Platform Engineering Manager - Non Technical

IBM SiXworks; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private Medical cover

Generous pension

Life Assurance

On-site parking

Gym on site

Café & restaurant on site

Job summary

SiXworks is seeking a Platform Engineering Manager to lead a sizeable engineering team, focusing on resourcing, professional development, and delivery alignment with business needs.

The role blends people management with solid technical understanding of Platform Engineering, supporting a Principal Platform Architect, and coordinating with the Operations team on capacity planning and skills development.

Qualifications

• Experience managing technical teams and coaching engineers to deliver software projects.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and planning abilities.
• Calm under operational pressure and able to prioritise.

Responsibilities

• Manage a large team of engineers; conduct 1:1s and develop career plans.
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members' skills.
• Provide clear guidance, support wellbeing, and maintain team morale.
• Own recruitment of new team members and onboarding.
• Balance workloads and ensure delivery excellence across projects.
• Develop and secure funding for engineering tools and workflows.

Skills

Team leadership

Coaching engineers

Delivery methodologies

Stakeholder management

Recruitment

Capacity planning

Job description

Work on Technology That Protects What Matters

At SiXworks, we build secure digital solutions that support Defence and National Security missions. Our teams work on complex problems where reliability, security, and speed of innovation matter.

We’re looking for a Platform Engineering Manager who enjoys solving difficult technical challenges and wants their work to have real operational impact.

What You’ll Do

The role of Platform Engineering Manager is primarily team management, professional development, resourcing and administration. This role supports the Principal Platform Architect who will be available to guide technically with the mentoring and management of the team. Whilst not a technical role an understanding of Platform Engineering and how engineering projects work in a technical organisation is required.

Responsible for line managing engineers and their skills; ensure skills are developed and aligned to business strategy and needs. This role blends strong people management capability with good technical understanding of Platform Engineering technologies, ensuring the right engineers with the right skills are assigned to projects, BAU activities and operational priorities. Together with our Operations team, drive & support capacity planning, workforce optimisation and skills development, ensuring high‑quality delivery across projects.

Your work may include:

• Manage a large team of engineers; holding 1:1s, supporting career development, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Lead on mentoring, coaching, and skills development of team members
• Lead the team; support wellbeing, provide clear guidance/direction, influence team morale.
• Take ownership for recruitment of new team members.

Operational Oversight:

• Support with balancing workload priorities and team capability.
• Lead high performance of team – ensuring Delivery Excellence
• Development of toolset for the Eng team e.g. keeping abreast of needs and securing funding for new tools.

Stakeholder Management:

• Act as a contact for project managers, operations team and service leadership.
• Communicate resource constraints, risks, and priorities clearly.
• Build strong relationships across technical teams.

What We’re Looking For

We value people who take ownership, think critically, and enjoy working as part of a collaborative team tackling complex challenges. You don’t need to tick every box, but we’re particularly interested in people with skills/experience in:

• Proven experience managing technical teams and coaching engineers and delivery methodologies (eg Agile, Scrum, ITIL or SDLC)
• Good leadership and communication skills.
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• Calm under operational pressure
• Background in engineering or technical project management

Just as important are curiosity, strong problem solving ability, and the motivation to continuously improve how technology is designed and delivered.

About SiXworks

SiXworks is a specialist digital innovation partner delivering secure, mission-critical technology to Defence and National Security organisations. We focus on digital experimentation, secure-by-design architecture, cloud technologies, and rapid application development to help our customers move faster and stay ahead of evolving challenges.

Our team combines expertise from across technology, business, and operational backgrounds including the armed forces creating a collaborative environment where practical thinking and innovation thrive.

Why Join Us

Our culture is guided by six principles: Agility, Security, Innovation, Quality, Collaboration and Inclusivity our North Star for how we work. SiXworks is a leading provider of secure digital solutions, specialising in digital experimentation and focused on fail-safe-fast cutting-edge technology solutions deployed in highly secure environments.

As an end-to-end digital innovation and delivery partner, we turn complex challenges into mission-critical digital advantages. This is a thrilling time for us, with ambitious plans for growth. We are looking for brilliant, experienced, driven and self-motivated people to join the team on our journey.

We offer competitive salaries and a package that supports your wellbeing and development, including 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, free Private Medical cover and Life Assurance, Generous pension (10% employer, 5% employee contribution), Bonus and Professional development and training support. In addition to secure parking, gym, café & restaurant on site and lots of open break out spaces.

A word on UK Security Clearance

Due to the secure nature of the position and working environment, you must have or be eligible to obtain Security Clearance. More details relating to UK Security Clearance can be found here:

United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Interested?

Please apply:https://sixworks.bamboohr.com/careers/321