Data Platform Engineer at Policy Expert

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Data Platform Engineer
Company: Policy Expert
Location: London, London, City of, United Kingdom
Job Type: Hybrid
Category: DevOps, System Administrator, Web Infrastructure
Date Posted: 2025-06-25

🚀 Role Summary

Policy Expert is seeking a Data Platform Engineer to join their DataOps team, responsible for managing the data platform's reliability, security, and high performance. The ideal candidate will have hands-on GCP experience, proficiency in infrastructure as code (IaC) frameworks, and a strong focus on automation and continuous delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a proactive individual with a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure and a passion for driving technical innovation in a fast-paced environment.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Define and Implement Best Practices: Establish and maintain best practices in GCP infrastructure and software delivery, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security.
Evolve CI/CD Tooling: Leverage GitHub Actions to enhance and streamline deployment processes, enabling fast and reliable releases.
Build Reusable IaC Templates: Develop and maintain reusable IaC templates and pipelines, empowering product and data teams to build and manage trusted data products efficiently.
Develop Automation and Tooling: Create automation scripts and tools to improve developer productivity and operational efficiency, reducing manual effort and human error.
Provide Expert Advice and Guidance: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify performance bottlenecks, ensure optimal scalability, and drive technical innovation across the data platform.
Champion Cloud Cost Optimization: Implement cost-aware strategies and best practices to manage cloud spend efficiently, balancing performance and cost-effectiveness.
Leverage Latest Technologies and Tools: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and tools, integrating them into the data platform to enhance developer productivity and overall performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling, with a proven track record of driving technical innovation and optimizing cloud costs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Proven experience in cloud infrastructure, data platform management, or a related role, with a strong focus on GCP and IaC frameworks.

Required Skills:

Cloud Platform Proficiency: Hands-on experience with GCP, with a deep understanding of its infrastructure, data platform, and managed services.
IaC Framework Proficiency: Proficiency in at least one IaC framework, with Terraform being the preferred choice. Experience in writing, testing, and maintaining IaC code.
CI/CD Tooling Experience: Experience with modern CI/CD tools, such as GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI, with a focus on deployment automation and infrastructure as code.
Programming Proficiency: Strong proficiency in Python, with a focus on scripting, test-driven development, and object-oriented programming.
Cloud Cost Optimization: Experience managing cloud costs, with a focus on cost-aware strategies and best practices.
Observability and Monitoring: Familiarity with observability practices and tools, such as logging, alerting, and tracing, to ensure high-quality infrastructure and data platform performance.

Preferred Skills:

AWS Experience: Experience with AWS cloud infrastructure, as there may be opportunities to contribute to the existing AWS estate.
DevOps and Infrastructure Automation: Experience with infrastructure automation tools, such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef, to streamline deployment and configuration management.
Containerization and Orchestration: Familiarity with containerization technologies, such as Docker or Kubernetes, and orchestration platforms, such as Kubernetes Engine or Amazon EKS.
Data Platform Management: Experience with data platform management tools, such as BigQuery, Cloud Spanner, or Amazon Redshift, to ensure optimal data performance and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling, with a proven track record of driving technical innovation and optimizing cloud costs in a data platform context.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Cloud Infrastructure Projects: Highlight projects demonstrating your proficiency in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling, with a focus on data platform management and cloud cost optimization.
Automation and Tooling: Showcase automation scripts and tools you've developed to improve developer productivity and operational efficiency, with a focus on reducing manual effort and human error.
Observability and Monitoring: Include examples of observability practices and tools you've implemented to ensure high-quality infrastructure and data platform performance, with a focus on logging, alerting, and tracing.

Technical Documentation:

Code Quality and Documentation: Demonstrate your commitment to code quality, commenting, and documentation standards, with a focus on maintainability, readability, and collaboration.
Version Control and Deployment: Showcase your experience with version control systems, such as Git, and deployment processes, with a focus on trunk-based development, code reviews, and automated testing.
Testing Methodologies: Highlight your proficiency in testing methodologies, with a focus on performance metrics, optimization techniques, and quality assurance practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio showcasing their proficiency in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling, with a focus on data platform management, automation, and observability. Their portfolio should demonstrate a commitment to code quality, documentation, and testing best practices.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £55,000 - £70,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications. This range is based on market research for similar roles in the London area and reflects the high level of responsibility and technical expertise required for this position.

