Job Title: Senior Platform Engineer
Location: Oxford Road, Manchester
Salary: £46,485-56,921 per annum depending on experience with a market supplement up to £18,979
Job type: Full Time, Permanent – Hybrid.
Closing date: 04/02/2025
As the birthplace of the first stored program computer, the first modern computer with a hardware floating point unit, the first transistor computer and the first computer to use virtual memory, the University of Manchester has always been a place where bold ideas in technology are nurtured, and innovation thrives.
At the University of Manchester, we believe in the power of transformation. We’re not just building systems; we’re building a legacy that empowers researchers, educators, and students to dream bigger, reach further, and create more.
We’re on the lookout for a Senior Platform Engineer to join our Platform Engineering Team.
The Journey Awaits:
This is your call to step into a world where your technical expertise isn’t confined to a codebase-it’s a catalyst for cultural and technical change.
Our team is driving the adoption of cloud platforms and creating reusable, self-service tools that accelerate discovery and enable groundbreaking research.
More than a technical leader, you’ll be a connector, a mentor, and an advocate for change.
What’s Different About You?
You see beyond technology. You see people.
You’ll know how to guide junior and mid-level engineers to become the best versions of themselves, while also being comfortable in helping to solve complex technical challenges. Beyond the team, you’re comfortable in navigating stakeholder conversations with confidence and care
Whilst you’ve got deep cloud expertise (Azure and AWS) and you know Terraform like the back of your hand, what excites us most is your vision: how you’ll lead with empathy, challenge with confidence, and transform with purpose.
You’ll thrive in our environment, where collaboration isn’t just encouraged-it’s essential.
What we are looking for:
We’re not here to list acronyms or tick boxes. We understand that We know that no two journeys are the same, and not every candidate will check every box on this list. If some of the points below resonate with your skills or aspirations, we’d love to hear from you.
What matters most to us is your passion for learning, your ability to contribute meaningfully, and your desire to grow with us.
Ideally, we are looking to see:
- Hands-on experience with one or more major cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.
- Familiarity with automating the delivery of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform.
- Comfort with code repository management tools like GitLab, GitHub, or Bitbucket.
- A strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines and their role in modern development practices.
- Scripting experience with PowerShell, Python, Golang, or similar.
- An understanding of architecture design and documentation principles.
- Awareness of security compliance frameworks such as PCI DSS, ISO, Cyber Essentials, or NIST.
- Insight into SecDevOps and its role in secure, efficient delivery.
Nice-to-Haves (But Not Dealbreakers!):
- Familiarity with collaboration tools like Atlassian products (Jira, Confluence).
- Experience in building automation or integrations with platforms like ServiceNOW.
- A knack for engaging stakeholders and fostering collaboration across teams.
If you don’t meet all the criteria, that’s okay. We’re invested in supporting your growth with training, mentorship, and a role that evolves alongside you.
What You Can Expect in Return:
Our diverse job opportunities all include a top benefits package that includes many features that are hard to find in the private sector:
- Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure;
- Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family;
- Well-being programme with counselling, fitness and leading sports facilities;
- Learning and development opportunities;
- Season ticket loans for public transport;
- Cycle to Work Scheme;
- Workplace nursery scheme;
- Staff recognition schemes;
- Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings.
When completing the additional information section of your application, please ensure you make reference to the job description and person specification above, as this will form an integral part of the shortlisting process.
As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete an application form.
Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; Senior IT Systems Engineer, Senior IT Systems Technician, Lead Platform Engineer, Senior System Developer, Senior Network Engineer, Senior Infrastructure Engineer, Senior IT Support Engineer, Senior DevOps Engineer; may apply for this role.
