At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of platform engineering and drive AI-native software development.
- Company: Global payments technology leader with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £200,000, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Direct collaboration with the CTO and opportunities for significant impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of platform engineering and influence AI-driven software delivery.
- Qualifications: Extensive leadership experience in platform engineering and cloud technologies.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
London | Up to £200,000 Base + Bonus + Benefits
I'm partnering with a global payments technology business to appoint an exceptional Global Head / VP of Platform Engineering to lead the next evolution of its engineering infrastructure and developer platform. This is a strategic leadership opportunity, reporting directly to the CTO, with responsibility for a globally distributed Platform Engineering organisation of approximately 30 engineers, supporting 100+ Product Engineers.
The Mission
The business is embarking on a significant technology transformation, with ambitions to enable AI-native software engineering and agentic development workflows at scale. However, achieving this requires more than simply introducing AI tools. It requires a modern, scalable and highly automated Platform Engineering function capable of supporting how engineering teams will build, test, deploy and operate software in the future. We're looking for a technically credible, commercially aware engineering leader who can build the Platform foundations that make this transformation possible.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Platform Strategy & Transformation – Evolve Platform Engineering from a predominantly operational function into a strategic, product-led capability that accelerates engineering delivery.
- AI-Ready Infrastructure – Define and deliver the infrastructure, tooling and Platform capabilities needed to securely enable AI-assisted development and agentic engineering workflows.
- Developer Experience (DevEx) – Build and improve Internal Developer Platforms, self-service infrastructure, automated provisioning and developer tooling.
- CI/CD & Engineering Productivity – Modernise software delivery pipelines, reduce manual processes and improve deployment speed, reliability and engineering autonomy.
- Cloud-Native Architecture – Lead the evolution of AWS, Kubernetes, infrastructure automation, observability and scalable engineering platforms.
- Global Engineering Leadership – Lead, develop and optimise a distributed Platform Engineering organisation, driving technical excellence, accountability and meaningful organisational change.
- Executive Partnership – Work closely with the CTO and wider technology leadership team to align Platform strategy with business priorities and long-term engineering ambitions.
Who We're Looking For
We're particularly interested in senior engineering leaders who can demonstrate:
- Significant leadership experience across Platform Engineering, Developer Infrastructure, Cloud Platforms or Engineering Enablement.
- Deep technical expertise in modern cloud-native infrastructure, Kubernetes, AWS, CI/CD and Platform architecture.
- A proven track record of transforming Platform Engineering into a scalable, self-service, product-oriented function.
- Experience building infrastructure and developer capabilities that support advanced automation, AI-assisted engineering or agentic workflows.
- Strong architectural judgement, with the credibility to challenge technical decisions and guide senior engineers.
- Experience leading globally distributed engineering teams and delivering complex technical and organisational change.
- The ability to operate strategically at executive level while remaining sufficiently close to the technology.
Payments, FinTech or regulated-industry experience would be advantageous, but we're equally interested in exceptional Platform leaders from other complex technology environments. Importantly, you don't need to have led an organization-wide AI transformation. We're looking for someone who understands how to build the underlying Platform and infrastructure capabilities that enable one.
The Opportunity
Base salary up to £200,000 + bonus + benefits. Direct engagement with the CTO and senior leadership team. Opportunity to shape the next generation of Platform Engineering and AI-enabled software delivery.
Global Head / VP of Platform Engineering in London employer: Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd
As a leading institution in Higher Education, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. With a focus on professional development and growth opportunities, our team members are supported in their career journeys while contributing to meaningful projects that impact students' lives. Located in a dynamic environment, this role offers the unique advantage of predominantly remote work, allowing for flexibility and work-life balance during a pivotal time of change.
Contact Details:
Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Head / VP of Platform Engineering in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Global Head / VP of Platform Engineering in London
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 Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd 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 Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd
✨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 Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd 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.
