Senior Platform Engineer, EIU

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

Role Overview:

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is the business intelligence arm of The Economist Group, a leading authority on international business and world affairs. Upholding our brand's reputation for uncompromising integrity, rigorous analysis, and trusted insights, EIU provides a forward-looking perspective on the global agenda to identify opportunities, trends, and risks at global and national levels.

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Senior Platform Engineer in our London office to join our team and drive the integration and optimization of our technology platform. This role will internalize end-to-end platform knowledge, currently managed by external consultants, and link the Economist Intelligence (EI) initiatives with The Economist Group's (TEG) broader technology programmes. 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Platform Ownership and Discovery:
• Conduct comprehensive discovery of the current technology estate, including system interfaces and dependencies.
• Develop detailed mapping of existing platforms and their interactions to identify optimization opportunities.
2. API-First Frameworks and Integration:
• Lead work on design, build, and optimization of frameworks for seamless API-first integration of third-party tools with internal systems.
• Ensure all integrations align with industry best practices for performance, security, and scalability.
3. Data & Distributed Computing
• Architect, optimize, and manage distributed, concurrent computing systems, ensuring high availability and scalability.
• Work with structured and unstructured data, leveraging databases, data pipelines, and orchestration tools to improve data accessibility and processing.
4. Platform Optimization:
• Evaluate and optimize platform performance, reliability, and maintainability to meet current and future business needs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement enhancements that align with strategic goals.
5. Strategic Collaboration:
• Serve as a technical liaison between EI initiatives and broader TEG programs, ensuring alignment and knowledge sharing.
• Support ongoing initiatives such as the Global API programme to foster a unified platform strategy.

Required Skills and Experience:

Must Haves

1. In-depth knowledge of software engineering principles, microservices architecture, and cloud-based solutions.
2. Hands-on experience designing modern backend data intensive applications leveraging AWS (or other CSP) stack that supports web, API and other customer facing applications 
3. In-depth understanding of API security, versioning, and documentation practices.
4. Ability to align projects with larger organizational goals.
5. Exceptional problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and addressing technical challenges.
6. Strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively across teams and stakeholders.
7. Proven experience in platform engineering, including system discovery, interface mapping, and architecture optimization.

Nice to Have

1. Proficiency in Python, SQL, .NET, React, or similar technologies within the EI technology stack.
2. Expertise in AWS cloud services, including serverless components, compute, networking, storage, performance, cost and security best practices.
3. Hands-on experience developing solutions for API-based data exchange and service orchestration.
4. Experience in data engineering, databases (SQL & NoSQL) and data pipeline orchestration.

#LI-Hybrid 

What we offer

Benefits
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.