Overview
In this role, you will lead engineering across Corporate Technology, defining strategy for People, Finance and Procurement platforms and driving secure, scalable, and well-managed services. You will mentor engineering leads, set ownership, and collaborate withProduct, Architecture, Security, Data, and business teams to modernise the estate and enable large-scale transformation. You’ll balance technical excellence with business priorities, shaping internal platforms that underpin critical FT functions. This is an opportunity to influence how core internal systems evolve in a globally respected organisation.
Pay / Benefits
- generous annual leave
- medical cover
- inclusive parental leave
- subsidised gym memberships
- hybrid onsite model (50% onsite)
- community contribution opportunities
Responsibilities
- Define the engineering vision for Corporate Technology and translate strategy into priorities and roadmaps for People, Finance, and Procurement platforms
- Provide senior technical direction across enterprise platforms, data flows, and internally developed capabilities
- Collaborate with Architecture and Engineering Leads to set standards, guardrails, and decisions considering security, resilience, operability, maintainability and cost
- Identify systemic risks, lifecycle challenges, technical debt, and opportunities to simplify the technology estate
- Ensure Engineering Leads have clear accountability for platform engineering, operation and continual improvement
- Guide complex decisions spanning multiple platforms while granting autonomy to Engineering Leads
- Mentor Engineering Leads and senior engineers to improve platform ownership and capability
- Lead engineering for key People, Finance, and Procurement initiatives and transfer capabilities into lasting internal stewardship
- Support platform selection, implementation and major technology investments, challenging approaches that add complexity or risk
- Maintain oversight of performance and technology risk, including reliability, incident and change management, DR and BC
- Ensure platforms comply with FT security, data governance, and technology standards
- Strengthen internal capability to reduce reliance on individual specialists or vendors
- Build strong cross-functional relationships to communicate trade-offs, risks and investment needs
- Represent Corporate Technology in FT engineering and technology forums with Architecture, Security, Data and other leaders
Key requirements
- Extensive senior engineering leadership experience in a complex tech organisation
- Solid knowledge of enterprise SaaS ecosystems and integration/operation of business-critical platforms
- Experience with Oracle Fusion, Workday, or similar ERP systems
- Strong grasp of integration methods, APIs, data flows and cloud technologies
- Experience leading major transformation or modernisation programmes
- Ability to establish clear technical ownership and sustainable operating models
- Strong understanding of reliability, security, operational risk and lifecycle management
- Experience working with third-party vendors and managed services while maintaining internal ownership
- Experience mentoring and developing Engineering Leads and senior engineers
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate technical concepts into pragmatic decisions
- Experience formulating technology strategies and roadmaps spanning multiple platforms
- Strong technical judgement balancing long-term direction with delivery priorities
- Desirable: experience with Oracle Fusion, Workday and related environments
- Desirable: experience with Finance, People, Procurement domains
- leadership
- mentoring
- stakeholder Influence
- enterprise SaaS integration
- Oracle Fusion
- Workday
Principal Engineer - Corporate Technology in London employer: The Financial Times
The Financial Times is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and wellbeing. With generous benefits such as annual leave, medical cover, and opportunities for community engagement, employees are supported in their professional journeys while contributing to meaningful journalism. Located in a collaborative environment, the role of Senior IT Engineer allows you to connect with diverse experts and leverage cutting-edge technology, making a significant impact within the organisation.
