At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and empower the Platform Engineering team to deliver innovative solutions.
- Company: Join YouLend, an award-winning fintech recognised for its supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy stock options, private medical insurance, and a vibrant office in Central London.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-growth environment with exciting career opportunities.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in Platform or DevOps teams, ideally in fintech.
We’re seeking a people-oriented Director of Platform Engineering to lead, develop, and empower our Platform team. This role balances strategic leadership with operational excellence – you’ll define how Platform Engineering enables the wider business while building a high-performing, engaged team. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders, translating business objectives into platform strategy, and ensuring the team delivers scalable, reliable, and efficient solutions. The ultimate goal will be to solidify platform as a product to both internal and external customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, manage, and develop the Platform Engineering team, driving a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Define and execute the Platform Engineering strategy in alignment with wider business goals.
- Partner with senior stakeholders across Engineering, Product, and the business to ensure platform capabilities enable delivery and growth.
- Own and improve platform reliability, scalability, security, and performance.
- Establish clear KPIs and metrics to measure platform impact and team effectiveness.
- Drive best practices across infrastructure, DevOps, and platform capabilities (e.g. CI/CD, observability, cloud architecture, data platform).
- Support career development, mentoring, and succession planning within the team.
- Act as a trusted deputy to the VP of Platform, stepping in as needed and contributing to wider technology leadership decisions.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Proven experience leading Platform, DevOps, or Infrastructure teams at a senior level; ideally within a fintech environment.
- Strong people leadership skills, with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams.
- Experience defining and delivering platform strategy aligned to business outcomes.
- Deep understanding of modern cloud environments, infrastructure-as-code, developer tooling, internal dev platforms (IDPs) and distributed systems architecture.
- Familiarity with our tech stack: AWS, Azure, Terraform, Terragrunt, Pulumi, Kubernetes, Docker.
- Strong knowledge of DevOps principles, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering best practices.
- Experience driving operational excellence including reliability, monitoring, and incident management.
- Ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders and non-technical audiences.
- Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and optimising platform costs.
- A pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset with the ability to balance short-term needs and long-term strategy.
Job Benefits
Why join YouLend?
- Award-Winning Workplace: YouLend has been recognised as one of the “Best Places to Work in 2024 and 2025” by the Sunday Times for being a supportive, diverse, and rewarding workplace.
- Award-Winning Fintech: YouLend has been recognised as a “Top 250 Fintech Worldwide” company by CNBC.
- High-growth (>100% growth during 2022 and 2023), so clear outlook to compensation (bonus or share option appreciation) and career growth (through growth with the business).
- Well-capitalised with supportive private equity backing.
- Part of Banking Circle Group with a fully licensed Luxembourg bank, which can provide a balance sheet and support European expansion in otherwise complex regulated markets.
- A high-quality team that pushes each other to succeed through direct feedback and aligned incentives.
- Strong, transparent team culture: we have each other’s backs.
- Independent work environment where results matter.
- Data-driven culture and emphasis on speed (anti-red tape).
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Stock options
- Private Medical Insurance (via Vitality)
- EAP with Health Assured
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Great office space (including a gym!) in Central London
- Subsidised lunch (via Feedr)
- Deliveroo allowance if working late in the office
- Monthly in-office masseuse
- Team and Company socials
- Sports clubs
At YouLend, we champion diversity and embrace equal opportunity employment practices. Our hiring, transfer, and promotion decisions are exclusively based on qualifications, merit, and business requirements, free from any discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, nationality, or any other protected basis under applicable law.
Director of Platform Engineering employer: YouLend
YouLend is an exceptional employer located in the heart of Greater London, offering a dynamic work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. With benefits like stock options and private medical insurance, employees are well-supported while enjoying a vibrant office environment that fosters creativity and growth. The company prioritises professional development, providing ample opportunities for career advancement in a fast-paced and rewarding setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Platform Engineering
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like YouLend, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Platform Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to YouLend specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at YouLend
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with YouLend, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like YouLend value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
