At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead platform engineering, shaping architecture and infrastructure while mentoring a growing team.
- Company: Early-stage machine-learning business focused on solving complex customer problems.
- Benefits: Opportunity for career growth, hands-on leadership, and working with cutting-edge technology.
- Other info: Dynamic culture valuing engineering excellence and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong problem-solving record, hands-on platform engineering experience, and team-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About the company Our client is an early-stage machine-learning business developing technology to solve complex customer problems.
Its work brings platform, product and client teams together in a fast-moving engineering environment, with a focus on building reliable technology for demanding use cases.
The business is growing its engineering capability and investing in the people, leadership and practices needed to support that growth.
Its purpose is to apply machine learning to challenging customer needs.
The culture values engineering excellence, clear communication, energy, ownership and a willingness to tackle difficult problems.
It also prizes practical, flexible thinking and high standards, while encouraging people to learn, collaborate and use emerging technologies thoughtfully.
What the job entails As Head of Platform Engineering, you will take responsibility for the platform function, including its architecture, infrastructure decisions, reliability and scalability.
You will join a team of four engineers, with further platform hires planned, and shape how the function develops as the business grows.
This is a hands-on player-coach role: you will contribute technically while building the team, attracting and developing engineers, and establishing effective leadership structures, standards and working practices.
You will work closely with product and client teams, making complex technical decisions clear to both technical and non-technical colleagues.
The environment is high-velocity and complex, so you will need to make sound decisions, build appropriate guardrails and help teams deliver safely.
There is scope for the role to develop into leadership of a global platform engineering function.
Key requirements / What we look for A strong record of solving difficult problems, with clear career progression and multiple promotions.
Hands-on platform engineering experience, including substantial Kubernetes and infrastructure-as-code expertise, such as Terraform.
Practical experience with Docker, Git and cloud platforms; Azure, AWS and/or GCP.
The ability to explain architecture and systems you have shipped in depth.
Player-coach leadership, strong communication, and the ability to build and develop engineering teams.
Experience scaling systems in complex environments; experience building teams or working in regulated settings is advantageous.
Head of Platform Engineering employer: Generative Group
As a Service Desk Manager in the Midlands, you will join a forward-thinking company that prioritises employee development and well-being. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement, you'll have the opportunity to shape a high-performing IT support function while enjoying a supportive work culture that values diversity and innovation. The company offers competitive salaries, professional growth opportunities, and a commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, making it an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Platform Engineering
✨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 Generative Group 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 Generative Group.
✨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 Generative Group.
✨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 Generative Group 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 Head of Platform Engineering
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 Generative Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Generative Group 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 Generative Group
✨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 Generative Group 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.