Benefits:

Pension Contributions: Policy Expert matches your pension contributions up to 7%, helping you plan for your future.
Private Medical & Dental Cover: Enjoy comprehensive private medical and dental coverage to ensure your well-being and peace of mind.
Learning Budget: Receive an annual learning budget of £1,000, along with study leave, to support your professional development and growth.
Enhanced Maternity & Paternity: Policy Expert offers enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies to support working parents.
Travel Season Ticket Loan: Benefit from a travel season ticket loan to help you manage your commuting expenses.
London O2 Events & Private Lounge Access: Gain access to a wide selection of London O2 events and use of a private lounge, providing exclusive perks and experiences.
Employee Wellbeing Programme: Policy Expert provides an employee wellbeing programme to support your physical and mental health, fostering a positive work-life balance.
Prayer Room in Office: Policy Expert offers a prayer room in the office to accommodate the diverse needs and beliefs of its employees.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range and benefits package reflect the high level of responsibility and technical expertise required for this role, as well as Policy Expert's commitment to supporting the well-being and professional growth of its employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture: Policy Expert fosters a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive work environment, where every employee's contribution is valued and celebrated. The company encourages open communication, continuous learning, and innovation, empowering its teams to drive technical excellence and business success.

Team Structure:

DataOps Team: The DataOps team consists of experienced professionals responsible for managing the data platform's reliability, security, and high performance. The team works closely with product, data, and engineering teams to ensure the data platform meets the evolving needs of the business.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Policy Expert encourages cross-functional collaboration between teams, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning. The DataOps team works closely with product, data, and engineering teams to ensure the data platform meets the evolving needs of the business.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Policy Expert embraces Agile and Scrum methodologies, enabling teams to work iteratively, prioritize features, and deliver value quickly and efficiently.
Code Review and Quality Assurance: The company emphasizes code review, testing, and quality assurance practices, ensuring high-quality, maintainable, and secure code.
Deployment Strategies: Policy Expert leverages continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate deployment processes, ensuring fast, reliable, and secure releases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Policy Expert's dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive work environment fosters a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning, empowering teams to drive business success and innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Data Platform Engineer Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a high level of technical expertise, experience, and leadership in data platform management, cloud infrastructure, and IaC frameworks. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving technical innovation, optimizing cloud costs, and managing high-performing data platforms.

Reporting Structure: The Data Platform Engineer reports directly to the Head of Data Engineering, working closely with the DataOps team, product, data, and engineering teams to ensure the data platform meets the evolving needs of the business.

Technical Impact: The Data Platform Engineer plays a critical role in shaping the data platform's architecture, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security. Their work directly impacts the reliability, availability, and performance of the data platform, enabling teams to build and manage trusted data products efficiently and effectively.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: As the Data Platform Engineer gains experience and expertise, they may have the opportunity to take on a technical leadership role, driving innovation, and mentoring other team members.
Architecture and Design: The Data Platform Engineer may have the opportunity to contribute to the data platform's architecture and design, driving innovation and ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security.
Emerging Technologies: The Data Platform Engineer may have the opportunity to explore and integrate emerging technologies and tools into the data platform, driving innovation and enhancing developer productivity and overall performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Data Platform Engineer role offers significant opportunities for professional growth, technical leadership, and innovation, empowering the ideal candidate to drive technical excellence and business success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Policy Expert's London office offers a modern, collaborative, and dynamic workspace, designed to foster innovation, creativity, and productivity. The office features open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and breakout areas, encouraging team interaction and knowledge sharing.

Office Location: Policy Expert's London office is conveniently located in the heart of the city, with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities. The office's central location enables employees to enjoy the vibrant culture, dining, and entertainment options that London has to offer.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Workspaces: The office features open-plan workspaces, designed to encourage team interaction, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving.
Meeting Rooms and Breakout Areas: The office includes dedicated meeting rooms and breakout areas, providing spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal discussions.
On-Site Amenities: The office offers a range of on-site amenities, including a fully-equipped kitchen, shower facilities, and a prayer room, ensuring employee comfort and well-being.

Work Schedule: Policy Expert operates on a hybrid work arrangement, with employees working from the office three days a week and remotely for the remaining two days. This flexible work arrangement enables employees to balance their work and personal responsibilities effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Policy Expert's modern, collaborative, and dynamic work environment fosters a culture of innovation, creativity, and productivity, empowering employees to drive technical excellence and business success.

