Senior Data Platform Reliability Engineer (SRE)

Role Summary

We are looking for a Senior Data Platform Reliability Engineer (SRE) to build and operate automated guardrails that keep our enterprise data platforms secure, cost-efficient, and scalable by default. This is a hands-on engineering role focused on automation, platform reliability, and developer enablement across platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, and Cloudera.

You will design and implement automation, controls, and best practices that allow engineering teams to move fast while ensuring compliance, security, and cost discipline. The ideal candidate is passionate about building platforms that are secure, cost-efficient, and scalable by default.

Key Focus Areas

• Build and operate automated guardrails for enterprise data platforms
• Focus on automation, platform reliability, and developer enablement
• Work with Snowflake, Databricks, and Cloudera
• Enable engineering teams to move fast while ensuring compliance, security, and cost discipline
• Design platforms that are secure, cost-efficient, and scalable by default

Key Responsibilities

Build Platform Guardrails (Automation-first)

• Design and implement automated controls for security, cost, and usage (Policy-as-Code / Governance-as-Code)
• Embed guardrails into CI/CD pipelines, Terraform, and platform-native controls
• Ensure platforms are secure, compliant, and optimised by default

Platform Reliability & Operational Excellence

• Define and monitor platform health indicators (cost, performance, usage anomalies)
• Identify and fix patterns causing instability, inefficiencies, or overspend
• Improve platform reliability using SRE practices (automation, observability, runbooks)

Engineer Enablement (Shift-Left)

• Work directly with data engineers to embed best practices early
• Provide practical guidance, reusable patterns, and templates
• Simplify complex platform behaviours into developer-friendly standards

FinOps & Cost Engineering

• Build visibility into usage and cost drivers
• Define and implement optimisation strategies (e.g., right-sizing, scheduling, query optimisation)
• Partner with FinOps to ensure cost predictability and accountability

Cross-Platform Engineering

• Work across Snowflake, Databricks, and Cloudera to ensure consistent patterns
• Collaborate with Platform Engineering and Security to scale platform standards globally

Required Skills & Experience

This role requires a strong foundation in platform engineering with hands-on experience in modern data platforms and cloud infrastructure. The following outlines the core requirements and additional skills that would enhance your candidacy.

Core Engineering Profile

The following requirements form the essential baseline for this position:

• 5 - 8+ years in Platform Engineering / SRE / DevOps / Data Platform Engineering – Demonstrated experience building and maintaining production-grade infrastructure with a focus on reliability, scalability, and automation
• Strong hands-on experience with at least one: Databricks, Snowflake, or Cloudera – Deep technical knowledge of modern data platforms, including architecture, optimization, and operational best practices
• Cloud platforms: AWS or Azure – Proficiency in cloud-native services, infrastructure design, and cloud cost management in enterprise environments
• Infrastructure as Code: Terraform (or equivalent) – Experience with declarative infrastructure provisioning, version control, and automated deployment pipelines
• Automation / scripting (Python, Bash) – Strong scripting skills for building automation tools, deployment pipelines, and operational utilities

Nice-to-Have

While not required, the following skills would be valuable additions to your profile:

• Exposure to FinOps / cost optimisation – Understanding of cloud cost management principles, resource tagging strategies, and cost optimization techniques across data platforms
• Security / access controls (RBAC, IAM) – Knowledge of role-based access control, identity and access management, and security best practices for data platforms
• Policy-as-Code concepts – Familiarity with policy enforcement frameworks, compliance automation, and governance as code practices

Why Join

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape engineering-driven governance in a high-impact environment, this is a role focused on building systems that matter.

Engineering-Driven Impact

• Build governance, design automated systems that enable teams to ship faster while maintaining high standards for security, privacy, and reliability. Your work directly influences how engineering teams operate at scale.

Large-Scale Platform Work

• Work on enterprise data platforms that handle real-world complexity at scale. Contribute to systems that power critical business operations, touching everything from data pipelines to infrastructure automation.

Real Ownership

• Own automation, efficiency, and reliability initiatives from concept to production. Drive improvements that reduce toil, increase system resilience, and create measurable impact across the organization.

Growth Opportunities

• Deep technical challenges in distributed systems, security, and infrastructure
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, security, and platform teams
• Influence on organizational standards and best practices
• Visibility with technical leadership and executives

If you're passionate about building systems that enable engineering excellence, this role offers the platform, resources, and autonomy to make a lasting impact.