Senior Platform Engineer at Carbon

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Platform Engineer
Company: Carbon
Location: Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Job Type: On-site
Category: DevOps Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-06-18
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Design, build, and maintain Carbon's evolving platform, infrastructure, and services.
Collaborate and teach other engineers to run production systems with confidence and autonomy.
Support teams with expertise in deployment, infrastructure configuration, and scalability across the entire stack.
Cultivate the engineering organization through interviews, mentoring, and technical evangelism.
Apply modern software engineering practices including writing and reviewing code.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a senior-level DevOps engineer with a strong background in platform engineering, infrastructure management, and software development. Familiarity with Carbon's tech stack and financial services industry is a plus.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain Carbon's platform, infrastructure, and services using modern software engineering practices.
Collaborate and teach other engineers to run production systems with confidence and autonomy, fostering a culture of learning and growth.
Support teams with expertise in deployment, infrastructure configuration, and scalability across the entire stack, ensuring high availability and performance.
Cultivate the engineering organization by participating in engineer interviews, peer mentoring, and technical evangelism, helping to shape the team's culture and technical direction.
Apply modern software engineering practices including writing and reviewing code, contributing to codebases, and ensuring code quality and maintainability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong understanding of software engineering principles, infrastructure management, and platform engineering. Experience with Carbon's tech stack and financial services industry is beneficial but not required.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in platform engineering, DevOps, or a similar role. Proven experience building, maintaining, and scaling large-scale platforms and infrastructure.

Required Skills:

Platform Engineering: Experience designing, building, and maintaining robust, scalable, and secure platforms and infrastructure.
Software Development: Proficiency in one or more programming languages, with a strong focus on JavaScript (Node.js) and Java (Spring Framework).
Cloud Platforms: Experience with AWS services, including EC2, ECS, and Lambda, as well as other cloud platforms.
Networking: Familiarity with networking concepts, CDNs, HTTP, and TCP/IP basics.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Experience with configuration management tools and IaC platforms, such as Terraform.
Monitoring: Experience with application monitoring tools, such as Amazon Cloudwatch and Datadog.
Databases & Caches: Experience managing databases, caches, and message queues, including Postgres, DynamoDB, MongoDB, Redis, and Kafka.
Microservices & Distributed Systems: Knowledge of microservices architecture and distributed systems.
Testing: Experience with Test Driven Development (TDD) and Continuous Integration (CI) practices.

Preferred Skills:

Financial Services Industry: Familiarity with the financial services industry and financial concepts.
Fineract: Experience working with Fineract or other core banking applications.
TypeScript & ES6: Ability to write JavaScript in TypeScript and/or ES6.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong foundation in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management. Familiarity with Carbon's tech stack and financial services industry is a plus but not required.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Platform Engineering Projects: Include projects that demonstrate your experience designing, building, and maintaining large-scale platforms and infrastructure.
Software Development Projects: Showcase your proficiency in one or more programming languages, with a focus on JavaScript (Node.js) and Java (Spring Framework).
Cloud Platform Projects: Highlight your experience with cloud platforms, such as AWS, and the services you've used to build and manage infrastructure.
Networking Projects: Demonstrate your understanding of networking concepts, CDNs, HTTP, and TCP/IP basics through relevant projects.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Projects: Include examples of your experience with configuration management tools and IaC platforms, such as Terraform.
Monitoring Projects: Showcase your experience with application monitoring tools, such as Amazon Cloudwatch and Datadog, through relevant projects.
Databases & Caches Projects: Highlight your experience managing databases, caches, and message queues through relevant projects.
Microservices & Distributed Systems Projects: Include projects that demonstrate your knowledge of microservices architecture and distributed systems.

Technical Documentation:

Code Quality: Demonstrate your commitment to writing clean, well-documented, and maintainable code.
Version Control: Showcase your experience with version control systems, such as Git, and your ability to collaborate effectively with other developers.
Deployment Processes: Highlight your experience with deployment processes, including CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.
Server Configuration: Include examples of your experience with server configuration and management, demonstrating your ability to ensure high availability and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong portfolio that demonstrates your experience and expertise in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management. Include projects that showcase your ability to design, build, and maintain large-scale platforms and infrastructure, as well as your proficiency in relevant technologies and tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for this role in Lagos, Nigeria, is ₦12,000,000 - ₦18,000,000 per annum, based on market research and industry standards for senior-level DevOps engineers with relevant experience.

Benefits:

Health Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and their dependents.
Life Insurance: Life insurance coverage to protect employees and their families in case of unforeseen events.
Career Development & Growth: Opportunities for professional growth and development within the organization.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is 40 hours, with flexible scheduling to accommodate project deadlines and maintenance windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The estimated salary range is based on market research and industry standards for senior-level DevOps engineers with relevant experience in Lagos, Nigeria. Actual compensation may vary depending on factors such as experience, skills, and market conditions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Carbon is a digital Tier 1 Unit microfinance bank, focused on providing accessible and affordable financial services to individuals and businesses across Nigeria.

