At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cloud-native initiatives and mentor a team of engineers in a hybrid role.
- Company: Dynamic tech company in Leeds with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, healthcare cashback, and free parking.
- Why this job: Shape the future of platform engineering while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in cloud infrastructure, expert in Kubernetes, and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a community of practice and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Overview
The Lead Platform Engineer will provide strategic technical leadership for the cloud-native initiatives. You will establish architectural standards and operational practices to enable scalable SaaS delivery, driving developer experience through self-service platforms, GitOps workflows, and robust observability. You will lead and mentor a team of engineers, balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution to ensure high reliability and security in data-sensitive environments.
Responsibilities
- Define and drive the vision, strategy, and roadmap for platform engineering.
- Mentor technical talent and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.
- Manage team capacity, balancing new features with technical debt and operational excellence.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to drive organizational adoption of platform initiatives.
Technical Execution
- Architect self-service capabilities (e.g., Backstage) and GitOps workflows (e.g., ArgoCD).
- Own production SaaS reliability, managing multi-cluster Kubernetes environments and AWS infrastructure.
- Implement DORA and Core 4 metrics to drive continuous improvement.
- Establish standards for CI/CD, containerization, and security (RBAC, disaster recovery).
- Maintain the observability stack (Prometheus, Grafana) and define SLIs/SLOs.
- Partner with Security and Product teams to ensure compliance and meet customer needs.
- Eliminate toil through automation and optimize infrastructure costs.
- Lead the platform 'Community of Practice' and document key architectural decisions.
Skills and Knowledge
- Experience: 5+ years designing cloud infrastructure and owning production SaaS platforms.
- Orchestration: Expert-level Kubernetes (multi-cluster management and resource optimization).
- Deployment: Hands-on GitOps experience using ArgoCD and Helm.
- Tooling: Proficiency in IaC (Terraform, CDK, or Ansible) and observability platforms.
- Security: Understanding of security standards in high-value data environments.
- Soft Skills: Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence across teams.
- AWS or Kubernetes certifications.
- Experience implementing DORA/Core 4 metrics.
Benefits
- Competitive Package
- Perks: Generous pension, healthcare cashback, and more.
Platform Engineer in Leeds employer: SearchWorks
Contact Detail:
SearchWorks Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Engineer in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to AWS and Kubernetes. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can do beyond just your CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios relevant to platform engineering. Don’t forget to brush up on your soft skills too, as they’re just as important when it comes to mentoring and collaboration.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with our needs, especially in driving developer experience and operational excellence.
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Engineer in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your cloud infrastructure design experience and any hands-on GitOps work you've done. We want to see how you can lead and mentor, so don’t shy away from showcasing those leadership moments!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Lead Platform Engineer role. Share your vision for platform engineering and how you’ve driven innovation in past roles. Remember, we love a good story, so make it engaging!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Be specific about your technical expertise, especially with Kubernetes, AWS, and CI/CD practices. Mention any relevant certifications you hold and how you've applied these skills in real-world scenarios. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates. Plus, it’s super easy – just a few clicks and you’re done!
How to prepare for a job interview at SearchWorks
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in AWS, Kubernetes, and GitOps workflows. Brush up on your experience with tools like Terraform and ArgoCD, as you’ll likely be asked to discuss specific projects where you’ve implemented these technologies.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since the role involves mentoring and managing a team, prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you fostered collaboration or drove innovation within your team.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the company’s platform initiatives and be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with theirs. This shows that you’re not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you’ve faced in cloud infrastructure management and how you overcame them, especially in high-reliability environments.