At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the platform engineering team to ensure reliability, scalability, and security of our SaaS platform.
- Company: Join Xelix, a forward-thinking tech company focused on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 27 days leave, hybrid working, and comprehensive health cover.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with a strong focus on learning and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of our platform and mentoring a talented team.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in infrastructure roles and AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
To prepare for a significant period of growth, Xelix is seeking a Head of Infrastructure to own the reliability, scalability, security, and cost‑effectiveness of the Xelix SaaS platform. This role provides senior technical and operational leadership to ensure our technology and processes meet future business needs. It is a hands‑on leadership role combining architecture, operational ownership, and team development.
Platform Strategy & Architecture
- Own the long‑term platform and infrastructure strategy
- Design and evolve cloud architecture to support scale, resilience, and performance
- Set standards for infrastructure, CI/CD, environments, and observability
- Make architectural decisions and trade‑offs
Developer Experience (DevEx)
- Provide infrastructure for the development team to code, test and deploy efficiently
- Advise during design sessions to help engineers pick the right solutions for projects
Reliability & Operations
- Own production reliability, uptime, and incident response
- Define and enforce SLAs and SREs
- Lead incident response and post‑incident reviews
- Ensure monitoring, alerting, and on‑call practices are effective and sustainable
Security & Risk
- Partner closely with the Information Security Officer on cloud security and compliance
- Own platform‑level security decisions and risk mitigation
- Ensure secure‑by‑design infrastructure and access controls
- Support compliance initiatives (SOC 2, ISO 27001)
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and mentor the DevOps team, including DevOps engineers, IT Support and an Information Security Officer
- Provide technical coaching and decision support to the DevOps team
Cost & Efficiency
- Manage relationship with AWS and other vendors
- Own cloud cost visibility and optimisation
- Balance performance, reliability, and cost trade‑offs
- Introduce tooling and practices that improve developer efficiency
What You’ll Bring
- 8+ years in infrastructure, platform, or SRE roles
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
- Prior experience scaling production systems in a growing company
- Ability to operate production systems under pressure
- Deep hands‑on experience with the AWS cloud platform
- Strong background in reliability, observability, and incident management
- Experience leading or mentoring engineers
What We Offer In Return
- Competitive salary depending on experience
- 27 days of annual leave (including 3 days Christmas closing) with options to roll over, buy or sell up to 3 days
- Hybrid working with one day a week from our Hoxton office
- On‑site gym and cycle‑to‑work scheme
- Employee discount at over 100 retailers
- Comprehensive private medical & dental cover with Vitality
- Enhanced parental leave pay
- Learning & development culture – £1,000 personal annual budget
- Carbon‑neutral commitment and ambitious reduction goals
- Team socials & activities
- Annual team retreat
We believe that people from diverse backgrounds, with different identities and experiences make our company and product better. No matter your background, we'd love to hear from you! If you have a disability, please let us know if there's any way we can make the interview process better for you – we're happy to accommodate.
Head of Platform Engineering employer: Xelix
Xelix is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a hybrid working model from our vibrant Hoxton office. With a strong focus on learning and development, employees benefit from a personal budget for professional growth, alongside a supportive work culture that values diversity and inclusivity. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to innovation and sustainability, where your contributions will directly impact the future of our SaaS platform.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Platform Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A personal connection can often get you a foot in the door faster than a CV.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its tech stack, especially around AWS and platform engineering. Show them you’re not just a fit on paper but also in practice.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from showcasing your hands-on experience. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you’ve made architectural decisions or improved reliability. Real-world examples speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
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 take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Platform Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Platform Engineering role. Highlight your hands-on leadership experience and any relevant AWS certifications to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about platform engineering and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to scale production systems and lead teams effectively. Numbers and results speak volumes!
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’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Xelix
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AWS and cloud architecture. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've scaled production systems, as this will show your hands-on experience and technical expertise.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led and mentored teams in the past. Highlight your approach to team development and how you've supported engineers in making architectural decisions during design sessions.
✨Understand Reliability and Security
Familiarise yourself with incident management and SLAs. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured production reliability and security in previous roles, as well as any compliance initiatives you've been involved in.
✨Cost Management Insights
Think about how you've managed cloud costs in the past. Be ready to share strategies you've implemented for cost optimisation while balancing performance and reliability, as this is crucial for the role.