💡 Interview Preparation

Interview Process:

Technical Assessment: The interview process includes a technical assessment, focusing on the candidate's proficiency in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling. The assessment may include live coding exercises, infrastructure design challenges, and data platform management scenarios.
Behavioral Interview: The behavioral interview focuses on the candidate's problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and cultural fit. The interview may include questions about the candidate's approach to cloud cost optimization, automation, and observability practices.
Team Fit Assessment: The team fit assessment involves a meeting with the DataOps team, providing an opportunity for the candidate to discuss their technical expertise, cultural fit, and potential contributions to the team's success.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Cloud Infrastructure Projects: Highlight your proficiency in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling by showcasing your most relevant cloud infrastructure projects, with a focus on data platform management, automation, and observability.
Automation and Tooling: Demonstrate your ability to improve developer productivity and operational efficiency by presenting your most impressive automation scripts and tools, with a focus on reducing manual effort and human error.
Observability and Monitoring: Showcase your expertise in observability practices and tools by presenting your most innovative logging, alerting, and tracing solutions, with a focus on ensuring high-quality infrastructure and data platform performance.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

GCP Infrastructure Proficiency: Brush up on your GCP infrastructure knowledge, focusing on its data platform, managed services, and best practices for data platform management, automation, and observability.
IaC Framework Proficiency: Review your proficiency in IaC frameworks, with a focus on Terraform, to ensure you can effectively design, implement, and maintain reusable IaC templates and pipelines.
CI/CD Tooling Experience: Refresh your experience with modern CI/CD tools, such as GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI, to ensure you can effectively evolve and optimize deployment processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process focuses on assessing the candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and cultural fit. By preparing thoroughly and showcasing your relevant cloud infrastructure projects, automation scripts, and observability solutions, you can effectively demonstrate your qualifications for the Data Platform Engineer role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for the Data Platform Engineer position at Policy Expert:

Update Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience in GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling, with a focus on data platform management, automation, and observability. Include specific examples of your technical achievements and the impact you've made in previous roles.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio showcasing your most impressive cloud infrastructure projects, automation scripts, and observability solutions, with a focus on data platform management, automation, and observability. Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and highlights your technical expertise and problem-solving skills.
Research the Company and Role: Familiarize yourself with Policy Expert's company culture, values, and mission. Understand the specific requirements and responsibilities of the Data Platform Engineer role, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the position's needs.
Practice Technical Interview Questions: Review and practice common technical interview questions related to GCP infrastructure, IaC frameworks, and CI/CD tooling. Focus on understanding the underlying concepts and being able to explain your thought processes and problem-solving strategies clearly and concisely.
Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions: Reflect on your past experiences, focusing on your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and cultural fit. Practice answering behavioral interview questions, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements and the impact you've made in previous roles.
Apply: Submit your application through the provided link, including your resume, portfolio, and any other relevant documents. Ensure you follow the application instructions carefully and provide all the required information.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

Tailor every section specifically to web development, server administration, DevOps, and web infrastructure roles
Include web development methodologies, responsive design principles, and server management practices
Emphasize web portfolio requirements, live project demonstrations, and user experience considerations
Address web development team dynamics, cross-functional collaboration with designers and marketers
Focus on web technology career progression, emerging technology adoption, and technical specialization

Quality Standards:

Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information
Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about web development processes, server configuration, or team structure
Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text
Strategically distribute web development and server administration-related keywords throughout all sections naturally
Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and web technology specialization

Industry Expertise:

Include specific web technologies, frameworks, server platforms, and infrastructure tools relevant to the role
Address web development career progression paths and technical leadership opportunities in web teams
Provide tactical advice for web portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies
Include web technology-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance
Emphasize responsive design, performance optimization, accessibility standards, and user experience principles

Professional Standards:

Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout
Use web development and server administration industry terminology appropriately and accurately
Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to web technology professionals
Provide actionable insights that give web development and server administration candidates a competitive advantage
Focus on web development team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and user impact measurement

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

Emphasize web development best practices, responsive design principles, and performance optimization
Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the web technology discipline and role level
Address browser compatibility, accessibility standards, and user experience design principles
Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable web architecture
Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for web projects

Avoid:

Generic business jargon not relevant to web development or server administration roles
Placeholder text or incomplete sections
Repetitive content across different sections
Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific web technology role
Marketing language unrelated to web development, server administration, or user experience

Generate comprehensive, web technology-focused content that serves as a valuable resource for web developers, server administrators, and infrastructure professionals evaluating career opportunities and preparing for technical interviews in the web development industry.

Data Platform Engineer