Senior Platform Engineer

LearningSpring.com; Colorado; On-site; USD 155,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

PTO policy

Paid holidays

Job summary

LearningSpring is seeking a Senior Platform Engineer to design, build, and scale our AWS-based infrastructure and internal engineering workflows. This hands-on role emphasizes Terraform, automation, and reliable, secure deployments in a startup environment with flexible remote options.

You will partner with engineers to improve observability, incident response, and platform reliability while helping establish engineering best practices as we scale our School Choice Management Platform.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Platform Engineering, DevOps, SRE or related infra roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code using Terraform.
• Improve deployment automation, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering workflows.
• Partner with software engineers to enhance reliability, observability, and developer experience.
• Monitor system performance, uptime, security, and cost efficiency.
• Establish infrastructure standards and runbooks; support incident response and root cause analysis.
• Define pragmatic processes for a fast-moving startup environment.
• Evaluate tools and architectural improvements as the platform evolves.
• Contribute to security, compliance, and audit-readiness initiatives.

Skills

AWS

CI/CD

Linux

Networking

Security fundamentals

Observability

Troubleshooting

Collaboration

Tools

Terraform

Kubernetes

Datadog

Prometheus

Grafana

CloudWatch

Python

Go

Bash

Job description

Job Title: Senior Platform Engineer Location: Denver, CO or remote

About LearningSpring

LearningSpring is The School Choice Management Platform that helps states, schools, families, SGOs, and providers run modern education freedom programs with clarity and accountability. It unifies school discovery, eligibility, applications, payments, and compliance, enabling partners to operate ESA, voucher, and tax credit scholarship programs at scale on a single platform.

LearningSpring’s solutions, including the School Choice Marketplace, Education Freedom Wallet™, Federal Tax Credit Management, and complete School Choice Management for States, help families find their best-fit learning options, help schools and SGOs steward scholarships responsibly, and help states deliver transparent, auditable programs.

Founded by parents, policy experts, and technologists, LearningSpring is building the trusted backbone for modern school choice: empowering families, supporting state leadership, and driving equity and quality across K–12 education.

Position Overview

LearningSpring is seeking a Platform Engineer to help design, build, and scale the infrastructure foundations that power our applications and internal engineering workflows. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in startup environments, enjoys solving ambiguous technical challenges, and can balance long-term platform thinking with practical execution.

This role will focus heavily on AWS infrastructure and Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, while also supporting broader DevOps, reliability, security, and automation initiatives across the engineering organization.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable operating independently, improving systems incrementally, and helping establish engineering best practices as the company scales.

This role is expected to begin as a contract or contract-to-hire engagement at approximately 20–40 hours per week, with the potential to expand over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage Infrastructure as Code using Terraform
• Improve deployment automation, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering workflows
• Partner with software engineers to improve reliability, observability, and developer experience
• Monitor system performance, uptime, security, and cost efficiency
• Implement infrastructure standards, documentation, and operational best practicesSupport incident response, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis when production issues arise
• Help establish pragmatic processes appropriate for a fast-moving startup environment
• Evaluate and recommend tools, services, and architectural improvements as the platform evolves
• Contribute to security, compliance, and audit-readiness initiatives where appropriate

Key Deliverables

• Reliable, repeatable infrastructure provisioning through Terraform
• Stable and secure AWS environments across development, staging, and production
• Improved deployment speed and operational reliability
• Reduced manual operational overhead through automation
• Clear infrastructure documentation and operational runbooks
• Enhanced monitoring, alerting, and visibility into platform health
• Scalable foundational systems that support rapid product growth

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in Platform Engineering, DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering, or related infrastructure roles
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS services and cloud architecture
• Deep experience with Terraform and Infrastructure as Code principles
• Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
• Strong understanding of Linux systems, networking, and cloud security fundamentals
• Experience with containerized environments and modern deployment workflows
• Ability to troubleshoot complex production issues independently
• Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating in cross-functional teams
• Ability to operate effectively in a startup environment with evolving priorities
• Self-directed mindset with strong ownership and follow-through

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting SaaS platforms in regulated or compliance-oriented environments
• Familiarity with Kubernetes and container orchestration platforms
• Experience with observability and monitoring tools such as Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana, or CloudWatch
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines
• Scripting or software development experience in Python, Go, or Bash
• Experience optimizing cloud infrastructure cost and performance
• Familiarity with security best practices and infrastructure hardening
• Previous experience in startup or high-growth technology companies

Physical Requirements

• Sitting or standing: The ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods.
• Using hands and fingers: The ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards.
• Close visual acuity: The ability to see clearly at close distances, which is crucial for computer work.

Your Education

Where you went to school matters less than what you’ve learned since. We value curiosity, resilience, and self-awareness over pedigree. If you’re someone who pushes limits, seeks out complex problems, and knows when to ask for help, you’ll fit right in.

Performance Indicators

• Infrastructure reliability and uptime
• Deployment consistency and release velocity
• Reduction in operational toil and manual processes
• Cloud environment scalability and maintainability
• Incident response effectiveness and issue resolution speed
• Quality and completeness of infrastructure documentation
• Positive collaboration with engineering and product teams
• Ability to proactively identify and solve platform risks before they impact customers

What will help you succeed here?

• We value integrity: We lead with honesty, fairness, and transparency in every action and interaction. By treating each person with dignity, empathy, and respect, we strengthen the trust that underpins our relationships with families, educators, and community partners. Integrity guides both our decisions and how we serve our mission to support every learner’s growth.
• We have a growth mindset : We approach every challenge as an opportunity to innovate. Instead of asking why something can’t be done, we figure out how to make it happen: testing, learning, and iterating along the way.
• We are mission-driven : Everything we do helps more children access the right educational environment. Our work is essential, timely, and directly tied to helping students reach their potential.
• We act on evidence : We use data and measurable outcomes to guide our decisions and improve continuously. Every strategy and product we design reflects evidence-based practice and the ongoing pursuit of real-world impact.
• We are active problem solvers and innovators : We champion creative thinking and challenge convention to find new, effective solutions. Guided by curiosity and purpose, we use emerging tools, including AI and data analytics, to tailor experiences for parents and improve outcomes for students, adapting quickly to meet the evolving needs of families, schools, and states.

Our benefits

For individuals hired to work in Colorado, LearningSpring is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the State of Colorado and includes the range of factors considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, experience, and training, certifications, etc.

Colorado Pay Range : The anticipated pay range for this role is $155,000 – $170,000.

Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, skills, education, and past performance. In addition to base salary, this position may also be eligible for a variable bonus and equity.

Our benefits include

• Competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• A generous PTO policy
• A robust list of paid holidays

Application Deadline

This position will be an ongoing recruitment process and will be open until filled.

Visa Restrictions

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Pre-employment Screenings

Employment with LearningSpring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements, including a background check and a professional reference check.

Equal Opportunity

LearningSpring, Inc. does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, religion, veteran and military status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including genetic information or characteristics), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.