At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a new team to build and manage a cutting-edge platform desktop service.
- Company: Join G-Research, a leader in quantitative finance with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, 30 days leave, and comprehensive healthcare.
- Other info: Enjoy a flexible work/life balance and monthly company events.
- Why this job: Shape innovative platforms that drive impactful research in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Strong Linux expertise and experience leading engineering teams.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ 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 Platform Desktop Engineering team is a new team within Core Infrastructure, responsible for the platform desktop. As Platform Desktop Engineering Manager, you will build and lead the team, taking accountability for the availability, security and evolution of the platform desktop service. This is a hands-on management role requiring strong technical knowledge of Linux environments. You will stay close to the build pipeline, provisioning tooling and security posture, enabling you to review technical decisions, assess risk and hold partner teams and vendors to account.
The role has a broad remit, spanning image builds, provisioning, security, monitoring and hardware. You will establish the team’s standards and priorities from the ground up, protecting engineers’ focus and making clear decisions about scope. Working closely with Linux Engineering, Security and wider infrastructure teams, you will foster a collaborative environment where engineers are encouraged to challenge, contribute ideas and act on them.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Hiring, onboarding and developing Platform Desktop Engineers, including objectives, feedback and career development
- Managing service performance, including availability, estate health, patching, provisioning and user experience
- Owning the support model, including service levels, request and incident management and escalation paths
- Balancing operational demands with planned engineering work and longer-term priorities
- Delivering the estate roadmap across image builds, provisioning tooling, automation and hardware refreshes
- Overseeing change management, communications and post-incident improvements
- Defining and reporting metrics that provide visibility of service performance and estate health
- Managing capacity, budget and hardware lifecycle across physical and virtual resources
- Working with Linux Engineering, Security, Identity, Tech Support and other partner teams to manage dependencies and escalations
- Supporting joiner, mover and leaver processes in partnership with HR
Who are we looking for?
The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:
- Experience leading an infrastructure, platform or endpoint engineering team
- Strong hands-on Linux expertise, including package management, performance troubleshooting and log analysis
- Good understanding of CI/CD pipelines for OS image creation using tools such as Dagger, Packer, Jenkins or Bash
- Experience supporting bare metal and VM provisioning at scale, ideally using OpenStack and Ironic
- Strong understanding of enterprise security, including vulnerability and patch management
- Sound judgement, balancing security best practice with pragmatic risk-based decisions
- Understanding of hardware provisioning and lifecycle management, including diagnostics and vendor management
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence priorities across teams
- Experience owning and improving production services end to end
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
G-Research is committed to cultivating and preserving an inclusive work environment. We are an ideas-driven business and we place great value on diversity of experience and opinions. We want to ensure that applicants receive a recruitment experience that enables them to perform at their best. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation please let us know in the relevant section.
Location: London, UK
Type: Full time
Platform Desktop Engineering Manager in London 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 Engineering Manager in London
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Platform Desktop Engineering Manager role you’re after at G Research.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at G Research a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at G Research.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Platform Desktop Engineering Manager at G Research, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Desktop Engineering Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Platform Desktop Engineering Manager, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at G Research a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to G Research specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at G Research
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with G Research, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like G Research want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
