Director, Head of Platform Engineering

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) invites applications for the Head of Platform Engineering. The role is responsible for defining and executing a strategic, scalable, secure platform infrastructure that supports MUFG’s global business initiatives.

Main Purpose of the Role

Lead the design, implementation and governance of Platform Engineering across EMEA and globally. Drive transformation in database, cloud, and storage technologies, and deliver outcomes that accelerate application delivery, ensure reliability, and optimise cost.

Key Responsibilities

• Planning & Strategy

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive Platform Engineering strategy that aligns with enterprise, digital transformation and business objectives.
  • Define and deliver the platform engineering roadmap, balancing innovation, stability, scalability and security (including DevSecOps) and incorporating emerging technologies such as generative AI and automated infrastructure provisioning.
  • Lead the development and promotion of self‑service platforms and CI/CD pipelines to ensure secure, automated and frequent software delivery, enhancing developer velocity and operational efficiency.
  • Own and govern the lifecycle, stability, and compliance of all non‑production and production technology environments, ensuring controlled, secure and optimised usage.
  • Establish frameworks for the Platform Engineering team and oversee budget, licensing, vendor relationships, and resource management.

• Operational Excellence, Platform Management and Governance

  • Deliver a reliable, sustainable, scalable and efficient operating model by leveraging best practices.
  • Build and implement a Platform Engineering ecosystem that is robust, secure, and resilient.
  • Manage the end‑to‑end life cycle of all assigned Platform Engineering products, including upgrades, technical debt and best‑practice adherence.
  • Resolve platform, database, storage and cloud escalations with autonomy and final decision‑making authority.
  • Ensure platform design consistency across platforms, site reliability engineering, database, storage and cloud products and workflows.
  • Monitor capacity, high availability, reliability and performance of Platform Engineering infrastructure.

• Governance

  • Oversee health, performance and operational integrity of platform, site reliability, database, storage and cloud infrastructure support teams.
  • Identify and mitigate key risks in accordance with risk management frameworks.
  • Ensure accurate reporting of all KRI/KPI for the Platform Engineering Function.
  • Collaborate with EMEA Technology Risk, Security and Control to meet regulatory requirements including DORA assessments and cyber‑risk controls.

• Project / Change

  • Lead large‑scale Platform Engineering and infrastructure implementations, ensuring quality, security and compliance.
  • Define, document and safely execute projects in collaboration with Programme / Project Managers.
  • Analyse technical demands, manage scope, cost and timescale across banking and securities domains.
  • Provide technical guidance, set delivery goals and interpret regulatory, security and best‑practice requirements.

• Leadership, Culture and People Management

  • Lead people management across the Platform Engineering Function, ensuring the team has the necessary capabilities.
  • Champion MUFG’s inclusive, diverse, and values‑led culture and foster a growth mindset.
  • Manage performance, develop talent, and implement sustainable succession plans.
  • Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote collaboration and influencing positive change.
  • Support location strategies and transitions as prescribed by MUFG.

Work Experience

• Proven experience leading Technology Infrastructure Platform, Site Reliability Engineering and Build and Release teams within financial services.
• Experience managing a diverse technology team across multiple time zones and regions within a 24/7 production environment.
• Strong background in platform engineering, product management, and user‑centric design.
• Demonstrable experience in senior business stakeholder management and reporting.
• Experience delivering successful technical delivery across multiple workstreams in the platform engineering space.
• Excellence in communication and stakeholder engagement at all organizational levels.
• Familiarity with IT standards: Health and safety, change management, incident and problem management, ITIL V3.

Skills and Experience

• Lead technical and non‑technical SMEs within Site Reliability, Storage, Platform, Cloud and Database environments.
• CI/CD expertise and experience building release engineering platforms.
• Design and implement solutions with Linux, Windows, MSSQL, Oracle, Azure, OCI, AWS, VMware, Nutanix, Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code, MongoDB, Snowflake, SAP Sybase, Dell EMC PowerStore, Isilon and Rubrik.
• Strong knowledge of public cloud, containerisation and orchestration.
• Ability to translate business problems into technical designs and align user needs with organisational goals.
• Supplier and third‑party risk management experience.
• Project management experience across Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, Kanban.
• Planning, prioritising, and coordinating multiple work streams in a dynamic environment.

Education and Qualifications

• Degree in technology‑focused field or recent equivalent qualifications with industry experience.
• Excellent general knowledge of IT infrastructure (hardware, software, database, networking and cloud technologies).
• Preferably an ITIL qualification (Foundation or higher).

Personal Requirements

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to bridge technical and executive language.
• Proactive, motivated, product‑oriented, creative and innovative approach to work.
• Strong focus on automation and security‑by‑default.
• Ability to articulate and implement the vision/strategy for the Digital Engineering Services and Solutions department.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and employment, and oppose all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership. We make our recruitment decisions in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our commitment to identifying the right skills for the right role and our obligations under the law. We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements.

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