Head of Platform Engineering in London

Head of Platform Engineering in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Xelix

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 work, 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 in London 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 collaboration. Our commitment to sustainability and team engagement through activities and retreats further enhances the rewarding experience of being part of the Xelix family.

Xelix

Contact Detail:

Xelix Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Platform Engineering in London

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, understand their tech stack, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. We want to see your passion and expertise shine through!

Tip Number 3

Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub, make sure it’s up to date. Demonstrating your work can really set you apart from the competition.

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 keen to join us directly!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Platform Engineering in London

Cloud Architecture
Infrastructure Strategy
CI/CD Standards
Observability
Incident Response
SLA and SRE Definition
Cloud Security

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 experience with AWS and any leadership roles you've held, as we want to see how you can contribute to our growth.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about platform engineering and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Be sure to mention specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your expertise.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your mentoring and coaching experiences. We want to know how you've developed others in your previous roles and how you plan to do the same with our DevOps team.

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 don’t miss out on any important updates from our team during the process!

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 understanding of the role.

Showcase Leadership Skills

Prepare examples of how you've led and mentored teams in the past. Highlight your approach to technical coaching and decision-making support, as this is crucial for a leadership position like Head of Platform Engineering.

Understand the Business Needs

Familiarise yourself with Xelix's business model and future growth plans. Be prepared to discuss how your platform strategy can align with their goals, ensuring reliability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

Be Ready for Technical Challenges

Expect to tackle some technical scenarios during the interview. Think through potential architectural decisions and trade-offs, and be ready to explain your thought process clearly. This will demonstrate your problem-solving skills and technical acumen.