Staff Platform Engineer, Memrise

• Therefore, we are looking for a strong candidate who is not only a strategic thinker but also someone who thrives in hands-on problem-solving
• Proficiency in Java or preferably Kotlin. We also use Python a lot!
• Strong experience with event-driven architectures and Kafka, with a preference for Kafka Streams
• Expertise in AWS infrastructure, including the ability to write Terraform and deploy scalable, secure, resilient services
• Strong proficiency in containerization (Docker) and orchestration technologies like Kubernetes
• Strong experience with data pipelines and analytics, with the ability to design, implement, and optimise solutions. Knowledge of technologies such as Kafka events, Athena, and similar tools is highly valued
• Proven ability to design and build microservices from scratch, with experience using LLMs and AI-powered tools to accelerate development and reduce manual effort
• Experience in LLMs (Large Language Models) and AI-driven automation to improve development workflows, streamline coding, and optimize infrastructure management
• Passion for leveraging AI-powered tools to optimise CI/CD pipelines, automate infrastructure management, and improve operational efficiency
• Demonstrated leadership in guiding and mentoring engineering teams, fostering a culture of AI-assisted development and DevOps best practices
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, fostering cross-functional partnerships across product, engineering, and operations teams
• Enjoys sharing knowledge and has a talent for making complex infrastructure look fun and easy

Desirable

• Our backend team is undergoing a transition, consisting of engineers at different experience levels
• Two members have moved from frontend to backend, building their technical expertise, while a temporary Kafka specialist is supporting a specific project until Q2
• We also have a junior engineer who requires structured development and a part-time contributor known for their speed
• Among our more experienced engineers
• The entire team requires continuous coaching on Kafka, best practices, and software design patterns, as well as guidance on leveraging AI tools effectively to improve efficiency and development workflows
• While we are making progress in sharing knowledge, a key challenge remains: We need additional support in the infrastructure domain, specifically a hands-on engineer who can actively work alongside our DevOps team to bridge gaps in backend and infrastructure development
• As a Platform team member, you will work closely with other DevOps and Backend engineers to design, build, and maintain scalable infrastructure and deployment pipelines
• You’ll be responsible for setting up and managing environments across multiple stages (development, staging, production), ensuring smooth deployments, and supporting the engineering teams with the tools and automation needed to ship high-quality software efficiently and reliably
• This role is key to providing our engineers gain confidence, adopt best practices, and effectively integrate AI-driven solutions into their work
• Be deeply hands-on – collaborating directly with our DevOps engineer to implement best practices, optimise workflows, and actively participate in solving infrastructure challenges
• Lead with clarity – making complex DevOps and backend processes easy to understand
• Communicate effectively – ensuring the team gains confidence in backend and infrastructure development
• Simplify and accelerate workflows – assessing how things can be done more efficiently and using AI to reduce manual effort
• Coach and empower the team – introducing AI-driven tools and methodologies to improve productivity, while mentoring engineers who are still building confidence in these areas