At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage a team of engineers tackling complex technical challenges.
- Company: SiXworks, a specialist in secure digital solutions for Defence and National Security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, private medical cover, and professional development support.
- Other info: Join us during an exciting growth phase with excellent career opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a collaborative environment focused on innovation and security.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing technical teams and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Work on Technology That Protects What Matters At SiXworks, we build secure digital solutions that support Defence and National Security missions. Our teams work on complex problems where reliability, security, and speed of innovation matter. We’re looking for a Platform Engineering Manager who enjoys solving difficult technical challenges and wants their work to have real operational impact.
What You’ll Do
- The role of Platform Engineering Manager is primarily team management, professional development, resourcing and administration. This role supports the Principal Platform Architect who will be available to guide technically with the mentoring and management of the team. Whilst not a technical role an understanding of Platform Engineering and how engineering projects work in a technical organisation is required.
- Responsible for line managing engineers and their skills; ensure skills are developed and aligned to business strategy and needs. This role blends strong people management capability with good technical understanding of Platform Engineering technologies, ensuring the right engineers with the right skills are assigned to projects, BAU activities and operational priorities.
- Together with our Operations team, drive & support capacity planning, workforce optimisation and skills development, ensuring high‑quality delivery across projects.
Your work may include:
- People Leadership: Manage a large team of engineers; holding 1:1s, supporting career development, setting objectives and managing performance. Lead on mentoring, coaching, and skills development of team members. Lead the team; support wellbeing, provide clear guidance/direction, influence team morale. Take ownership for recruitment of new team members.
- Operational Oversight: Support with balancing workload priorities and team capability. Lead high performance of team – ensuring Delivery Excellence. Development of toolset for the Eng team e.g. keeping abreast of needs and securing funding for new tools.
- Stakeholder Management: Act as a contact for project managers, operations team and service leadership. Communicate resource constraints, risks, and priorities clearly. Build strong relationships across technical teams.
What We’re Looking For
We value people who take ownership, think critically, and enjoy working as part of a collaborative team tackling complex challenges. You don’t need to tick every box, but we’re particularly interested in people with skills/experience in:
- Proven experience managing technical teams and coaching engineers and delivery methodologies (eg Agile, Scrum, ITIL or SDLC)
- Good leadership and communication skills.
- Strong organisational and planning skills
- Excellent people-management skills
- Data-driven decision-making
- Calm under operational pressure
- Background in engineering or technical project management
Just as important are curiosity, strong problem solving ability, and the motivation to continuously improve how technology is designed and delivered.
About SiXworks
SiXworks is a specialist digital innovation partner delivering secure, mission-critical technology to Defence and National Security organisations. We focus on digital experimentation, secure-by-design architecture, cloud technologies, and rapid application development to help our customers move faster and stay ahead of evolving challenges. Our team combines expertise from across technology, business, and operational backgrounds including the armed forces creating a collaborative environment where practical thinking and innovation thrive.
Why Join Us
Our culture is guided by six principles: Agility, Security, Innovation, Quality, Collaboration and Inclusivity our North Star for how we work. SiXworks is a leading provider of secure digital solutions, specialising in digital experimentation and focused on fail-safe-fast cutting-edge technology solutions deployed in highly secure environments. As an end-to-end digital innovation and delivery partner, we turn complex challenges into mission-critical digital advantages. This is a thrilling time for us, with ambitious plans for growth. We are looking for brilliant, experienced, driven and self-motivated people to join the team on our journey.
We offer competitive salaries and a package that supports your wellbeing and development, including 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, free Private Medical cover and Life Assurance, Generous pension (10% employer, 5% employee contribution), Bonus and Professional development and training support. In addition to secure parking, gym, café & restaurant on site and lots of open break out spaces.
A word on UK Security Clearance
Due to the secure nature of the position and working environment, you must have or be eligible to obtain Security Clearance. More details relating to UK Security Clearance can be found here: United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interested? Please apply!
Platform Engineering Manager in Farnborough employer: Sixworks
At SiXworks, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the Defence and National Security sector. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our comprehensive benefits package, which includes competitive salaries, generous leave, and professional development opportunities, all within a supportive environment that values agility, security, and inclusivity. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying unique perks like on-site amenities and a focus on wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Engineering Manager in Farnborough
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Sixworks or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Sixworks.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Sixworks.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Sixworks that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Engineering Manager in Farnborough
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 Sixworks.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sixworks 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 Sixworks
✨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 Sixworks 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.
