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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of a cutting-edge cloud platform for education, optimising developer experience and security.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on transforming education through innovative cloud solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education technology while working with the latest cloud innovations.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in platform engineering, Kubernetes, and cloud architecture required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving significant change in the SaaS landscape.
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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth
✨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 Plymouth
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 detailing your technical expertise! Mention your experience with Terraform, Bicep, and CI/CD practices. We’re looking for someone who can lead and innovate, so make sure we know what you bring to the table.
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 technical environment mentioned in the job description. Brush up on Azure, Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD tools like Azure DevOps. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies will show that you’re not just familiar but truly capable.
✨Showcase Your Architectural Vision
Prepare to discuss your approach to designing self-service platforms and how you’ve tackled complex cloud migrations in the past. Think about specific examples where you’ve implemented Infrastructure-as-Code or improved developer experience, as this will demonstrate your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
✨Emphasise Security and Compliance
Given the role’s focus on security by design, be ready to talk about how you’ve embedded security controls into platforms and pipelines. Share any experiences you have with vulnerability management and compliance, as this will highlight your understanding of the critical importance of security in platform engineering.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face hypothetical scenarios or case studies during the interview. Prepare to articulate how you would approach challenges related to observability, incident response, or operational excellence. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet.
