At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape our internal developer platform strategy and delivery.
- Company: Join easyJet, a leading low-cost airline connecting millions across Europe.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in modernising software delivery for a major airline.
- Qualifications: Experience in engineering leadership and strategic planning required.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
We are easyJet – a FTSE-250 listed, £multi-billion low-cost airline that serves tens of millions of customers every single year. If you’re reading this, you have probably already been an easyJet customer, and you’ll know that there is no more iconic (or Orange!) travel brand in Europe.
We fly more than 1,207 routes, connecting 38 countries across Europe, and employ more than 18,000 colleagues. We’re on a mission to make low-cost travel easy – and whatever your role here, you’ll connect millions of people to what they love using Europe’s best airline network, great value fares, and friendly service.
What makes us easyJet? Our Promise Behaviours – we are Safe, Bold, Welcoming and Challenging. Four Behaviours. One Spirit. One easyJet.
About the role: We're modernising how we build and ship software across our digital and operational estate. As Head of Platform Engineering you'll own the strategy, delivery and operation of our internal developer platform, and lead the group of teams behind it.
Platform engineering at an airline is a genuinely interesting problem: revenue-critical services that have to stay up through seasonal peaks and disruption-driven traffic spikes, a large and evolving estate, and real pace. You'll set direction, lead through your managers, and own a budget — and while you won't be writing code, you'll be close enough to challenge technical choices and hold your own in a design debate.
Why now: We're investing in platform engineering as a core capability, and this is a pivotal hire. There's genuine scope to shape the teams, define how the platform is built and run, and raise the engineering bar — not to maintain a finished thing, but to build it into something great.
Reports to: Director of Engineering
Direct reports: 4–5 team leads / engineering managers (Platform & DevOps)
What you'll do:
- Lead the teams. Lead 4–5 Platform, DevOps and Developer Enablement teams through their managers; develop your leaders, plan capacity, and hire and grow strong talent.
- Own the strategy. Define and drive the roadmap for our Internal Developer Platform and tooling, set technical direction with Enterprise Architecture, and make deliberate build/buy calls.
- Own delivery. Hold end‑to‑end accountability for delivery — quality, predictability and pace — surfacing risks early and driving continuous improvement.
- Own the budget. Own the operating budget (opex) and headcount, run a cost‑effective tooling strategy, and embed FinOps to manage cloud spend and demonstrate value.
- Drive developer experience. Make the platform something teams to use — paved paths, less friction — using metrics and real feedback to keep improving it.
- Keep it reliable and compliant. Oversee performance, resilience and observability for revenue‑critical services through peak traffic, and maintain security and compliance (GDPR).
- Bring the business with you. Align platform strategy with business goals and translate technical trade‑offs into clear decisions, up to executive level.
Business Area: Information Technology (IT)
Primary Location: United Kingdom-London-London Luton Airport
Organisation: Information Technology (IT)
Schedule: Full-time
Platform Engineering Lead — Internal Developer Platform employer: Easyjet
easyJet is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation and sustainability are at the forefront of our mission. As a Future Fuels Manager based in Luton, you'll benefit from a strong focus on employee growth, competitive bonuses, and excellent travel perks, all while contributing to our ambitious sustainability goals. Our collaborative culture encourages you to build meaningful relationships with industry leaders, ensuring your role is both impactful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Engineering Lead — Internal Developer Platform
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Easyjet or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Easyjet.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Easyjet.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Easyjet that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Engineering Lead — Internal Developer Platform
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Easyjet.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Easyjet and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Easyjet
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Easyjet uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