Company Size: Carbon is a growing organization with a multicultural team, offering a vibrant work environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Founded: Carbon was founded in 2017, with a mission to drive financial inclusion and economic growth through innovative financial services.

Team Structure:

Platform Engineering Team: A dedicated team responsible for designing, building, and maintaining Carbon's platform, infrastructure, and services.
Software Development Teams: Multiple teams focused on building and maintaining Carbon's web, mobile, and backend applications.
Product & Design Teams: Teams responsible for defining product strategy, user experience, and visual design.
Business & Operations Teams: Teams focused on business development, customer support, and day-to-day operations.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum: Carbon uses Agile/Scrum methodologies to manage development processes, with regular sprint planning, code reviews, and testing.
Code Review & Quality Assurance: Carbon prioritizes code quality and maintainability, with a focus on automated testing, code reviews, and continuous integration.
Deployment Strategies: Carbon employs CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery.

Company Website: Carbon Website

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's company culture is driven by its mission to provide accessible and affordable financial services to individuals and businesses across Nigeria. The organization values innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a customer-centric approach to financial services.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the senior-level, requiring a deep understanding of platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management. The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of experience in a similar role and be ready to take on a leadership position within the team.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Platform Engineer will report directly to the Head of Engineering and work closely with other engineering team members, as well as cross-functional teams, to ensure high availability, performance, and scalability of Carbon's platform and infrastructure.

Technical Impact: The Senior Platform Engineer will have a significant impact on Carbon's platform and infrastructure, ensuring that the organization's technology stack is scalable, secure, and capable of supporting its continued growth. They will also play a crucial role in defining and implementing Carbon's technical strategy and architecture.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: The Senior Platform Engineer will have the opportunity to grow into a technical leadership role, mentoring junior engineers, and driving the team's technical direction.
Architecture & Design: The Senior Platform Engineer will have the chance to work on complex architectural challenges, designing and implementing scalable, secure, and efficient systems.
Emerging Technologies: Carbon's focus on innovation and emerging technologies provides ample opportunities for the Senior Platform Engineer to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and tools in platform engineering and infrastructure management.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to take on a technical leadership position and work on complex architectural challenges. Carbon's focus on innovation and emerging technologies also provides ample opportunities for professional development and growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Carbon's office is a vibrant, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity, innovation, and teamwork.

Office Location(s): Carbon's headquarters is located in Lagos, Nigeria, with additional offices planned for expansion across the country.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Work Environment: Carbon's office layout encourages collaboration and teamwork, with open-plan workspaces and dedicated team areas.
Development Tools & Equipment: Carbon provides its engineers with modern development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices to ensure optimal productivity and performance.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Carbon's engineering teams work closely with product, design, and business teams to ensure that technology decisions align with business objectives and user needs.

Work Schedule: Carbon offers a flexible work schedule, with core hours between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Engineers are encouraged to manage their time effectively and prioritize work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's work environment is designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork and user-centered design. The organization's flexible work schedule and commitment to work-life balance ensure that engineers have the support they need to thrive both personally and professionally.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Call with People Team: A brief call to understand your background, experience, and career goals.
Case Study (Assessment): A hands-on assessment to evaluate your technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Interview: A comprehensive interview to discuss your experience, technical expertise, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Portfolio Structure: Organize your portfolio by project, highlighting your role, the technologies used, and the outcomes achieved.
Live Demos: Include live demos of your projects, showcasing their functionality and user experience.
Code Quality: Demonstrate your commitment to writing clean, well-documented, and maintainable code.
Technical Documentation: Include detailed project documentation, outlining your approach, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Platform Engineering Challenges: Familiarize yourself with Carbon's tech stack and prepare for challenges related to platform engineering, infrastructure management, and software development.
Problem-Solving: Brush up on your problem-solving skills, focusing on algorithm design, data structures, and system design principles.
Communication: Prepare to articulate your technical concepts clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

ATS Keywords: [Comprehensive list of web development and server administration-relevant keywords for resume optimization, organized by category: programming languages, web frameworks, server technologies, databases, tools, methodologies, soft skills, industry terms]

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's interview process is designed to evaluate your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. The organization values candidates who can think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate successfully with cross-functional teams.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies:

React: Carbon uses React for building user interfaces and web applications.
Redux: Carbon employs Redux for state management in its React applications.
TypeScript: Carbon uses TypeScript to ensure code quality, maintainability, and type safety in its JavaScript projects.

