lead Sonata SME to own the Bravura Sonata platform across design, configuration, governance and continuous improvement. You will partner with technology, business stakeholders and external vendors to keep Sonata stable, scalable and aligned with business objectives and regulatory needs, translating requirements into scalable configurations, workflows and integrations, and providing design assurance throughout the change lifecycle. You’ll drive platform governance, prioritise enhancements, support testing and releases, and share knowledge to reduce platform dependency. Essential skills include Oracle DB operations, SQL, Sonata configuration and job setup, SSO with Azure Entra, and familiarity with the Sonata data model and installer; nice to have monitoring tools and agile experience. Hybrid, UK-wide locations Edinburgh, Glasgow or Alderley Park; if you don’t meet every bullet, apply anyway and show your wins and willingness to learn. Royal London values inclusion and offers a competitive pension, private medical, and generous leave.

Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Edinburgh or Glasgow or Alderley Park (Wilmslow)
Working Style: Hybrid - 50% from home / 50% office based

The Lead Sonata SME provides specialist knowledge and guidance across the Bravura Sonata platform, ensuring the platform is effectively designed, configured, enhanced, and operated in alignment with business and technology objectives. The role acts as a key advisor and subject matter expert across product configuration, platform capability, solution design, business process alignment, change delivery, and continuous improvement. The Lead Sonata SME works closely with technology teams, business stakeholders, delivery teams, and external vendors to ensure Sonata remains stable, scalable, and fit for purpose.

Key Responsibilities:

Solution Design, Configuration & Change Delivery

• Provide Sonata expertise across platform enhancements, projects, and strategic initiatives.
• Translate business requirements into scalable Sonata solutions, covering configuration, workflows, rules, product setup, processes, and integration impacts.
• Review proposed changes, identify risks and dependencies, and ensure alignment with platform standards and business objectives.
• Provide design assurance and guidance to delivery teams throughout the change lifecycle.

Platform Governance & Business Alignment

• Provide governance over Sonata configuration, usage, and platform practices.
• Ensure solutions align with business needs, regulatory requirements, and Sonata platform strategy.
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to define improvements, challenge requirements where appropriate, and identify optimisation opportunities.
• Support prioritisation of platform enhancements and continuous improvement initiatives.

Testing, Releases & Vendor Engagement

• Provide Sonata expertise across testing, release, and implementation activities.
• Support solution validation, release readiness, and post-release assurance.
• Act as a key point of contact supporting product discussions, upgrades, roadmap alignment, and platform capability assessments.
• Contribute to platform governance forums and strategic technology decisions.

Knowledge & Capability Development

• Maintain Sonata standards, documentation, and knowledge assets.
• Promote consistent platform practices and knowledge sharing across delivery, support, and delivery teams.
• Coach teams on Sonata capabilities and support the reduction of platform knowledge dependency.

What you will bring to the role:

Technical Skills

• Good understanding of how an Oracle DB operates
• Awareness of OracleAQ and the creation of JMS messages
• Knowledge of the Sonata data model would be desirable
• A good understanding of the technology and software that underpins the Sonata application
• Ability to write SQL queries (on an Oracle and/or SQL Server DB)
• Detailed knowledge of the Sonata Application including
  • Configuration capabilities
  • Sonata job setup
  • Use of transformation scripts
  • Flexibility of users/groups/permissions to allow targeted access to Sonata
  • Single Sign On setup using Azure Entra
• A good understanding of the Sonata installer process
• Awareness of how a Source of Truth is structured
• Using testing tools such as SOAPUI or ReadyAPI be able to construct SBS requests
• Ability to diagnose performance issues
• Experience with successful implementation of return to trunk upgrades
• Good knowledge of Operational Data Store (ODS) and Wherescape Red application

Nice to have

• Knowledge of monitoring tools (e.g App Dynamics, Logic Monitor)
• Sonata Workflow knowledge
• Experience in managing multiple Sources of Truth
• Service Now experience
• Awareness of agile methodology

Other Skills

• A wide knowledge of UK Pensions
• Ability to problem solve and troubleshoot
• Ability to multi task effectively
• Able to remain calm under pressure
• Good attention to detail
• Can-do attitude
• Always striving for continuous improvement

If you feel you’d be a great fit for Royal London but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Research shows some candidates are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria - if you meet most requirements and are keen to learn, we encourage you to apply!

About Royal London

We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.   

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve. 

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We’re an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.