About the Role
TECH LEAD - PLATFORM ENGINEERING needed at one of our private markets technology firms! Ideally hybrid in NYC but potentially open to remote or hybrid in other cities on the east coast or mid west. Base $200k - $275k plus bonus. Must have at least 10 years of experience in software and platform engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Must have proven expertise in Azure cloud infrastructure, C#.NET backend systems, JavaScript front-end technologies, and Redis caching. This is a full time W2 role - no contractors or C2C. Visa sponsorship unfortunately not available. Must have experience within financial services, ideally specifically within the investment technology industry.
Our client's platform is transforming private asset valuation and portfolio workflows for alternative asset managers. They are seeking an experienced and hands-on Tech Lead – Platform Engineering to lead and scale their Platform team that powers a globally distributed, high-performance financial services product.
This role combines technical leadership, organizational discipline, delivery excellence, and innovation. You will lead a senior team of platform and DevOps engineers responsible for Azure infrastructure, CI/CD automation, performance optimization, and 24x7 uptime. You will also drive the design and expansion of their External API platform, enabling seamless integrations with client systems.
As a key member of the technology leadership group, you will collaborate closely with the CTO, product leads, and feature leads who depend on the platform team to deliver secure, reliable, and high-quality releases. This role demands a leader who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and execution-driven — one who accelerates delivery through clarity, structure, and focus. You will lead by example, combining strong technical acumen with the ability to create order from complexity, and by developing AI-driven proofs of concept (POCs) that inspire innovation across the team.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Platform & Infrastructure Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a distributed team of Platform and DevOps engineers, including senior contributors.
• Provide hands-on leadership, staying close to technical details and ensuring smooth execution across initiatives.
• Run focused, outcome-driven standups and planning sessions that encourage alignment without unnecessary process.
• Partner with the CTO and product leadership to define and deliver the platform roadmap, ensuring scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee Azure-based infrastructure, optimizing performance and ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) (Terraform, ARM templates, etc.) to ensure consistency and agility.
• Maintain 24x7 operational readiness through robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response systems.
• Optimize Azure SQL databases and Redis caching layers for speed, resilience, and efficiency.
2. API Strategy & Expansion
• Lead the External API strategy, collaborating with product teams, architects, and clients.
• Design, implement, and manage secure, scalable APIs that enable client and partner integrations.
• Establish and maintain standards for API governance, versioning, documentation, and observability.
• Partner with external stakeholders to ensure smooth integration and developer enablement.
• Ensure all APIs meet financial industry compliance and data protection standards.
3. Product Release Orchestration & Quality Frameworks
• Own the end-to-end orchestration of product releases, partnering with QA, operations, and feature teams.
• Implement release readiness frameworks for planning, validation, and accountability.
• Champion a Zero-Defect Mindset, emphasizing proactive testing, automation, and disciplined delivery.
• Oversee QA sign-offs, regression testing, and post-release validation.
• Build repeatable quality and delivery frameworks that combine speed with precision.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Delivery Acceleration
• Collaborate with feature leads to align platform deliverables with product roadmaps and release schedules.
• Drive clear, concise communication across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Act as a delivery enabler, removing friction, clarifying priorities, and keeping the team focused on outcomes.
• Anticipate potential risks or delivery challenges early and plan proactively to avoid disruptions.
• Maintain exceptional organizational discipline — tracking priorities, dependencies, and timelines across multiple teams.
• Promote high productivity with attention to detail, ensuring timely execution without compromising quality.
5. Innovation & AI-Driven POCs
• Lead by example through hands-on experimentation and technical curiosity.
• Create AI-driven proofs of concept (POCs) that enhance automation, observability, and delivery efficiency.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and integrate them where they create measurable value.
• Inspire the team to embrace AI-assisted engineering, intelligent automation, and modern DevOps practices.
6. DevOps & Operational Excellence
• Design and manage CI/CD pipelines for reliable, automated, and fast releases.
• Implement observability best practices — centralized logging, metrics, and distributed tracing.
• Conduct post-incident reviews, identify systemic issues, and drive preventive improvements.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational rigor.
7. Governance, Security & Compliance
• Ensure all systems and APIs comply with financial industry regulations (SOC 2, ISO 27001, etc.).
• Collaborate with InfoSec to maintain strong cloud security and data protection postures.
• Lead disaster recovery, business continuity, and capacity planning strategies.
Qualifications:
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• ~10 years of experience in software and platform engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven expertise in Azure cloud infrastructure, C#.NET backend systems, JavaScript front-end technologies, and Redis caching.
• Strong experience with DevOps, CI/CD automation, and release management.
• Demonstrated ability to drive high productivity, precision, and on-time delivery.
• Exceptional organizational skills — capable of managing multiple priorities, timelines, and dependencies with clarity and control.
• Excellent communication skills — crisp, clear, and actionable across teams and stakeholders.
• Hands-on leader with a track record of guiding by example and staying technically engaged.
• Financial Services industry experience is mandatory (FinTech, Banking, or Capital Markets).
Preferred
• Experience with microservices architectures, Kubernetes, and container orchestration.
• Familiarity with API gateways, developer portals, and observability platforms.
• Working knowledge of AI, ML, and automation frameworks for building intelligent tools and POCs.
• Strong understanding of OAuth2, OpenID Connect, and secure API authentication patterns.
Key Traits for Success:
• Hands-on Leadership: Leads by example — technically engaged, pragmatic, and detail-focused.
• Organizational Excellence: Structured, methodical, and disciplined in managing priorities and dependencies.
• Execution Velocity: Accelerates delivery through clarity, focus, and efficient planning — never slows the team with unnecessary process.
• High Productivity with Attention to Detail: Balances speed and accuracy to deliver high-quality outcomes on time.
• Crisp Communication: Communicates clearly, confidently, and constructively across all audiences.
• Proactive Risk Management: Anticipates challenges early (“sees the train crash before it happens”) and acts to prevent them.
• Collaborative Partnering: Works seamlessly with product leads, feature leads, and engineers across the organization.
• Commitment to Quality: Embodies and enforces a Zero-Defect mindset across all releases.
• Innovative Thinking: Applies AI, automation, and emerging technologies to drive efficiency and innovation.
• Composure Under Pressure: Operates with calm, focus, and professionalism during critical releases or incidents.
• Mentorship & Empowerment: Coaches, uplifts, and develops team members to reach their full potential.