Forward Deployed Engineer - Lead Platform Engineer

Kyndryl; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Be Well program

Hybrid-friendly culture

Job summary

Kyndryl is seeking a Forward Deployed Lead / Principal Engineer (FDE) with a Platform Engineering focus in the UK. You will own architectural direction for major digital transformation programmes, aligning target-state cloud architectures with business goals while hands-on guiding the team on Azure, GCP, AWS, Kubernetes, and GenAI platforms.

You will build and govern IaC, automate delivery, and act as the technical reference on complex engagements, partnering with AI engineers and senior

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years in enterprise or platform architecture with client-facing delivery.
• Deep, hands-on cloud experience across Azure, GCP and AWS.
• Strong Kubernetes, GitOps and IaC experience with Terraform and Helm.
• End-to-end security integration in CI/CD and security tooling.
• Experience with LLM hosting, gateways and MLOps for AI deployments.

Responsibilities

• Design and build target-state cloud platforms across Azure, GCP, AWS.
• Establish enterprise Kubernetes platforms and GitOps delivery.
• Build self-service developer frameworks and landing zones.
• Architect platforms hosting generative AI systems and LLM gateways.
• Guide modernisation, microservices migrations and API integrations.
• Ensure security end-to-end within CI/CD pipelines and landing zones.
• Define architectural standards with policy-as-code and guardrails.
• Provide observability instrumentation and stakeholder roadmaps.

Skills

Azure

GCP

AWS

Kubernetes

GitOps (ArgoCD)

Terraform

Helm

CI/CD Security

Observability (Grafana/OpenTelemetry)

LLM hosting / Gen AI

Stakeholder communication

Education

Degree in Computer Science / IT / Software Engineering

Tools

ArgoCD

Kubernetes

OpenTelemetry

Job description

Who We Are

At Kyndryl, we run and reimagine the mission‑critical technology systems that drive advantage for the world’s leading businesses. We are at the heart of progress; with proven expertise and a continuous flow of AI‑powered insight, enabling smarter decisions, faster innovation, and a lasting competitive edge. For our people—Kyndryls—that means doing purposeful work that powers human progress. Join us and experience a flexible, supportive environment where your well‑being is prioritized and your potential can thrive.

The Role

Your Role

As a Forward Deployed Lead / Principal Engineer (FDE) with a Platform Engineering focus (Band 9), you own architectural direction and delivery for major digital transformation programmes, including the platforms that power generative AI and agentic systems. You align enterprise goals with target‑state cloud architectures, guide the team’s technical direction while staying close to the work, and partner closely with the AI engineers on the team.

You combine deep expertise in cloud platforms and enterprise architecture with strong consulting acumen. You establish architectural governance, champion Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation, and act as a go‑to technical reference on complex engagements.

What You Will Do

Depending on the engagement, you’ll draw on some of the below more than others — not every bullet applies to every project.

• Design and build target‑state cloud platforms across Azure, GCP, and AWS
• Establish enterprise container platforms (Kubernetes) and GitOps‑based delivery (ArgoCD)
• Build self‑service developer frameworks and landing zones, hands‑on with Terraform and Helm
• Architect platforms that host and serve generative AI systems (LLM hosting, LLM gateways, agentic workflows)
• Guide legacy application modernisation, microservices migrations, and API integrations
• Implement security end‑to‑end across the platform: security tooling built into CI/CD pipelines, namespace segmentation and managed identities in Kubernetes, and secure access controls in landing zones and the hyperscaler
• Own connectivity and network‑level security: SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle management, DNS zone management, and secure network access to endpoints
• Define architectural standards and guardrails, with security as a first‑class concern (policy‑as‑code / OPA, access controls, secrets management, compliance‑driven engineering)
• Instrument platforms for observability (Grafana, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry)
• Provide architectural oversight across multi‑disciplinary workstreams, staying close enough to unblock the team directly
• Capture field learnings, codify reusable patterns and blueprints, and mentor engineers hands‑on
• Translate enterprise requirements into technical roadmaps for senior stakeholders

Who You Are

Job Qualifications

You don’t need to tick every box below to apply — this reflects the breadth of the role, not a strict checklist.

Required Skills and Experience

• 8–10+ years in enterprise or platform architecture, leading client‑facing platform transformations
• Deep, hands‑on expertise across Azure, GCP, and AWS (landing zones, networking, IAM, cost and governance controls)
• Strong command of Kubernetes, GitOps delivery (ArgoCD), and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Helm)
• Hands‑on experience implementing security end‑to‑end: CI/CD security tooling, Kubernetes namespace segmentation and managed identities, and secure access in landing zones and the hyperscaler
• Hands‑on experience with SSL/TLS certificate management, DNS zone administration, and secure network access to endpoints
• Hands‑on experience with CI/CD pipelines, Git‑based workflows, and microservices/API architectures
• Practical experience with observability stacks (Grafana, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry)
• Experience with generative AI platforms: LLM hosting, LLM gateways (e.g. LiteLLM, Portkey, Kong AI Gateway), and MLOps/LLMOps practices for deploying and monitoring AI systems in production
• Strong stakeholder communication, translating architecture into business outcomes for senior stakeholders

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks (LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, Semantic Kernel) and their production deployment
• Understanding of LLM governance: data privacy, guardrails, and responsible‑use controls
• Track record defining and enforcing architectural governance, security standards, and risk frameworks
• T‑shaped profile: deep expertise in platform engineering and cloud architecture, broad understanding across software engineering, security, and consulting
• Willingness to travel and work on customer premises as required
• Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related discipline — or equivalent professional experience

Being You

The “Kyn” in Kyndryl means kinship, which represents the strong bonds we have with each other, our customers and our communities. We focus on ensuring all Kyndryls feel included and we welcome people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We believe in growth, and we’re excited to see what you can bring. At Kyndryl, employee feedback has told us that our number one driver of employee engagement is belonging. That sense of belonging — being a valued, respected, trusted member of the team — is fundamental to our culture and fueling great experiences for our customers. This dedication to welcoming everyone into our company means that Kyndryl gives you the ability to thrive and contribute to our culture of empathy and shared success. That’s The Kyndryl Way.

What You Can Expect

Your career with us isn’t just a job—it’s an adventure with purpose. We offer a dynamic, hybrid‑friendly culture that supports your well‑being and empowers you to grow. Our Be Well programs are thoughtfully designed to support your financial, mental, physical, and social health—because we know that when you feel your best, you do your best.

From your very first day, you’ll dive into impactful work that powers the systems our customers rely on every day. You won’t just contribute—you’ll make a difference, tackling meaningful projects that sharpen your skills and fuel your growth.

We’re here to champion your journey. With powerful tools to chart your career path, personalized development goals aligned with your ambitions, and continuous feedback to keep you inspired and on track, you’ll have everything you need to thrive and evolve. You’ll develop in‑demand skills to grow your career and achieve your ambitions with access to cutting‑edge learning opportunities—from certifications with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to coaching and hands‑on experiences. And through it all, you’ll be part of a culture that values empathy, restless learning, and a devotion to shared success.

We want you to thrive here—and we’re committed to helping you do just that. Ready to make an impact? Join us and help shape what’s next.

Get Referred!

If you know someone that works at Kyndryl, when asked ‘How Did You Hear About Us’ during the application process, select ‘Employee Referral’ and enter your contact's Kyndryl email address.