Platform Engineer Jobs

Engineers who design, build, and manage the cloud infrastructure that powers modern applications. A critical role in ensuring scalability, reliability, and security in the cloud.

Open roles
91
Salary range
£45k – £113k
Hiring companies
48

Platform Engineers are at the heart of cloud computing, responsible for designing, building, and managing the cloud infrastructure that underpins modern applications. They work closely with development teams to ensure that applications are scalable, reliable, and secure. Companies ranging from scaleups to the larger consultancies rely on Platform Engineers to optimise their cloud environments, whether on AWS, Azure, or GCP. This role requires a deep understanding of cloud platforms, automation tools, and DevOps practices.

What the role does

Inside the role of a Platform Engineer

A typical week for a Platform Engineer is a mix of infrastructure design, deployment, and maintenance, with a focus on automation and optimisation.

  1. 01
    Design and implement cloud infrastructure solutions.
  2. 02
    Automate deployment and management processes using CI/CD pipelines.
  3. 03
    Monitor and optimise system performance and security.
  4. 04
    Collaborate with development teams to integrate cloud services.
  5. 05
    Troubleshoot and resolve infrastructure issues.
  6. 06
    Stay updated with the latest cloud technologies and best practices.
Salary on the board

£45k – £113k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 145 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
33% of listings advertise a salary.
By seniority
£k base
Mid
45
91
40 jobs
Senior
55
120
64 jobs
Lead
61
139
12 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 182 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

CI/CD
71%
Terraform
70%
Kubernetes
58%
Python
49%
AWS
47%
Infrastructure as Code
34%
Azure
31%
Docker
29%
Grafana
22%
Prometheus
21%
Linux
21%
Bash
18%
Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for platform engineers. Years are guidance — strong people move faster, and many senior folks sidestep into research, product or management.

  1. Level 1

    Junior Platform Engineer

    0–2 yrs

    Assists in the design and implementation of cloud infrastructure, focusing on learning and supporting more senior engineers.

  2. Level 2

    Platform Engineer

    2–5 yrs

    Takes ownership of specific cloud infrastructure components, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and secure.

  3. Level 3

    Senior Platform Engineer

    5–8 yrs

    Leads the design and implementation of complex cloud solutions, mentoring junior engineers and driving best practices.

  4. Level 4

    Principal Platform Engineer

    8+ yrs

    Strategises and oversees the entire cloud infrastructure, influencing company-wide cloud strategy and leading major initiatives.

Pathway

How to become a Platform Engineer

There's no single route, but most people follow some version of these steps.

  1. 1

    Learn Cloud Fundamentals

    Start by gaining a solid understanding of cloud computing principles and the major cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.

  2. 2

    Gain Practical Experience

    Work on real-world projects to design, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure, focusing on automation and DevOps practices.

  3. 3

    Specialise in a Domain

    Choose a specific area such as security, DevOps, or cloud architecture to deepen your expertise and become a go-to resource.

  4. 4

    Lead Projects and Teams

    Take on leadership roles, leading the design and implementation of complex cloud solutions and mentoring junior engineers.

  5. 5

    Influence Company Strategy

    At the principal level, you will influence the company's cloud strategy, driving major initiatives and setting best practices.

Live jobs

91 live roles

See all 91 roles

Senior Platform Engineer

This role involves building and operating secure, cloud-native platforms on AWS and Kubernetes to support large-scale digital services. The engineer will develop infrastructure as code, enhance CI/CD pipelines, and improve observability and reliability through SLOs and automation. Collaboration with security and architecture teams ensures robust, scalable platform solutions in highly regulated environments.

SF Partners Bristol, Bristol (county), United Kingdom £75,000 – £90,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Senior Platform Engineer

Design and maintain secure, scalable hybrid cloud platforms while improving CI/CD pipelines and operational resilience. Collaborate with SRE and architecture teams to support mission-critical systems in a regulated environment. Provide technical mentorship and drive adoption of modern infrastructure practices.

Talent Locker Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7JT, United Kingdom £70,000 – £79,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Azure Platform Engineer

Design and build a scalable enterprise Azure platform with a focus on Azure VMware Solution (AVS) and hybrid infrastructure integration. Lead deployment of AVS, migrate on-premises VMware workloads to Azure, and support hybrid Omnissa Horizon implementation. Collaborate with architects to ensure alignment with technical and business requirements while producing documentation and resolving complex platform issues.

VIQU IT Portsoken, City And County Of the City Of London, United Kingdom £550 – £650 pd
Remote Contract

Senior Platform Engineer

This role involves building and maintaining a cloud-native data platform on AWS, with a focus on hands-on engineering rather than architectural governance. The engineer will design event-driven systems using Kafka, automate infrastructure with Terraform, and develop platform tooling in Python. Emphasis is placed on solving complex technical problems, improving developer experience, and delivering resilient, observable services in a collaborative environment.

Uniting Ambition London, United Kingdom £100,000 – £120,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Principal Platform Engineer

This role involves designing and improving secure, cloud-native platforms at national scale, with a focus on Kubernetes, AWS, and internal developer platforms. You'll define engineering standards, embed DevSecOps and SRE practices, and lead technical strategy while remaining hands-on. The role emphasizes platform governance, observability, and cloud modernization across complex, regulated environments.

SF Partners Bristol, Bristol (county), United Kingdom £90,000 – £110,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Data Platform Engineer – Cloud

Design and implement large-scale data migration from legacy Databricks to modern AWS cloud infrastructure, focusing on secure healthcare data. Develop automated data pipelines and infrastructure using Terraform, ensuring operational readiness and compliance. Collaborate with architects to modernise platforms and uphold engineering best practices in a regulated environment.

Velocity Talent Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom £70,000 – £80,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

SC Platform Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and maintaining cloud-based platform solutions using AWS and Kong Konnect API management systems. The engineer will implement automation through CI/CD pipelines, optimise infrastructure, and collaborate with development and product teams to deliver secure and efficient systems. Emphasis is placed on Infrastructure as Code, cloud resource optimisation, and cross-team engineering leadership.

Velocity Talent Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom £75,000 – £85,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Fabric Platform Engineer

Fabric Platform Engineer| Outside IR35 | £400 - £450 | HybridWe are seeking a Fabric Platform Engineer to join a growing data and analytics team. This role will play a key part in designing, building, and maintaining a modern data...

Opus Recruitment Solutions Bridgwater, Somerset, United Kingdom £400 – £450 pd
FAQs

Common questions

  • Essential skills include a strong understanding of cloud platforms, automation tools, DevOps practices, and scripting languages like Python or Bash.

  • Gain practical experience, specialise in a domain, and take on leadership roles in cloud infrastructure projects. Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest technologies are also crucial.

  • A Principal Platform Engineer strategises and oversees the entire cloud infrastructure, influences company-wide cloud strategy, and leads major initiatives.

  • Salary ranges can vary widely based on experience, location, and company size. For more detailed information, refer to the salary section on this page.

Hiring platform engineers?

Post your role in 90 seconds and reach the specialist audience that already reads this page.