Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and evolution of a cutting-edge cloud platform for education.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on transforming education through technology.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in the education sector with innovative cloud solutions.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in platform engineering and deep knowledge of cloud technologies.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving technological advancements in education.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
The Principal Platform Engineer is the technical and architectural leader for a large-scale, education-focused cloud platform. This role defines and evolves an AI-first, cloud-native Internal Developer Platform (“Golden Path”) that enables global product teams to deliver secure, reliable SaaS solutions at speed. The platform is treated as a product, optimised for developer experience, automation, security, and operational excellence.
Key Objectives
- Platform as a Product: Design and govern a standardised, self-service Internal Developer Platform that abstracts infrastructure complexity.
- Architecture & Delivery: Establish enterprise Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD standards across a complex cloud environment.
- Security by Design: Embed automated, non-bypassable security and compliance controls into platforms and pipelines.
- Observability: Own global observability standards to enable proactive monitoring, incident response, and service visibility.
Technical Environment
- Cloud: Azure (primary), with AWS and hybrid/on-prem exposure
- IaC: Terraform, Bicep
- Containers: Kubernetes / managed Kubernetes
- CI/CD: Azure DevOps, TeamCity, Octopus Deploy
- Observability: Datadog and native cloud tooling
- Data: SQL Server, MySQL
Responsibilities
- Own the architectural roadmap for platform tooling, CI/CD, and observability.
- Design self-healing systems and standardised Golden Paths that eliminate manual operations.
- Act as the senior authority for platform and cloud architecture decisions.
- Lead cloud migrations and infrastructure modernisation initiatives.
- Embed security, compliance, resilience, and FinOps practices by default.
- Advise Engineering Leads and Managers on platform standards and strategy.
- Continuously improve developer experience, delivery velocity, and platform reliability.
- Research and introduce emerging technologies, including AI-driven operations.
Success Measures
- 3 months: Unified observability standards, architectural discovery, and risk assessment.
- 6 months: Flagship product migrated to target architecture; reusable IaC patterns delivered.
- 12 months: Fully self-service developer platform with measurable DORA and stability improvements.
Experience & Skills
- Essential: Senior leadership experience in platform engineering within large-scale SaaS environments.
- Deep Kubernetes and cloud-native architecture expertise.
- Mastery of Terraform and Bicep.
- Proven delivery of complex cloud migrations.
- Strong security, compliance, and vulnerability management background.
- Experience applying AI-assisted automation across the SDLC.
- Desirable: AI/ML applied to observability or operations.
- DORA metrics and developer experience optimisation.
- FinOps and cloud cost optimisation.
- Designing resilient, highly available data platforms.
Principal Platform Engineer in Cambridge employer: Shaw Daniels Solutions
Contact Detail:
Shaw Daniels Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Platform Engineer in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Principal Platform Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those involving Kubernetes, Terraform, and cloud migrations. We want to see your hands-on experience and how you tackle real-world problems.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview like it’s the final exam! Research the company’s tech stack and be ready to discuss how you can improve their developer experience and platform reliability. We’re looking for candidates who can think on their feet and bring innovative ideas to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Platform Engineer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Principal Platform Engineer. Highlight your experience with cloud platforms, Kubernetes, and any relevant projects that showcase your architectural skills. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about education technology and how your background aligns with our mission at StudySmarter. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality come through!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on your technical expertise! Make sure to detail your experience with Terraform, Bicep, and CI/CD processes. We’re looking for someone who can lead and innovate, so let us know how you've done this in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our awesome team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Shaw Daniels Solutions
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Azure, Terraform, and Kubernetes. Brush up on your knowledge of Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD practices, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Platform Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your senior leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past, particularly in large-scale SaaS environments. Highlight your ability to make architectural decisions and guide engineering leads.
✨Emphasise Security and Compliance
Given the focus on security by design, be ready to discuss your experience with embedding security controls into platforms. Share specific instances where you’ve implemented compliance measures or managed vulnerabilities, as this will show you understand the importance of these aspects in platform engineering.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face some scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills. Think about challenges you've encountered in cloud migrations or infrastructure modernisation initiatives, and be prepared to explain how you approached and resolved them. This will showcase your critical thinking and adaptability.
