Platform Architect

Worky; United States; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Flexible work culture

Generous time off

Tuition reimbursement

Learning & development

Job summary

Instructure is seeking a Platform Architect to lead the design, development, and delivery of our developer portal and Platform as a Service offerings. You will guide architectural decisions, mentor engineering teams, and ensure scalable, reliable platforms used by millions worldwide.

The role calls for deep distributed-systems expertise, strong programming skills, and hands-on leadership across cloud stacks, DevOps practices, and modern frameworks.

Qualifications

• Degree in CS/Engineering or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years in software development with ≥3 years in lead roles.
• Expertise in scalable, distributed systems design.
• Proficient in Ruby, Python, Java, JavaScript, Go.
• Experience with AWS/Azure/GCP and containers (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong database knowledge (SQL and NoSQL).
• Ability to drive initiatives from concept to deployment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across teams.
• Mentor and coach engineers; advocate for DevOps practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design for PaaS product features and platform components.
• Drive development of complex software solutions with high quality code.
• Provide technical leadership to multiple engineering teams.
• Collaborate with managers, SRE, and stakeholders to translate requirements.
• Evaluate new technologies to improve performance and capabilities.
• Conduct code reviews and enforce coding standards.
• Troubleshoot complex issues and perform root cause analysis.
• Act as SME across technical domains and share knowledge.
• Contribute to engineering process and tooling improvements.

Skills

Architectural design leadership

Software development leadership

Mentoring and coaching

Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Containers (Docker, Kubernetes)

Relational and NoSQL databases

Multiple programming languages (Ruby, 

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science/Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers.
We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. And that's where you come in:

Job Summary

As a Platform Architect at Instructure, Inc., you will be a technical leader and key contributor to the design, development, and delivery of our developer portal and Platform as a Service products and services. You will drive architectural decisions, mentor engineering teams, and ensure the scalability, reliability, and performance of our platforms, directly impacting the Instructure developer experience, and the learning experiences of millions worldwide.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and technical direction for our PaaS product features, services, and platform components, ensuring alignment with overall company strategy and technical vision.

• Drive the development of complex software solutions, writing high-quality, maintainable, and well-tested code across various technologies and platforms.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to multiple engineering teams, fostering best practices in software development, code quality, and system design.

• Collaborate closely with Engineering managers, SRE, and other stakeholders to understand requirements, translate them into technical specifications, and deliver innovative solutions.

• Identify and evaluate new technologies, tools, and methodologies to improve development processes, system performance, and product capabilities.

• Conduct thorough code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to coding standards and architectural principles.

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues, performing root cause analysis and implementing preventative measures.

• Act as a subject matter expert in relevant technical domains, sharing knowledge and expertise across the organization.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in software development, with at least 3 years in a lead or principal engineering role.

• Deep expertise in designing, building, and scaling complex, highly available, and distributed systems.

• Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g., Ruby, Python, Java, JavaScript, Go) and familiarity with modern web frameworks.

• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

• Strong understanding of database systems (relational and NoSQL) and data modeling principles.

• Demonstrated ability to drive technical initiatives from conception to deployment and maintenance.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

• Proven track record of mentoring and coaching engineers and fostering a collaborative team environment.

• Experience with Agile development methodologies and DevOps practices.

Get in on all the awesome at Instructure!

We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:

• Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program - because everyone should have a stake in our success.

• Flexible work culture. Our remote, hybrid and in-office collaboration spaces vary by role, team and location.

• Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual "Dim the Lights" period in late December, when teams are encouraged to step back and recharge based on departmental needs.

• Comprehensive wellness programs and mental health support

• Learning and development resources, including professional development tools and tuition reimbursement, to support your growth

• The technology and tools you need to do your best work

• Motivosity employee recognition program

• A culture rooted in inclusivity, support, and meaningful connection

We believe in hiring great people and treating them right. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas and outcomes.

Instructure is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws in every country where we operate.

All employees must pass a background check as part of the hiring process. To help protect our teams and systems, we’ve implemented identity verification measures. Candidates may be asked to verify their legal name, current physical location, and provide a valid contact number and residential address, in accordance with local data privacy laws.

Any attempt to misrepresent personal or professional information will result in disqualification.