At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a new team to maintain and develop Linux desktop platforms for high-impact research.
- Company: Dynamic finance tech firm focused on innovative solutions and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, 30 days leave, healthcare, and fun monthly events.
- Other info: Enjoy a relaxed dress code and excellent work/life balance.
- Why this job: Shape cutting-edge tools in a supportive environment that values your ideas.
- Qualifications: Strong Linux skills, Python scripting, and a passion for problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
We tackle the most complex problems in quantitative finance, by bringing scientific clarity to financial complexity. From our London HQ, we unite world-class researchers and engineers in an environment that values deep exploration and methodical execution — because the best ideas take time to evolve. Together we’re building a world-class platform to amplify our teams’ most powerful ideas.
As part of our engineering team, you’ll shape the platforms and tools that drive high-impact research – designing systems that scale, accelerate discovery and support innovation across the firm. The role of Platform Desktop Engineering is a new team within Core Infrastructure, responsible for the platform desktop.
As a Platform Desktop Engineer, you will be responsible for the Linux image used across the estate, the pipeline that builds it and the tooling that provisions it. You will also support the day-to-day health of the machines it runs on. You will bring strong Linux skills, a pragmatic approach to automation and the ability to work directly with the teams who depend on the desktop. This is a small, newly formed team with a broad remit spanning image builds, provisioning, security, monitoring and hardware. You will have the opportunity to grow across these areas, working closely with Linux Engineering, Security and wider infrastructure teams in a collaborative environment where engineers are encouraged to contribute ideas and act on them.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Maintaining the OS image build pipeline using Dagger, Packer, Jenkins and Bash
- Operating and developing Python-based provisioning tooling across OpenStack and Ironic, troubleshooting bare metal and VM provisioning issues
- Managing estate security, including certificate lifecycle, vulnerability remediation and patching
- Managing changes through testing, staged rollouts, communications and rollback where required
- Monitoring estate health, availability and patching, maintaining dashboards and resolving configuration issues
- Providing user support, resolving requests and incidents escalated from first line
- Supporting joiner, mover and leaver processes in partnership with HR and hiring managers
- Managing hardware provisioning and lifecycle, including diagnostics, firmware, warranties and RMAs
- Contributing to capacity planning across physical and virtual resources
- Supporting incident response and driving remedial actions through to completion
- Escalating complex issues to Linux Engineering and other teams with a clear technical diagnosis
Who are we looking for?
The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:
- Strong Linux administration skills, including package management, filesystems, permissions, and networking
- Strong troubleshooting skills across logs, CPU, memory, I/O and network performance
- Understanding of CI/CD pipelines for OS image creation
- Python scripting skills, with the ability to make safe changes to internal tooling
- Strong understanding of security best practice, with judgment to balance risk and practical requirements
- Experience with monitoring and dashboards, using data to assess system health
- Experience with OpenStack and Ironic for bare metal and VM provisioning at scale
- Understanding of hardware provisioning and lifecycle, including BMC and lights-out management
- Experience supporting technical users in a live environment
- Excellent communication skills, with ability to set expectations and explain technical trade-offs
- A calm, methodical approach to incidents and escalation
Why join us?
- Highly competitive compensation plus annual discretionary bonus
- Lunch provided (via Just Eat for Business) and dedicated barista bar
- 30 days’ annual leave
- 9% company pension contributions
- Informal dress code and excellent work/life balance
- Comprehensive healthcare and life assurance
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Monthly company events
Platform Desktop Engineer in City of Westminster employer: G Research
At G-Research, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation thrives. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through mentorship opportunities, comprehensive healthcare, and a strong focus on work-life balance, all while fostering a culture that values diversity and collaboration. Join us to tackle complex challenges in cyber security and be part of a team that not only values your contributions but also invests in your future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Desktop Engineer in City of Westminster
✨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 G Research 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 G Research.
✨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 G Research.
✨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 G Research 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 Desktop Engineer in City of Westminster
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 G Research.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at G Research 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 G Research
✨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 G Research 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.
