📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Platform Engineer
Company: Dimensional Fund Advisors
Location: Remote - Austin Metro
Job Type: Hybrid (Tues-Wed-Thurs in office, Mon-Fri flexible)
Category: DevOps, Platform Engineering
Date Posted: 2024-07-06
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Lead, design, and develop the platform and services that underpin all Dimensional's applications and business processes.
Collaborate with application development teams to drive event-driven integration best practices and assist with their utilization of tools, processes, and services.
Architect and implement automated versions of technical business processes.
Partner with technical product owners to define service roadmaps and own the strategy for one or more services.
Stay current with emerging technologies and drive changes to service offerings as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in software development, platform engineering, and a deep understanding of modern technologies to drive innovation and improve client experiences.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Platform Strategy & Development:
- Design, implement, and own software and systems that comprise platform services.
- Develop software solutions using scripting, back-end, and/or front-end technologies.
- Build automation to support the configuration, testing, and deployment of software and infrastructure.
- Collaborate with subject matter experts in various areas to drive the success of developers, business users, and clients.
Team Leadership & Project Management:
- Lead projects comprising multiple teams to deliver business goals.
- Engage with internal customers and assist with the utilization of platform services.
- Stay abreast of emerging technologies and drive changes to service offerings as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves both technical hands-on work and leadership responsibilities, requiring strong project management and communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5-10+ years of experience developing a modern software-driven infrastructure and/or platform services.

Required Skills:

Proficiency in Python and/or JavaScript.
Expertise with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) and configuration management (Ansible).
Familiarity with Linux and related technologies.
Experience with agile/scrum methodologies and the tools that support them.
Comfortable learning and troubleshooting vendor software systems.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with most of the following: cloud and on-prem compute, storage, networking, CI/CD, event messaging, workflow orchestration, monitoring/alerting, relational/noSQL/cache databases, containers.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Interest and ability to learn other coding languages as needed.
Experience working in or with an SRE or DevOps team.
Financial services industry experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates with a strong background in software development, platform engineering, and experience with relevant technologies will be best suited for this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate a strong portfolio of platform engineering projects, showcasing your ability to design, implement, and maintain scalable, secure, and efficient systems.
Highlight your experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, configuration management, and automation.
Include case studies or examples of projects where you've led teams to deliver business goals.

Technical Documentation:

Provide clear and concise documentation for your projects, explaining the architecture, design decisions, and any challenges faced.
Include any relevant technical reports, presentations, or whitepapers that demonstrate your expertise in platform engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio will showcase your technical skills, leadership abilities, and problem-solving approach to platform engineering challenges.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 per year (based on experience and location)

Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
Retirement savings plan with company match.
Educational initiatives and professional development opportunities.
Special celebrations of company history, culture, and growth.

Working Hours: Full-time, hybrid work arrangement (Tues-Wed-Thurs in office, Mon-Fri flexible)

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research for similar roles in the Austin, TX area. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: Medium (2,001-5,000 employees)

Founded: 1981

Team Structure:

Collaborative, cross-functional teams with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
Flat organizational structure with a strong emphasis on empowerment and accountability.
Diverse and inclusive work environment that values different perspectives and backgrounds.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum methodologies with a focus on iterative development and continuous improvement.
Regular sprint planning, code reviews, and retrospectives to ensure high-quality software delivery.
Strong emphasis on automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and deployment strategies.

Company Website: Dimensional Fund Advisors

📝 Enhancement Note: Dimensional Fund Advisors is known for its strong commitment to research, innovation, and a collaborative work environment that empowers employees to drive success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior Platform Engineer - Leads the design, implementation, and maintenance of platform services, driving innovation and improvement across the organization.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Platform Engineering or a similar role, collaborating closely with application development teams and other stakeholders.

Technical Impact: Owns the strategy for one or more platform services, driving technical decisions that impact the entire organization and improve client experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

Lead larger, more complex projects and teams as a Principal Platform Engineer.
Transition into a management role, leading a team of platform engineers and driving the organization's technical strategy.
Explore opportunities in other areas of the technology department, such as application development or infrastructure management.

📝 Enhancement Note: With a strong performance in this role, there are numerous opportunities for career growth and advancement within Dimensional Fund Advisors' technology department.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (Tues-Wed-Thurs in office, Mon-Fri flexible)

Office Location(s): Remote - Austin Metro

Workspace Context:

Modern, collaborative office spaces with state-of-the-art technology and tools.
Flexible workspaces that accommodate various work styles and preferences.
On-site cafeteria, fitness center, and other employee amenities.

