Chief Engineer, API and AI Platforms in London

Chief Engineer, API and AI Platforms in London

London Full-Time 54000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Wolters Kluwer

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and evolution of our API and AI platforms while mentoring a high-performing team.
  • Company: Join Wolters Kluwer, a global tech innovator making a real difference every day.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Embrace a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
  • Why this job: Make an impact with cutting-edge technology in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with expertise in APIs and AI platforms.

The predicted salary is between 54000 - 90000 £ per year.

Join us at Wolters Kluwer and be part of a dynamic global technology company that makes a difference every day. We are seeking a Chief Engineer, API and AI Platforms to lead the design, build, and evolution of our API infrastructure and Agentic AI workflow platform. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with product-oriented engineering, operating at the intersection of platform engineering, APIs, cloud, and AI.

You will be responsible for building scalable, secure, and cloud-agnostic platforms that enable:

  • External and internal consumers to discover, subscribe to, and use APIs
  • Agentic AI workflows that orchestrate models, tools, and enterprise systems safely
  • Strong governance, security, and CI/CD automation from day one

This is a player-coach role: you will architect and code critical components, while also leading and growing high-performing engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Platform & Architecture Leadership
    • Lead the end-to-end engineering of an API platform, including API onboarding, publishing, discovery, versioning, and deprecation.
    • Developer portals, API products, plans, entitlements, and subscriptions.
    • Runtime enforcement via API Gateway and policy engines.
    • Design and build Agentic AI workflows, including orchestration of LLMs, tools, and enterprise APIs.
    • Define reference architectures that are cloud-agnostic, scalable, and compliant.
  • Hands-On Engineering
    • Remain deeply hands-on in backend services, platform components, and AI integration layers.
    • Set and uphold engineering standards for code quality, testing, observability, and resilience.
  • CI/CD, DevSecOps & Platform Automation
    • Own and evolve CI/CD pipelines for platform and AI workloads.
    • Embed DevSecOps practices.
  • Product & Stakeholder Collaboration
    • Partner closely with Product Management, Architecture, Security, and Data teams.
    • Act as a technical authority and trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
  • People Leadership
    • Lead, mentor, and grow senior engineers and technical leads.
    • Foster a culture of engineering excellence, ownership, and accountability.

Required Experience & Skills:

  • 10+ years in software engineering, with recent experience in platform or product engineering.
  • Strong background in API-first design and distributed systems.
  • Deep understanding of API Gateway & API Management concepts.
  • Hands-on experience with LLM-based systems.
  • Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, or hybrid).

Leadership & Mindset:

  • Comfortable operating at Associate Director level, balancing strategy and execution.
  • Strong communication skills — able to explain complex systems clearly.

Nice to Have:

  • Experience with API monetisation, entitlements, or licensing models.
  • Exposure to AI marketplaces or AI-enabled SaaS platforms.

If you think that you have the needed requirements click on the apply button to join us and be the difference. If making a difference matters to you, then you matter to us.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected status, in accordance with local regulations.

Our Interview Practices: To maintain a fair and genuine hiring process, we kindly ask that all candidates participate in interviews without the assistance of AI tools or external prompts. Our interview process is designed to assess your individual skills, experiences, and communication style. We value authenticity and want to ensure we're getting to know you—not a digital assistant.

Chief Engineer, API and AI Platforms in London employer: Wolters Kluwer

At Wolters Kluwer, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking technology company that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our dynamic work culture encourages continuous learning and growth, providing employees with ample opportunities to develop their skills while working on impactful projects in the API and AI space. Located in a vibrant environment, we offer competitive benefits and a supportive atmosphere where your contributions truly matter.

Wolters Kluwer

Contact Details:

Wolters Kluwer Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Chief Engineer, API and AI Platforms in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at tech meetups. A personal connection can often get your foot in the door faster than any application.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its products, especially around APIs and AI platforms. Show them you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about their mission.

Tip Number 3

Practice your coding skills and be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. Brush up on your API design and cloud knowledge, as they’ll likely want to see how you think on your feet.

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, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!

We think you need these skills to ace Chief Engineer, API and AI Platforms in London

API Management
Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
API Security (OAuth2, OIDC, mTLS)
CI/CD Automation
Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, ARM, CloudFormation)
Agentic AI Workflows
LLM-based Systems

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Chief Engineer role. Highlight your experience with API platforms and AI workflows, as we want to see how you can make an impact in our team.

Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on your technical expertise! We’re looking for someone with a strong background in API-first design and cloud platforms. Be specific about your hands-on experience and projects you've led.

Be Authentic:We value authenticity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for engineering and how you’ve contributed to team success in the past.

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of getting noticed, apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!

How to prepare for a job interview at Wolters Kluwer

Know Your APIs Inside Out

Make sure you have a solid understanding of API management concepts, RESTful services, and security protocols like OAuth2. Be ready to discuss your experience with API onboarding, publishing, and versioning, as these are crucial for the role.

Showcase Your Hands-On Experience

Prepare to talk about your hands-on engineering experience, especially with backend services and AI integration layers. Bring examples of projects where you’ve built scalable platforms or worked with LLM-based systems to demonstrate your technical prowess.

Emphasise Leadership Skills

Since this role involves leading and mentoring teams, be prepared to share your leadership philosophy. Discuss how you've fostered a culture of engineering excellence and continuous learning in previous roles, and be ready to provide specific examples.

Align with Product Goals

Understand the company's product vision and be ready to explain how your technical expertise can help achieve those goals. Show that you can balance time-to-market with long-term sustainability, and be prepared to discuss how you would translate business objectives into technical roadmaps.