Platform Engineer

Westpac New Zealand
Full_timeβ€’New Zealand

πŸ“ Job Overview

  • Job Title: Platform Engineer
  • Company: Westpac New Zealand
  • Location: Hapori Pōneke, New Zealand
  • Job Type: Full-time
  • Category: DevOps Engineer
  • Date Posted: 2025-08-01
  • Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
  • Remote Status: On-site

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Drive platform success by mentoring engineers and creating high-level solutions.
  • Collaborate with teams to foster a DevOps culture and enable effective platform delivery.
  • Share knowledge and drive improvements across the craft of Platform Engineering.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in Platform Engineering to mentor others and create innovative solutions. The ability to collaborate effectively with various teams is crucial for driving a DevOps culture and improving platform delivery.

πŸ’» Primary Responsibilities

  • Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing: Mentor other engineers, share knowledge, and drive improvements across Platform Engineering.
  • Solution Architecture: Create high-level solutions that meet business needs and align with technical standards.
  • Team Collaboration: Work with teams to foster a DevOps culture and enable effective platform delivery.
  • Production Support: Handle on-call rostered production support and vulnerability patching.
  • Validation & Testing: Validate functionality and performance of new development projects within the corresponding application system.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role involves a mix of technical problem-solving, mentoring, and collaboration. Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with various teams are essential for success in this role.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or relevant certification.

Experience: At least 4+ years' experience as a Platform Engineer, preferably in a large corporate environment.

Required Skills:

  • Proficient in Apache Ecosystem (HDFS, Spark, Hive) and Terraform.
  • Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and automation tools like Ansible/Chef.
  • Familiarity with Linux systems, shell scripting, and CICD tools (Jenkins).
  • Programming languages: Java, Python.
  • Experience with production deployments, best practices, backup systems, and verification.
  • Experience with Azure DevOps tooling (Azure container apps, Kubernetes services) and Snowflake platform is preferable.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with vulnerability patching and on-call production support.
  • Tertiary level qualifications in Computer Science or relevant certification.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in Platform Engineering, with experience in the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages. Familiarity with Azure DevOps tooling and the Snowflake platform is a plus.

πŸ“Š Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Demonstrate your experience with the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes through relevant projects.
  • Showcase your mentoring and collaboration skills through case studies or testimonials from colleagues.
  • Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to create high-level solutions through technical challenges or architecture decisions.

Technical Documentation:

  • Provide clear and concise documentation for your projects, including code comments, version control, deployment processes, and server configuration.
  • Include testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques used in your projects.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: As a Platform Engineer, your portfolio should showcase your technical expertise, mentoring skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with teams. Highlight your experience with the required technologies and provide clear documentation for your projects.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: NZD 120,000 - NZD 160,000 per annum (Based on experience and market research)

Benefits:

  • 4 weeks standard holiday + 5 additional days of wellbeing leave
  • Additional purchased leave options up to 4 weeks per year
  • Banking benefits, insurance discounts, and superannuation scheme
  • Growth and development opportunities
  • Recognition and rewards for star performers
  • School holiday subsidy and 2 volunteer days per year

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and maintenance windows as required.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on market research for Platform Engineer roles in New Zealand, considering the required experience and skills. The benefits package is comprehensive and tailored to support work-life balance and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees)

Founded: 1862

Team Structure:

  • Platform Engineering Chapter: Focuses on platform development, maintenance, and improvement.
  • Cross-functional teams: Collaborate with various teams, including development, design, marketing, and business teams, to deliver effective platform solutions.

Development Methodology:

  • Agile/Scrum methodologies with sprint planning for platform projects.
  • Code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
  • Deployment strategies, CI/CD pipelines, and server management.

Company Website: Westpac New Zealand

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Westpac New Zealand is a large financial services organization with a strong focus on creating better futures together. The Platform Engineering team works collaboratively with various teams to deliver effective platform solutions and drive a DevOps culture.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Mid-Senior level Platform Engineer, responsible for mentoring others, creating high-level solutions, and driving improvements across Platform Engineering.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Platform Engineering Chapter Lead and collaborates with various teams, including development, design, marketing, and business teams.

Technical Impact: Influences platform architecture, performance, and scalability, ensuring that platforms meet business needs and align with technical standards.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Technical leadership and mentoring opportunities within the Platform Engineering Chapter.
  • Cross-functional collaboration and project leadership opportunities with other teams.
  • Continuous learning and skill development through workshops, conferences, and certifications.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities, including technical leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration. The company supports continuous learning and skill development to help employees grow in their careers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspace with multiple monitors and testing devices available.

Office Location(s): Westpac on Takutai Square, Hapori Pōneke, New Zealand

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative web development environment with dedicated workspace for Platform Engineers.
  • Access to development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices.
  • Cross-functional team interaction and collaboration opportunities with various teams, including development, design, marketing, and business teams.

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and maintenance windows as required.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Westpac New Zealand offers a modern, collaborative work environment with dedicated workspace for Platform Engineers. The company encourages cross-functional team interaction and collaboration, fostering a dynamic and innovative work culture.