Work Schedule: Full-time, hybrid work arrangement (Tues-Wed-Thurs in office, Mon-Fri flexible)

📝 Enhancement Note: Dimensional Fund Advisors' hybrid work arrangement offers the best of both worlds - the structure and collaboration of in-office work and the flexibility of remote work.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief call to discuss your background, experience, and interest in the role.
Technical Deep Dive: A detailed conversation focused on your technical skills, platform engineering experience, and problem-solving approach.
Behavioral & Cultural Fit: An interview to assess your cultural fit, communication skills, and ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
Final Decision: A discussion with the hiring manager and other stakeholders to make a final hiring decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your most relevant platform engineering projects and the impact they've had on business goals and user experiences.
Explain your approach to designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable, secure, and efficient systems.
Showcase your ability to lead teams, drive projects to completion, and make data-driven decisions.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of modern platform engineering tools, technologies, and best practices.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
Prepare for behavioral interview questions that assess your problem-solving skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit.

ATS Keywords: Platform Engineering, DevOps, Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, Ansible, Linux, Windows, Agile, Scrum, Cloud Computing, CI/CD, Containers, Monitoring, Databases, Event Messaging, Workflow Orchestration, Automation, Leadership, Project Management, Technical Strategy

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarize yourself with the key skills and qualifications listed in the job description and be prepared to demonstrate your expertise in the interview process.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Platform & Infrastructure Technologies:

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform, Ansible
Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure
Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
Monitoring & Alerting: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack
Databases: PostgreSQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, Redis, SQL Server
Event Messaging: Kafka, RabbitMQ, Airflow
Workflow Orchestration: Apache Airflow
Version Control: Git
CI/CD: Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD

📝 Enhancement Note: Dimensional Fund Advisors uses a diverse set of technologies to build and maintain its platform services. Familiarity with these tools and the ability to learn new technologies as needed are essential for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Platform Engineering Values:

Innovation: Embrace a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Collaboration: Work closely with application development teams and other stakeholders to drive success.
Empowerment: Take ownership of your work and make data-driven decisions.
Accountability: Hold yourself and others accountable for delivering high-quality results.
Integrity: Act with honesty, transparency, and a strong commitment to ethical practices.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional teams that work together to drive business goals and improve user experiences.
Regular communication, code reviews, and pair programming to ensure high-quality software delivery.
A culture of open dialogue, active listening, and continuous feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Dimensional Fund Advisors' platform engineering team values collaboration, innovation, and a strong commitment to driving business success through technology.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Scalability: Design, implement, and maintain platform services that can scale to meet the demands of a growing user base.
Security: Ensure the security and compliance of platform services, protecting sensitive data and mitigating potential threats.
Integration: Facilitate seamless integration between platform services and application development teams, enabling efficient and effective collaboration.
Performance: Optimize platform services for peak performance, minimizing latency and maximizing resource utilization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Emerging Technologies: Stay current with the latest platform engineering tools, technologies, and best practices, and drive changes to service offerings as needed.
Leadership Development: Develop your leadership skills through mentoring, coaching, and project management opportunities.
Technical Deep Dive: Explore specialized areas of platform engineering, such as cloud architecture, data engineering, or machine learning, to expand your skillset and expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: Dimensional Fund Advisors offers numerous opportunities for technical and professional growth, empowering platform engineers to drive innovation and improvement across the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Platform Architecture: Explain your approach to designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable, secure, and efficient platform services.
Automation & Infrastructure as Code: Describe your experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, configuration management, and automation.
Problem-Solving: Walk through a complex technical challenge you've faced in a previous role and explain how you approached and resolved it.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: How do you see yourself contributing to Dimensional Fund Advisors' collaborative, innovative, and empowering work environment?
Technical Strategy: How would you approach defining the roadmap and strategy for one or more platform services?
Stakeholder Management: Describe your experience working with application development teams, business users, and other stakeholders to drive success.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Project Walkthrough: Present a detailed walkthrough of your most relevant platform engineering project, highlighting your technical skills, leadership abilities, and problem-solving approach.
Architecture & Design Decisions: Explain the architecture and design decisions you made during the project, and how they contributed to its success.
Lessons Learned: Discuss the challenges you faced during the project and the lessons you learned from them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare thoroughly for the interview process, focusing on your technical skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit with Dimensional Fund Advisors' platform engineering team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Platform Engineer position:

Submit your application through the Dimensional Fund Advisors careers portal.
Prepare a comprehensive portfolio showcasing your platform engineering projects, technical skills, and leadership abilities.
Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience, skills, and achievements in platform engineering.
Research Dimensional Fund Advisors' company culture, values, and technical stack to ensure a strong fit with the organization.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner, and prepare for behavioral interview questions that assess your problem-solving skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.

Senior Platform Engineer