Director - Platform Engineering & Architecture Lead

Citi; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Discretional bonus

Private medical care

Employee assistance program

Pension plan

Parental leave

Employee discounts

Learning resources

Job summary

Citi is seeking an engineering leader to architect and deliver enterprise-scale platforms used by thousands across the globe. You will drive architecture strategy, set engineering standards, and stay hands-on in design and delivery.

You will mentor leaders, lead cross-team reviews, and steer critical programmes with strong business impact while operating in a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading enterprise-scale software engineering organisations.
• Proven expertise in distributed systems and cloud-native architectures.
• Hands-on coding in Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Java, or similar.
• Strong frontend, backend, APIs, and observability understanding.
• Experience leading architecture reviews across multiple teams.
• Track record delivering large-scale strategic programmes with measurable business impact.

Responsibilities

• Own technology outcomes and architecture strategy across large portfolios.
• Lead architecture across interconnected systems, platforms and products.
• Drive strategic technology direction while remaining hands-on in design and delivery.
• Define enterprise engineering standards, reference architectures and reusable patterns.
• Lead delivery of high-profile programmes with business and regulatory visibility.
• Mentor engineering leaders and senior engineers to raise technical excellence.
• Provide technical leadership during major incidents and architectural reviews.

Skills

Enterprise leadership

Distributed Systems

Cloud-native

Python/JavaScript/TypeScript/Go/Java

Frontend & Backend

Architecture reviews

Large-scale delivery

Job description

Engineer the future of global finance. At Citi, our Tech team doesn’t just support finance – we are helping to redefine it. Every day, $5 trillion crosses through our network. We do business in 180+ countries operating at a scale few can match. From deploying advanced AI to helping shape global markets, we build systems that matter. Look to join a team where your work helps influence economies, your ideas can drive innovation and outcomes, and your growth is backed by mentorship, continuous learning and flexibility with potential hybrid work opportunities. Help solve real-world challenges that touch millions and get the opportunity to build the future of finance with Citi Tech.

Overview

• Hands‑on engineering leadership role focused on architecture, design and delivery of enterprise‑scale platforms and applications supporting up to 200,000+ users across critical workflows. Leads complex cross‑domain initiatives, establishes engineering standards, drives policy‑as‑code adoption and remains actively involved in software design, coding and technical decision making.

Responsibilities

• Own technology outcomes and architecture strategy across large portfolios affecting enterprise workflows and tens of thousands of employees globally.
• Lead architecture and design across multiple interconnected systems, platforms and products.
• Drive strategic technology direction while remaining hands‑on in solution design, code reviews and software delivery.
• Define enterprise engineering standards, reference architectures and reusable patterns.
• Lead delivery of high‑profile programmes with significant business, operational and regulatory visibility.
• Establish policy‑as‑code, automated governance and engineering controls embedded into delivery pipelines.
• Guide full stack engineering teams across frontend, backend, APIs, cloud platforms and data services.
• Partner with senior executives to translate business strategy into scalable technology roadmaps.
• Make critical decisions on platform modernisation, resiliency, scalability, performance and security.
• Mentor engineering leaders and senior engineers while raising technical excellence across the organisation.
• Provide technical leadership during major incidents, transformations and complex architectural reviews.

Required Experience

• Significant experience leading enterprise‑scale software engineering organisations.
• Proven expertise in distributed systems, cloud‑native architectures and modern engineering practices.
• Demonstrated hands‑on coding capability in at least one of: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Java, or similar enterprise language.
• Strong understanding of frontend frameworks, backend services, APIs, integration patterns and observability.
• Experience leading architecture reviews and influencing technical decisions across multiple teams.
• Track record delivering large‑scale strategic programmes with measurable business impact.

What we’ll provide you

By joining Citi, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• A discretional annual performance related bonus
• Private Medical Care & Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends
• Access to an array of learning and development resources

Visit our About Us | Culture, Values & Benefits page to learn more.

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self, every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay and empowered to thrive.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.

Job Family Group: Technology

Job Family: Applications Development

Time Type: Full time

Most Relevant Skills: Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills: For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.