ROLE OVERVIEW

• The Platform Engineering Lead is a key leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the foundational technology platforms that enable seamless and secure banking operations. This role combines technical expertise, strategic planning, and strong leadership to oversee DevSecOps, cloud infrastructure, networking, cost optimization, team development, and stakeholder collaboration. The ideal candidate will drive innovation, ensure operational excellence, and align platform engineering with the bank’s business objectives.

KEY RESULT AREAS 

• Platform Strategy & Leadership
• Define and execute the platform engineering strategy, aligning with the bank’s business goals.
• Lead the design, deployment, and maintenance of secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure and platforms.
• Champion modern engineering practices such as DevSecOps, continuous delivery, and infrastructure as code.
• DevSecOps & Cloud Management
• Oversee the implementation and management of DevSecOps practices to ensure secure and efficient software delivery pipelines.
• Manage cloud strategy and operations, leveraging best practices to optimize performance, scalability, and resilience.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and security standards across all platforms and services.
• Networking & Connectivity
• Lead the architecture, deployment, and optimization of the bank’s networking
• infrastructure to ensure security, high availability and performance.
• Cost Management & Optimization
• Develop and implement a robust FinOps framework to track, analyze, and optimize cloud and platform costs.
• Partner with finance and engineering teams to ensure cost transparency and effective budget management.
• Team Management
• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of platform engineers, DevSecOps specialists, and cloud architects.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Identify and address skill gaps through targeted training and development programs.
• Stakeholder Management
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, providing insights and recommendations on platform engineering matters.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver solutions that meet business needs.
• Communicate complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner to non-technical audiences.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in platform engineering, cloud infrastructure, DevSecOps, or related disciplines, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven expertise in designing and managing cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and networking infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of DevSecOps principles, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience implementing FinOps strategies and driving cost optimization in cloud environments.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams.
• The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit.
• Oversees the execution of IT & Digital strategy  that optimises employee capabilities, achieves the organisation’s strategic objectives, and delivers competitive advantage.

Responsibilities

• Functional Strategy Formation
• Lead the development and implementation of strategy for a significant area of responsibility, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities and ensuring integration with wider corporate strategy.
• Enterprise Architecture
• Develop a strategic architecture plan, ensuring that data features are prioritized appropriately, estimates are reliable, benefits can be realized, and design activities are proactively monitored and tracked to meet planned time frames and the overall architecture plan.
• Enterprise Infrastructure Modernization
• Define strategy for an enterprise architecture function that embeds digital assets and capabilities, supporting the design and implementation of digital strategy and organization, process, and policies. Lead analysis, evaluation, and development of enterprise long-term strategic and operating plans to ensure that the enterprise architecture is synchronized with ever-changing business needs and the complexity of digital transformation.
• Infrastructure and Network Development and Maintenance
• Direct and oversee infrastructure developments and maintenance to ensure business requirements can be met.
• Application Software Development
• Develop the most-complex existing and new applications by analyzing and identifying areas for modification and improvement. Develop new applications to meet customer requirements.
• Data Management
• Take responsibility for developing and delivering a key element of the organization’s data management system.
• Horizon Scanning
• Identify new external developments and/or emerging issues within an area of technology or business function and evaluate their potential impact on, or usefulness to, the organization.
• Budgeting
• Manage budget plans for a department. May involve development or delivery or both.
• Leadership and Direction
• Identify and communicate the actions needed to implement the function’s strategy and business plan within the business area or department; explain the relationship to the broader organization’s mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these tenets and do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.
• Organizational Capability Building
• Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization’s formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization’s talent pool.
• Performance Management
• Manage and report on performance within the department or area of responsibility; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports and hold individuals accountable for achieving them; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of annual business objectives.
• External Consultant or Contractor Engagement
• Identify the requirement for, and participate in the selection of, external consultants or advisers to deliver key projects and/or ad hoc services; ensure business objectives and requirements are clearly understood and monitor outcomes, taking appropriate remedial action where necessary.

Skills

• Action Planning, Adaptive Thinking, Business Requirements Analysis, Cultural Awareness, Database Administration, Data Compilation, Data Controls, Data Management, Evaluating Information, Executing Plans, Expertise Management System, IT Architecture, Policies & Procedures, User Requirements Documentation, Wireless Network Management

Competencies

• Business Insight
• Cultivates Innovation
• Drives Results
• Ensures Accountability
• Manages Complexity
• Nimble Learning
• Optimizes Work Processes
• Strategic Mindset