Technical Lead - Platform Engineering (Hedge Fund)

Vertus Partners; City Of London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable buy-side firm in London is seeking a Platform Engineering Lead to take ownership of their core infrastructure platform. This role involves leading a small team, designing and operating cloud environments, and improving infrastructure automation. Candidates should have extensive AWS and Kubernetes experience, comfortable leading in a technical environment. The position requires onsite presence in London for 4 days a week and offers a competitive salary range of £150k–£200k.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on AWS experience, including building and operating production environments.
• Deep Kubernetes knowledge, particularly around networking and resource management.
• Solid infrastructure automation skills (Terraform, scripting).
• Experience with CI/CD, observability, and operating resilient platforms.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve a hybrid platform spanning AWS and on-prem infrastructure.
• Design, build, and operate cloud environments, container platforms, and shared services.
• Improve infrastructure automation, release speed, and platform reliability.
• Support ongoing cloud migrations, data platform growth, and AI-driven initiatives.

Skills

AWS experience

Kubernetes knowledge

Infrastructure automation skills (Terraform)

CI/CD experience

Familiarity with managed Kafka

Technical vision definition

Experience in a trading production environment

Job description

Platform Engineering Lead - AWS - Kubernetes - Manager - Kafka - Terraform

Our client, a reputable buy‑side firm, is building out their Platform Engineering capability and are looking for a hands‑on Platform Engineering Lead to take ownership of their core infrastructure platform and help shape its next phase of growth. This role sits at the centre of their cloud and on‑prem environment and will play a key part in scaling their technology to support data, AI, and trading workloads.

You will lead a small group of experienced engineers, with scope to influence future hiring and technical direction. While not a traditional management role initially, it carries clear technical leadership and ownership.

What you’ll do

• Own and evolve a hybrid platform spanning AWS and on‑prem infrastructure
• Design, build, and operate cloud environments, container platforms, and shared services
• Set technical direction while remaining deeply involved in delivery
• Improve infrastructure automation, release speed, and platform reliability
• Support ongoing cloud migrations, data platform growth, and AI‑driven initiatives
• Partner closely with engineering and the wider business to align platform capabilities with real needs

What they’re looking for

• Strong hands‑on AWS experience, including building and operating production environments
• Deep Kubernetes knowledge, particularly around networking and resource management
• Solid infrastructure automation skills (Terraform, scripting)
• Experience with CI / CD, observability, and operating resilient platforms
• Familiarity with managed Kafka and modern data platforms
• Proven ability to define a technical vision and execute it
• Comfortable leading by example in a highly technical environment
• Lots of experience working in a busy trading production environment, preferably in the buy‑side space

They are open to candidates at senior technical lead through to senior manager level, provided you bring strong engineering depth and a track record of ownership. The role requires this person to be onsite 4 days a week in their London office. It will pay between £150k‑£200k.