Platform Engineer Senior

Referrals Only; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Thoughtworks is seeking a Senior Platform Engineer to design and optimize platform infrastructure, focusing on developer experience and scalable automation. You will guide DevOps practices, secure cloud environments, and drive IaC adoption while mentoring engineers and aligning with business goals.

The role emphasizes building robust CI/CD pipelines, containerization with Docker/Kubernetes, and performance tuning across distributed systems in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• IaC design and automation using Terraform with production-grade configurations.
• Secure cloud environments with resilient, compliant infrastructure and threat monitoring.
• Observability through telemetry and alerting using Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog, or New Relic.
• Build and automate CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure test automation (Terratest, Kitchen, InSpec).
• Manage high-throughput data pipelines, cloud storage, and NoSQL databases.
• Lead containerization with Docker and Kubernetes for microservices and RESTful APIs.
• Write high-quality software and automation scripts (Java, Python, Go, Bash).
• Optimize platform reliability, performance, and cloud cost efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and management of scalable, secure platform infrastructure.
• Architect and maintain CI/CD pipelines with fast feedback and automation.
• Ensure high availability, reliability, and performance of the platform.
• Troubleshoot complex platform issues and drive corrective actions.
• Manage containerized environments using Docker, Kubernetes, and orchestration tools.
• Drive IaC adoption for scalable resource management.
• Lead DevOps and GitOps initiatives across the organization.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Propose and execute optimization strategies balancing cost and performance.

Skills

IaC / Terraform

GCP expertise

Security monitoring

Observability

CI/CD pipelines

Docker & Kubernetes

Java/Python/Go/Bash

Cloud cost optimization

DevOps / GitOps

Mentoring/leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Chef

Prometheus

Grafana

Datadog

New Relic

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

As Senior Platform Engineer, you will design, develop, and optimize the platform infrastructure that enables high-scale software delivery. Your primary focus will be on enhancing the Developer Experience by creating and improving tools, systems, and processes. You will collaborate closely with teams, providing technical guidance and fostering best practices in automation, security, and scalability. As a senior engineer, you will take ownership of critical platform components and contribute significantly to strategic decisions, ensuring alignment with both business and technical objectives.

Job responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and management of scalable and secure platform infrastructure.
• Architect and maintain CI/CD pipelines, ensuring automation and fast feedback loops.
• Ensure the platform meets high availability, reliability, and performance standards.
• Troubleshoot complex platform issues, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions.
• Manage and optimize containerized environments using Docker, Kubernetes, and orchestration tools.
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for scalable resource management.
• Lead initiatives to improve DevOps and GitOps practices across the organization.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and team members.
• Propose and execute platform optimization strategies, balancing cost and performance.

Job qualifications

Technical Skills

• You will architect and automate cloud platforms using Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Leverage deep GCP expertise (including serverless and advanced networking), write and manage production-grade Terraform configurations, and automate configuration management using Ansible or Chef.
• You will secure cloud environments and implement active security monitoring: Design resilient, compliant, and scalable infrastructure while embedding security monitoring and proactive threat detection into the platform.
• You will drive platform observability, monitoring, and alerting: Design and maintain proactive telemetry and alerting systems using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog, or New Relic to maintain system health and fast incident response.
• You will build robust CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure test automation: Implement DevOps and GitOps practices while creating automated test suites (e.g., Terratest, Kitchen, InSpec) across every stage of the deployment pipeline.
• You will manage and support data infrastructure and operations: Maintain high-throughput data pipelines, cloud storage solutions, and NoSQL databases to ensure data availability, performance, and integrity.
• You will deploy and scale containerized, cloud-native architectures: Lead containerization efforts using Docker and Kubernetes, and support microservices architectures communicating through RESTful APIs.
• You will write high-quality software and automation scripts: Apply advanced programming practices using languages such as Java, Python, Go, or Bash to build tools, automate operational tasks, and integrate platform services.
• You will optimize platform reliability, performance, and efficiency: Conduct continuous performance tuning, engineer platforms for horizontal scaling, and implement cloud cost-optimization strategies.

Professional Skills

• Exceptional communication skills, capable of influencing technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven leadership and mentoring abilities within cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on innovative and sustainable solutions.
• Ability to take strategic ownership and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency in presenting technical recommendations with well-reasoned arguments.

Learning & Development

There is no one-size-fits-all career path at Thoughtworks: however you want to develop your career is entirely up to you. But we also balance autonomy with the strength of our cultivation culture. This means your career is supported by interactive tools, numerous development programs and teammates who want to help you grow. We see value in helping each other be our best and that extends to empowering our employees in their career journeys.

EEO

Thoughtworks is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, stermination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Thoughtworks is also an affirmative action employer of veterans and individuals with disabilities.
For additional information, please see the Thoughtworks, Inc. Equal Employment Opportunity & Affiantive Action Policy Statement .

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment in the United States.

Accommodations

Thoughtworks is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable law.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, participate in interviews, or otherwise engage in the hiring process, you may request an accommodation by completing this form or speaking with your recruiter. Requests may be made at any stage of the application or interview process.
Once a request is received, Thoughtworks will engage in an interactive process with the applicant to determine an appropriate accommodation. Applicants are not required to disclose medical diagnoses or detailed personal information in order to request an accommodation. All accommodation requests will be handled in a timely, confidential, and respectful manner, consistent with applicable legal requirements.
Requesting an accommodation will not negatively affect your consideration for employment. Company prohibits retaliation against any applicant for requesting an accommodation or participating in the accommodation process. Accommodations made during the recruitment process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodations once hired. If you are hired by Thoughtworks, and require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you may be asked to engage in our reasonable accommodation process.

As a technology consultancy, the projects we undertake are subject to change based on client needs and agreements. While we strive for consistency, please be aware that project scope or availability may shift, or projects may even be cancelled, during the recruitment and selection process, which is often outside of our direct control. Should the project related to this vacancy be significantly altered or cancelled, all impacted candidates will be promptly and duly informed of the change

Benefits: https://www.thoughtworks.com/en-us/careers/benefits

The annual salary range posted is subject to many factors and may vary depending on experience, geographic location, job responsibilities, performance, skills and/or training.