Head of Platform Engineering

Platform engineering leadership role in an AI-native operating model

Define and build a technology and agent platform across financial services.

About our client

A high profile financial services environment in Abu Dhabi operating across multiple jurisdictions and business lines. The organisation has a strong focus on technology, data and AI, with security positioned as a core enabler of its operating model.

Job description

• Define and deliver the firm's technology platform strategy, co-authoring the enterprise reference architecture
• Design and implement cloud, identity, and network foundations across a multi-entity environment
• Own the AI agent runtime and orchestration layer, ensuring agents can be securely deployed into business workflows
• Build the integration layer (APIs, iPaaS, MCP servers) enabling connectivity across systems and tools
• Establish observability, reliability, and incident response across platforms and services
• Lead DevOps, CI/CD, and secure engineering practices, aligned with cybersecurity standards
• Drive FinOps and cost management across cloud and AI inference usage
• Operate a lean delivery model leveraging AI agents, managed services, and vendor ecosystems
• Act as a key technology leader engaging with senior stakeholders and shaping firm-wide AI adoption

The successful applicant

• 12+ years in platform engineering, cloud architecture, or enterprise technology leadership
• Strong hands-on experience across cloud, identity, integration, and observability platforms
• Proven experience running production platforms at scale and making critical architectural decisions
• Experience building or operating AI/ML platforms, MLOps environments, or agent-based systems
• Strong understanding of DevOps, CI/CD, and secure engineering practices
• Experience managing complex vendor ecosystems and managed service providers
• Background in financial services or other regulated environments is highly preferred
• Commercial mindset with experience in cloud cost optimisation and FinOps
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to operate at senior leadership level

What's on offer

• Opportunity to build a greenfield, AI native technology platform
• Exposure to cutting edge AI operating models and agent-based delivery
• High visibility with senior leadership and direct influence on organisation-wide technology strategy