Manager of Infrastructure – Platform Engineering

Latham & Watkins; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401(k) plan

23+ paid holidays/year

Generous PTO

Well-being programs

Professional development

Employee discounts

Affinity groups and networks

Job summary

Latham & Watkins seeks a Manager of Infrastructure - Platform Engineering to lead containerized hosting and AI/ML workloads using Red Hat OpenShift/OpenShift AI. You will guide architecture decisions, mentor engineers, and partner with security, network, and CI/CD teams in a hybrid setup located in Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

The role emphasizes embedded engineering, vendor evaluations, ADRs, and scalable infrastructure. Strong Kubernetes/OpenShift mastery and IaC (Terraform) are essential.

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of Kubernetes and OpenShift architecture, operations, security, networking, storage
• Demonstrated ability to design for AI/ML workloads on Kubernetes; OpenShift AI experience preferred
• Strong infrastructure as code experience using Terraform or equivalent
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Information Technology or related field; certifications preferred
• ITIL Foundation or equivalent service management experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Owns delivery prioritization for the Platform Engineering pillar within strategic direction
• Leads development of high-level and low-level solution designs and reference architectures
• Acts as embedded member of Platform Engineering; collaborates on OpenShift, IaC, and CI/CD delivery
• Collaborates with Azure-focused architect to implement hybrid patterns
• Authors Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) for technology direction and cost/long-term impact
• Leads vendor and product evaluations within pillar domains with ADRs and recommendations
• Creates and maintains architecture diagrams, reference patterns, and operational guidance
• Coordinates with security, network, storage, and service management teams for cohesive infra
• Follows ITSM/ITIL and security policies; ensures compliance and governance
• Provides leadership, coaching, and mentoring to engineers; fosters collaborative work practices
• Protects highly sensitive data and proprietary information

Skills

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Cloud architecture

AI/ML platform knowledge

Leadership

Security awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or related field

Relevant certifications (OpenShift, Kubernetes, ITIL)

Tools

Terraform

OpenShift

Azure cloud patterns

Job description

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world's leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. We are at the forefront of AI systems within the legal sector. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world's leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. We are at the forefront of AI systems within the legal sector. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.

About The Role

The Manager of Infrastructure - Platform Engineering is an integral part of Latham's Technology & Information Services team and will be located in either our Los Angeles or Las Vegas office. This role serves as the design authority for how modern workloads are hosted on the firm's container platform and works directly with the engineers who build and operate those services. The role is centered on Red Hat OpenShift and Red Hat OpenShift AI, and combines working architecture, line management, and embedded engineering. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Owning delivery prioritization for the Platform Engineering pillar within the strategic direction established by the Senior Manager of Infrastructure Design & Engineering, including backlog sequencing, work acceptance, estimation, and day-to-day trade-off decisions
• Leading the development of high-level and low-level solution designs, reference architectures, and global standards for containerized application hosting and AI/ML workload placement
• Contributing directly as an embedded member of the Platform Engineering pillar by participating in stand-ups, accepting sprint work, and partnering with engineers on OpenShift, infrastructure as code, and CI/CD delivery
• Collaborating with the Azure-focused Technical Architect to develop and implement hybrid patterns where the container platform and Azure estate intersect
• Authoring Architecture Decision Records for decisions that establish technology direction, introduce new patterns, carry significant cost, or create long-term organizational impact
• Leads vendor and product evaluations within the pillar's domains through time-boxed technical inquiries that produce recommendations and draft ADRs.
• Creates and maintains comprehensive technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design specifications, reference patterns, ADRs, and operational guidance.
• Collaborates with security, network, storage, application, monitoring, and service management teams to ensure cohesive and supportable infrastructure solutions.
• Follows the firm's standard ITSM, ITIL, Change Management, security, data usage, equipment usage, and licensing policies and procedures
• Provides leadership, coaching, and mentoring to engineers and promotes effective, respectful, and collaborative working practices.
• Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains

We'd love to hear from you if you:

• Possess expert knowledge of Kubernetes and OpenShift architecture, operations, security, networking, storage, multi-tenancy, and lifecycle management
• Display strong knowledge of AI/ML platform architecture, GPU scheduling and allocation, and storage patterns for model training and inference
• Demonstrate advanced infrastructure as code capability using Terraform or an equivalent technology

And have:

• A bachelor's degree or higher education diploma in Information Technology or a related field, preferably; equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Relevant Red Hat OpenShift, Kubernetes, cloud, infrastructure, and/or architecture certification, preferably
• ITIL Foundation certification or equivalent service management experience, preferably
• Deep, current, hands-on Kubernetes architecture experience; Red Hat OpenShift experience strongly, preferably
• Demonstrated experience designing for AI/ML workloads on Kubernetes; Red Hat OpenShift AI experience, preferably
• Experience leading engineers or a strong lead-level track record that includes mentoring, hiring involvement, development planning, and performance conversations
• Demonstrated success delivering architecture with engineering teams through pairing, sprint participation, and design decisions grounded in operational delivery
• Experience working effectively in distributed, asynchronous teams, preferablyExposure to NVIDIA DGX-class systems, InfiniBand or RoCE fabrics, and VAST Data or comparable HPC/AI storage, preferably
• Experience with vSphere or VMware Cloud Foundation estates and virtualization-to-container transition patterns, including OpenShift Virtualization, preferably

Benefits & Additional Information

Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham's comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• A generous 401k plan
• At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
• Professional development programs
• Employee discounts
• Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff

Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.

Latham & Watkins LLP will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO). Please click the link below to review the Ordinance.

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Pay Range

USD $180,000.00 - USD $205,000.00 /Yr.