Backend & Server Technologies:

Node.js: Carbon uses Node.js for building server-side applications and APIs.
Express: Carbon employs Express to build its web applications and APIs.
AWS: Carbon leverages AWS for cloud computing, storage, and managed services, including EC2, ECS, and Lambda.
Docker: Carbon uses Docker for containerization and deployment of its applications and services.
Terraform: Carbon employs Terraform for infrastructure as code (IaC) and automated deployment of its infrastructure.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Git: Carbon uses Git for version control and collaboration on its codebase.
Jenkins: Carbon employs Jenkins for continuous integration (CI) and automated testing of its applications.
Prometheus & Grafana: Carbon uses Prometheus and Grafana for monitoring, alerting, and visualization of its infrastructure and applications.
Datadog: Carbon employs Datadog for application performance monitoring, log management, and security monitoring.

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's technology stack is designed to be modern, scalable, and secure, with a focus on emerging technologies and best practices in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Innovation: Carbon values innovation and encourages its engineers to explore new technologies, tools, and approaches to problem-solving.
Data-Driven: Carbon prioritizes data-driven decision-making, using data and analytics to inform its technical and business strategies.
User-Centric: Carbon focuses on creating intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly digital experiences for its customers.
Collaboration: Carbon fosters a culture of collaboration, encouraging its teams to work together to achieve common goals and drive success.
Continuous Learning: Carbon prioritizes continuous learning and professional development, providing its engineers with opportunities to grow and expand their skills and knowledge.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Carbon's engineering teams work closely with product, design, and business teams to ensure that technology decisions align with business objectives and user needs.
Code Review Culture: Carbon prioritizes code quality and maintainability, with a focus on automated testing, code reviews, and continuous integration.
Peer Mentoring: Carbon encourages peer mentoring and knowledge sharing, with regular opportunities for engineers to learn from one another and grow professionally.

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's team culture is driven by its commitment to innovation, data-driven decision-making, and user-centered design. The organization values collaboration, continuous learning, and professional development, providing its engineers with the support and resources they need to thrive both personally and professionally.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Platform Scalability: Design, build, and maintain scalable, secure, and efficient platforms and infrastructure to support Carbon's continued growth and expansion.
Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and tools in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management, and integrate them into Carbon's technology stack as needed.
Performance Optimization: Continuously monitor and optimize Carbon's platform and infrastructure for performance, ensuring that the organization's applications and services meet the needs of its customers.
Security & Compliance: Ensure that Carbon's platform and infrastructure are secure, compliant, and capable of protecting the organization's data and customers' sensitive information.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Carbon provides opportunities for its engineers to develop their technical skills and expertise through training, workshops, and on-the-job learning.
Conference Attendance: Carbon encourages its engineers to attend industry conferences, meetups, and events to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management.
Mentorship & Leadership: Carbon offers mentorship and leadership opportunities for its engineers to grow professionally and take on more significant roles within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's technical challenges and learning opportunities are designed to help its engineers grow professionally and take on more significant roles within the organization. The organization values innovation, data-driven decision-making, and user-centered design, providing its engineers with the support and resources they need to thrive both personally and professionally.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Platform Engineering: Prepare for technical questions related to platform engineering, infrastructure management, and software development, focusing on Carbon's tech stack and the challenges faced by the organization.
System Design: Brush up on your system design principles and be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and implementing scalable, secure, and efficient systems.
Problem-Solving: Familiarize yourself with problem-solving techniques, algorithm design, data structures, and system design principles, and prepare to discuss your approach to solving complex technical challenges.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Research Carbon's company culture, values, and mission, and be prepared to discuss how your personal values and career goals align with the organization's.
Technical Methodologies: Brush up on your understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies, code reviews, and testing practices, and be prepared to discuss your experience with these techniques and how you've applied them in previous roles.
User Experience: Familiarize yourself with Carbon's user experience design principles and be prepared to discuss your approach to creating intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly digital experiences.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Live Demos: Include live demos of your projects, showcasing their functionality, user experience, and technical implementation.
Code Walkthroughs: Prepare to walk the interview panel through your codebase, explaining your approach, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.
Technical Architecture: Be prepared to discuss the architecture of your projects, including their design, scalability, and performance considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Carbon's interview process is designed to evaluate your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. The organization values candidates who can think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate successfully with cross-functional teams. By preparing thoroughly and demonstrating your expertise in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management, you'll increase your chances of success in the interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Platform Engineer position at Carbon, follow these steps:

Customize Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to showcase your experience and expertise in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management, with a focus on Carbon's tech stack and the challenges faced by the organization.
Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your relevant experience, technical skills, and achievements in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management, using relevant keywords and industry terms to improve your resume's visibility to Carbon's Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Prepare for Technical Challenges: Familiarize yourself with Carbon's tech stack, the challenges faced by the organization, and the technical interview process, and prepare to demonstrate your expertise in platform engineering, software development, and infrastructure management.
Research Carbon: Learn about Carbon's company culture, values, and mission, and be prepared to discuss how your personal values and career goals align with the organization's.

⚠️ 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 Carbon before making application decisions.

Senior Platform Engineer