Head of Engineering Platforms, Architecture & Engineering Excellence for RFT

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

Job summary

Barclays in London is seeking a senior leader to head the engineering platform, architecture and engineering excellence strategy for RFT. You will own the tooling, standards and operating model enabling secure, resilient and scalable software delivery at scale.

You will drive standardised SDLC, CI/CD, deployment and developer tooling, and lead AI-assisted development initiatives while aligning with Barclays’ priorities through collaboration with CIOs, CTO, security and architecture leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead large engineering platforms and teams.
• Experience implementing standardised SDLC, CI/CD and deployment tooling.
• Strong background in architecture governance and security alignment.

Responsibilities

• Own the RFT engineering platform strategy and roadmap aligned to enterprise tech direction.
• Scale adoption of standardised SDLC, CI/CD, deployment, security and developer tooling.
• Drive engineering productivity through automation and AI-assisted development.
• Lead architecture governance, engineering standards and roadmaps across RFT.
• Deliver measurable improvements in lead time, deployment frequency and reliability.
• Partner with CIOs, CTO and security/architecture leadership on technology strategy.
• Build and lead high-performing global engineering and architecture teams.

Skills

Leadership

Platform engineering

SDLC

CI/CD

Automation

AI-assisted development

Architecture governance

Dev tooling

Security

Global teams

Job description

MANDATE

Lead the engineering platform, architecture and engineering excellence strategy for RFT, owning the tooling, standards and operating model that enable secure, resilient and efficient software delivery at scale.

SCOPE

• Platform Engineering: CGP, deployment automation and developer tooling
• Developer Platform: RDX
• Engineering Excellence & Productivity
• Architecture Governance & Technical Strategy
• Engineering AI & Agentic Development

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Own the RFT engineering platform strategy and roadmap, aligned to enterprise technology direction.
• Scale adoption of standardised SDLC, CI/CD, deployment, security and developer tooling.
• Drive engineering productivity through simplification, automation and AI-assisted development.
• Lead architecture governance, engineering standards and technical roadmaps across RFT.
• Deliver measurable improvement in lead time, deployment frequency, quality, resilience and developer experience.
• Partner with CIOs, the CTO, Security, Infrastructure and Architecture leadership on technology strategy and adoption.
• Build and lead high-performing global engineering and architecture teams.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

As a Barclays senior leader, the role is expected to:

• Set ambitious standards and create a compelling narrative that connects engineering strategy to Barclays’ priorities.
• Act with an enterprise mindset, collaborating across organisational boundaries and prioritising sustainable bank-wide outcomes.
• Embed effective risk and control management while enabling teams to innovate responsibly.
• Build future leadership and engineering capability through empowerment, coaching, development and inclusive leadership.

SUCCESS IN THE ROLE

A simpler, standardised and increasingly automated engineering ecosystem that helps RFT teams deliver change faster, more safely and with a consistently strong developer experience.

Purpose of the role

To lead and manage engineering teams, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure the delivery of high-quality software solutions, driving technical excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align technical decisions with business objectives.

Accountabilities

• Lead engineering teams effectively, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture to achieve project goals and meet organizational objectives.
• Oversee timelines, team allocation, risk management and task prioritization to ensure the successful delivery of solutions within scope, time, and budget.
• Mentor and support team members' professional growth, conduct performance reviews, provide actionable feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Evaluation and enhancement of engineering processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and optimize team productivity.
• Collaboration with business partners, product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions and ensure a cohesive approach to product development.
• Enforcement of technology standards, facilitate peer reviews, and implement robust testing practices to ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions.

Managing Director Expectations

• To manage a large, complex or diverse function and take accountability for the strategic direction of the function to significantly strengthen successful and efficient businesses and contribute to the strategic initiatives of the Barclays Group
• Lead and mentor high performing teams and embed a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects, act as a profound technical expert and thought leader, Identifying new and innovative/ground breaking ways of working. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.
• Drive and achieve overall success and / or competitiveness of a business division by influencing senior leaders and committees.
• Strategically assess and manage risks to protect the business division / function and growth.
• Influence company policy and develop functional procedures in conjunction with senior leaders / strategic positions across the business.
• Demonstrate interpretative thinking for innovative solutions in complex situations and conceptual thinking in completely new situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant / complex business and strategic decisions that impact the Barclays Group, business division or function.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally and foster growth for Barclays business.
• Mandated as the business division/ functional spokesperson or representative to external bodies and shapes the public image of Barclays.
• Demonstrate exceptional knowledge of how business divisions and functions integrate with the Group to achieve the overall business objectives alongside industry theories and practices within own discipline.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive functional expertise and significant product knowledge.
• Accountable for the control and governance agenda of the business division / function.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.