What Does a Platform Engineer Do?

A platform engineer is responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of a company’s technology infrastructure. They are often tasked with ensuring that all systems are running smoothly and resolving any issues that may arise.

Platform engineers commonly work in an IT department or as part of a larger engineering team. Their job requires them to have a deep understanding of computer hardware and software—they must be able to identify and resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

Platform Engineer Job Duties

Platform engineers have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Designing and implementing an automation framework for all aspects of the application lifecycle, including build, test, and deployment
• Performing operations tasks such as monitoring application performance over time or troubleshooting issues with production applications
• Monitoring network performance to ensure that the platform can handle increased traffic from new applications or services
• Designing, building, and maintaining the systems underlying an application platform
• Developing new technologies to support existing applications or creating new applications using new technologies
• Participating in meetings with executives to discuss technical issues and propose solutions
• Reviewing code written by other engineers to ensure it meets standards for quality, security, and performance
• Collaborating with other members of the engineering team to design new features or improve existing ones
• Consuming and analyzing large amounts of data in order to identify patterns and make predictions about future trends

Platform Engineer Salary & Outlook

The salary of a platform engineer can vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the company they work for. They may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses or commissions.

• Median Annual Salary: $125,000 ($60.1/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $195,000 ($93.75/hour)

The employment of platform engineers is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for these workers is expected to increase as more companies seek to develop and introduce new products or services that can be accessed through mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In addition, demand will likely continue to come from the need to update existing platforms to keep up with technological advances.

Related: Platform Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Platform Engineer Job Requirements

A platform engineer typically needs to have the following qualifications:

Education: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, computer engineering or a related field is a requirement for most platform engineer jobs. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree in computer science or a related field.

Training & Experience: Many aspiring platform engineers will receive on-the-job training from their new employer after they are hired. This training will help the new platform engineer learn the specific systems and procedures of the company. It will also help them learn the specific skills and techniques they will need to perform their job duties.

Some aspiring platform engineers may also receive training from their current employer. If they are currently working as a computer technician or network engineer, they may receive training in the specific skills they will need to become a platform engineer.

Certifications & Licenses: A platform engineer typically seeks out certifications to increase their chances of being a relevant candidate in the job market.

Platform Engineer Skills

Platform engineers need the following skills in order to be successful:

Coding: Coding is the process of creating software. As a platform engineer, you may be responsible for creating the software that supports the company’s cloud infrastructure. Coding skills can help you develop the software that keeps the company’s cloud infrastructure running smoothly.

Debugging: Debugging is the process of finding and resolving errors in computer code. As a platform engineer, you may be responsible for identifying and resolving errors in the software of a company’s website or an app. Knowing how to debug effectively can help you save time and money.

Hardware knowledge: Hardware knowledge is the ability to understand the components of a device and how they work together. This is an important skill for a platform engineer because it allows them to troubleshoot and repair computer systems. It’s also important for them to understand how software interacts with hardware.

Networking: As an engineer, you may need to collaborate with other professionals in your field. Having strong networking skills can help you form connections with others in your industry. You can use your networking skills to find potential job opportunities, find other professionals to ask for advice or find other people who can help you learn more about your field.

Project management: Project management skills can be helpful for engineers who work on large projects. This can include planning, organizing and overseeing the completion of a project. Project management skills can help you delegate tasks, set deadlines and track the progress of a project.

Platform Engineer Work Environment

Platform engineers work in a variety of settings, including office buildings, research laboratories, and manufacturing plants. They may also travel to attend conferences, meet with clients, or conduct field research. Many platform engineers work a standard 40-hour week, although some may work more than 50 hours per week to meet deadlines or solve problems. Some platform engineers may be on call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

Platform Engineer Trends

Here are three trends influencing how platform engineers work. Platform engineers will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Need for More Technical Talent

The need for more technical talent is a trend that is being driven by the increasing complexity of technology. As platforms become more complex, businesses will need professionals who can understand and manage them.

Platform engineers are in high demand because they have the skills needed to build and maintain these complex systems. By learning how to develop and manage platforms, they can be valuable assets to any business.

More Focus on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

As cloud computing becomes more popular, businesses are moving towards Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) as a way to host their applications and data. This shift is causing platform engineers to focus on IaaS solutions, which allows them to provide customers with the infrastructure they need to run their applications.

By understanding IaaS solutions, platform engineers can help businesses optimize their use of cloud computing resources and ensure that their applications are running smoothly. In addition, they can also help businesses migrate to the cloud if they are interested in doing so.

Increased Automation

As automation becomes more common in the workplace, platform engineers will need to learn how to work with automated systems. This includes developing software that works with automated systems, as well as designing and building automated systems themselves.

Automated systems are becoming increasingly common in many industries, and as a result, platform engineers who are able to work with them will be in high demand.

How to Become a Platform Engineer

A career as an engineer can be rewarding in many ways. It offers the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, use your creativity and problem-solving skills, and make a difference in people’s lives. As you progress in your engineering career, you may want to specialize in a particular area of engineering or technology. You could also choose to become a manager or lead engineer, overseeing teams that design and build products and systems.

Advancement Prospects

Platform engineers typically advance by taking on more responsibility within their organization. As they gain experience, they may be given larger projects or more complex assignments. They may also be promoted to a higher position, such as lead engineer or manager. In some cases, platform engineers may decide to start their own engineering consulting firm.

Platform Engineer Job Description Example

As a platform engineer at [CompanyX], you will be responsible for developing and maintaining the technical infrastructure that powers our products and services. You will work with a team of talented engineers to design, build, and operate scalable systems that are reliable, fault-tolerant, and high-performance. In addition, you will be responsible for improving the availability, latency, and efficiency of our systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with distributed systems, networking, and security. They will also be able to work independently and be able to take ownership of projects from start to finish.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain the company’s platform infrastructure
• Handle all aspects of platform operations, including capacity planning, performance tuning, monitoring, security, and disaster recovery
• Work with other engineering teams to ensure that new features and services can be integrated seamlessly into the platform
• Automate tasks wherever possible to improve efficiency and reduce operational overhead
• Write and maintain technical documentation for the platform
• Respond to incidents in a timely and effective manner, following established procedures
• Investigate and resolve platform issues, collaborating with other teams as necessary
• Keep abreast of new technologies and trends that could improve the platform
• Perform regular maintenance and upgrades on the platform
• Assist with the development and testing of new features and services
• Help troubleshoot issues with applications that are built on the platform
• Provide on-call support as needed

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field
• 3+ years professional experience in software engineering
• Proficient in at least one major programming language (Java, C++, Python, etc.)
• Experience with distributed systems, big data, and/or parallel computing
• Experience with cloud-based platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design patterns

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field
• 5+ years professional experience in software engineering
• Expertise in multiple programming languages
• Experience with open source projects
• Contributions to the software engineering community (blog posts, speaking engagements, etc.)
• Active participation in online forums and social media