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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: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education by shaping innovative cloud solutions.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in platform engineering and deep knowledge of Kubernetes and cloud architecture.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on AI-driven operations and continuous improvement.
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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to cloud platforms, Kubernetes, or IaC. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your expertise beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common technical questions and scenarios related to platform engineering. Practice explaining your thought process and decision-making, especially around security and architecture.
✨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 genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Platform Engineer in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Education: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for education shine through. We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission to enhance learning through technology. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to educational projects or initiatives in the past.
Highlight Your Technical Expertise: Make sure to showcase your deep knowledge in platform engineering, especially with tools like Terraform and Kubernetes. We’re looking for someone who can lead architectural decisions, so don’t hold back on detailing your relevant skills and experiences that demonstrate your technical prowess.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the key objectives and responsibilities outlined in the job description. We appreciate candidates who take the time to connect their background with what we’re looking for, so make it clear why you’re the perfect fit for the Principal Platform Engineer role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our 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
Security is a big deal in this role, so be ready to discuss how you've embedded security practices into platforms and pipelines. Share specific instances where you’ve implemented automated security controls or managed compliance in previous projects.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and technical expertise. Think about challenges you've faced in cloud migrations or platform design, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes of your decisions.
