Senior Platform Engineer in Reading

Build platforms that power connectivity at national scale. At AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN), we’re transforming how the UK connects. As a full‑fibre network wholesaler, we make high‑speed broadband simple, scalable and accessible — all through our API‑driven platform, aquila, which unifies major networks including Openreach, BT Wholesale and CityFibre. We’re looking for a Senior Platforms Engineer to design, run and improve the Linux, virtualization and cloud platforms that underpin our services. This is a hands‑on senior role with real influence—shaping how our platforms are built, secured, automated and observed, while mentoring others and leading by example.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Platform Engineering (On‑prem & Cloud): Design, build and operate Linux‑first platforms supporting critical internal and ISP‑facing services. Take ownership of our Proxmox virtualization environment (with VMware as a legacy footprint). Engineer high‑availability, resilient architectures across on‑prem and AWS environments. Build and maintain secure, observable hybrid connectivity between data centres and AWS. Develop and evolve shared lab and test environments, enabling consistency, automation and self‑service.
• AWS & Hybrid Integration: Engineer AWS services with a focus on simplicity, uptime and operational readiness. Design and support AWS networking, IAM and secure connectivity patterns. Contribute to capacity planning, resilience testing and service transitions.
• Automation & Operational Excellence: Lead automation using Python, Terraform and Ansible, reducing manual effort and risk. Define and promote engineering standards, documentation and repeatable build patterns. Improve observability and monitoring using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, Zabbix, ELK and Graylog. Ensure backup, recovery and resilience are engineered and regularly tested.
• Technical Leadership: Act as a senior technical escalation point for complex issues. Mentor and upskill engineers across Linux, AWS and automation. Contribute to platform roadmaps and technical decisions aligned with business goals. Produce clear design documentation and share knowledge across teams.
• On‑call & Reliability: Participate in an on‑call rota, focusing on rapid recovery and long‑term preventative improvements.

What You’ll Bring

• Essential experience: Expert‑level Linux administration and troubleshooting. Strong hands‑on experience with Proxmox / KVM / QEMU. Practical AWS engineering experience (VPCs, IAM, hybrid connectivity, HA design). Automation and scripting expertise (Python preferred). IaC and configuration management (e.g. Terraform, Ansible). Solid networking fundamentals and secure integration patterns. Experience operating monitoring and observability platforms. Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Nice to have: Experience with ISP‑relevant platforms (e.g. Kea DHCP, FreeRADIUS, MariaDB, LibreNMS, ELK). Knowledge of advanced routing protocols (BGP, OSPF). AWS hybrid networking (Direct Connect, VPNs). Experience designing lab or test environments. Relevant certifications (AWS, Linux, networking, automation). Familiarity with XGS‑PON technologies (Adtran, Nokia).

Why join APFN? We believe great engineering starts with well‑supported people. Our benefits include: 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays), Bupa private medical & dental cover, income protection & group life insurance, health plan — yes, we’ll even pay for a massage, employer‑contributory pension & cost‑of‑living benefits, and a genuine commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, including Women in Telecoms, apprenticeships and mentoring.

About Us At APFN, we’re curious, ambitious and delivery‑focused. We move fast, support each other, and take pride in building platforms that genuinely make life easier for our partners. If you want to work on technology that matters, at a company scaling nationally — we’d love to hear from you. If you don’t tick every box, but this role excites you, please apply anyway.