πŸ“„ Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

  1. Technical Assessment: Demonstrate your technical skills through coding challenges, architecture discussions, and problem-solving exercises related to Platform Engineering.
  2. Team Interaction: Collaborate with team members to discuss platform projects, architecture decisions, and user experience impact.
  3. Final Evaluation: Showcase your technical impact, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit through a final evaluation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight your experience with the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages through relevant projects.
  • Demonstrate your mentoring and collaboration skills through case studies or testimonials from colleagues.
  • Showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to create high-level solutions through technical challenges or architecture decisions.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on your knowledge of the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages.
  • Practice coding challenges and architecture discussions related to Platform Engineering.
  • Prepare for questions related to platform performance, scalability, and user experience impact.

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

  • Programming Languages: Java, Python, Shell Scripting
  • Web Frameworks & Tools: Apache Ecosystem (HDFS, Spark, Hive), Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, Chef, Jenkins
  • Server Technologies: Linux, Azure DevOps, Snowflake
  • Databases: N/A
  • Tools: N/A
  • Methodologies: Agile/Scrum, DevOps
  • Soft Skills: Mentoring, Collaboration, Problem-solving, Communication
  • Industry Terms: Platform Engineering, DevOps, Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role focuses on assessing your technical skills, mentoring abilities, and cultural fit. Prepare for coding challenges, architecture discussions, and questions related to platform performance, scalability, and user experience impact.

πŸ›  Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: N/A (Focus on backend and infrastructure)

Backend & Server Technologies:

  • Apache Ecosystem (HDFS, Spark, Hive)
  • Terraform
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • Linux
  • Azure DevOps (Azure container apps, Kubernetes services)
  • Snowflake platform

Development & DevOps Tools:

  • Ansible
  • Chef
  • Jenkins
  • Version control systems (e.g., Git)
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • Server management tools (e.g., Puppet, Ansible)

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role requires proficiency in the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages. Familiarity with Azure DevOps tooling, the Snowflake platform, and server management tools is also essential.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

  • Expertise: Demonstrate deep technical expertise in Platform Engineering.
  • Collaboration: Work effectively with various teams to deliver effective platform solutions.
  • Innovation: Create high-level solutions that meet business needs and align with technical standards.
  • Mentoring: Share knowledge and drive improvements across Platform Engineering.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Collaborate with development, design, marketing, and business teams to deliver effective platform solutions.
  • Code Review Culture: Participate in code reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions to improve platform quality and performance.
  • Peer Programming: Collaborate with team members to solve technical challenges and create high-level solutions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Westpac New Zealand values expertise, collaboration, innovation, and mentoring in Platform Engineering. The team encourages cross-functional integration, code review culture, and peer programming to foster a dynamic and innovative work culture.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Platform Performance: Optimize platform performance and scalability to meet business needs.
  • Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and integrate them into platform solutions as needed.
  • User Experience: Ensure that platforms meet user experience standards and align with business objectives.
  • Collaboration: Work effectively with various teams to deliver effective platform solutions and drive a DevOps culture.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Technical Skill Development: Attend workshops, conferences, and certifications to enhance your technical skills in Platform Engineering.
  • Leadership Development: Participate in mentoring and leadership development programs to grow as a technical leader.
  • Architecture Decision-making: Contribute to architecture decisions and drive improvements across Platform Engineering.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role presents significant technical challenges and growth opportunities, including platform performance optimization, emerging technologies integration, user experience enhancement, and collaboration with various teams. The company supports continuous learning and skill development to help employees grow in their careers.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  • Platform Architecture: Discuss platform architecture, design patterns, and best practices related to Platform Engineering.
  • Performance Optimization: Explain platform performance optimization techniques, including caching, indexing, and database optimization.
  • Problem-solving: Solve technical challenges and architecture discussions related to Platform Engineering.

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Platform Engineering at Westpac: Discuss your understanding of Platform Engineering at Westpac and how you can contribute to its success.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Describe your experience working with various teams and driving a DevOps culture.
  • User Experience Impact: Explain how you ensure that platforms meet user experience standards and align with business objectives.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Project Walkthrough: Present your projects, highlighting your experience with the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages.
  • Mentoring & Collaboration: Showcase your mentoring and collaboration skills through case studies or testimonials from colleagues.
  • Problem-solving: Demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to create high-level solutions through technical challenges or architecture decisions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Prepare for technical questions related to platform architecture, performance optimization, and problem-solving. Additionally, be ready to discuss your understanding of Platform Engineering at Westpac, collaboration with various teams, and user experience impact.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Platform Engineer position at Westpac New Zealand:

  1. Customize Your Portfolio: Highlight your experience with the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages through relevant projects. Showcase your mentoring and collaboration skills through case studies or testimonials from colleagues.
  2. Optimize Your Resume: Emphasize your technical skills, mentoring abilities, and collaboration experience. Include relevant keywords, such as Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and programming languages like Java and Python.
  3. Prepare for Technical Challenges: Brush up on your knowledge of the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant programming languages. Practice coding challenges and architecture discussions related to Platform Engineering.
  4. Research Westpac New Zealand: Understand the company's mission, values, and culture. Prepare for questions related to Platform Engineering at Westpac, collaboration with various teams, and user experience impact.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions for Platform Engineering roles. All details should be verified directly with Westpac New Zealand before making application decisions.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have at least 4 years of experience as a Platform Engineer, preferably in a large corporate environment. Essential skills include experience with the Apache Ecosystem, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and familiarity with programming languages like Java and Python.