Senior+ Platform Engineer

As a Senior Platform Engineer at Swarmia, your core responsibilities will include assisting product teams with Kubernetes management, designing and implementing infrastructure changes using Terraform, and optimizing application performance. You'll dive deep into identifying bottlenecks in our systems and addressing them proactively, oversee security practices, write collaborative documentation, and manage PostgreSQL performance. Your role is pivotal in ensuring our infrastructure runs smoothly while upholding our high standards for uptime.

To apply for the Senior Platform Engineer role at Swarmia, you should have significant experience in cloud infrastructure, particularly with Google Cloud and Kubernetes. Proficiency with Terraform for infrastructure as code is essential, along with familiarity in database management, especially PostgreSQL. Strong troubleshooting skills, an analytical mindset, and the ability to work collaboratively with various teams will also be necessary. Familiarity with CI/CD principles and observability tools would give you a competitive edge.

Swarmia's tech stack for the Senior Platform Engineer position includes Google Cloud Platform and Google Kubernetes Engine for hosting. You'll also work with Google PubSub for messaging, Terraform for infrastructure management, and an observability stack consisting of Prometheus and Grafana. The back end uses TypeScript and NodeJS, and the databases include PostgreSQL on Google Cloud SQL and Redis. Knowledge of tools like GitHub Actions for CI/CD would also be beneficial.

At Swarmia, we prioritize a healthy work-life balance, particularly for our Senior Platform Engineers. Being a startup allows us to maintain flexibility in work models, where you can choose the mix of remote and office work that suits you best. We encourage a sustainable pace of work, refraining from crunching periods, as many team members manage responsibilities outside of work. Plus, we offer an annual paid vacation and extra time off to ensure you have time to recharge.

Swarmia offers numerous growth opportunities for Senior Platform Engineers, including hands-on exposure to cutting-edge cloud technologies and direct collaboration with product teams. As the first dedicated engineer in this role, you'll have the unique opportunity to influence the development of our platform and automation strategies significantly. We also value a culture of continuous learning, providing you with the chance to acquire new skills and advance your career while being part of a highly motivated team.

In interviews for the Senior Platform Engineer position at Swarmia, you should highlight your hands-on experience with Terraform. Discuss specific projects where you've utilized Terraform for infrastructure as code, emphasizing how you automated the deployment of infrastructure and reduced errors through version control. Detail any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, showcasing your problem-solving skills.

When addressing troubleshooting issues in cloud infrastructure during your interview, illustrate your logical approach to identifying the root cause. Talk about your experience with monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana, and how you utilize logging and metrics to analyze performance. Be prepared to provide specific examples of past incidents you've managed and the steps you took to resolve them efficiently.

Discussing your strategies for optimizing application performance in Kubernetes, focus on aspects like resource allocation, load balancing, and scaling practices. Explain how you monitor application metrics and leverage Kubernetes features like pod autoscaling and efficient ingress routing to maintain optimal performance. Provide examples of specific improvements you've implemented in your previous roles.

For this question, share a concrete example of a manual process you automated as a Senior Platform Engineer. Detail the problem with the manual steps and the automation solution you crafted, discussing the tools and techniques involved. Emphasize the positive impact your automation had on team efficiency, error reduction, or resource savings, showcasing your ability to think critically and improve workflows.

Staying updated on cloud technologies and best practices is crucial for a Senior Platform Engineer. Share the resources you utilize, such as online courses, tech blogs, or community forums. Highlight any relevant certifications or training programs you are pursuing or have completed. It’s also beneficial to mention your participation in local tech meetups or online communities to discuss trends and challenges within the industry.

In your response to ensuring compliance in cloud environments, illustrate your knowledge of compliance frameworks relevant to your industry. Talk about your experience implementing security best practices, conducting audits, and using automated tools to enforce compliance. Providing a relevant example of how you navigated compliance challenges in your previous role will strengthen your answer.

When asked about monitoring tools in an interview, discuss the specific tools you have experience with, such as Prometheus, Grafana, or Google Cloud’s monitoring suite. Explain how each tool has supported your ability to track infrastructure health, performance, and security compliance. Provide examples of how you configured alerts to proactively catch issues before they impact production.

Use this question to illustrate your leadership skills and project management experience as a Senior Platform Engineer. Describe the project, its challenges, and your strategies for overcoming them. Discuss key learnings, how they shaped your approach in future projects, and how they align with your desire to join Swarmia. Highlight collaboration and adaptability as critical elements of your success.

In responding to how you handle security risks in cloud platforms, detail your approach to identifying potential vulnerabilities and implementing best practices to mitigate them. Talk about your experience conducting security audits, applying patches, and your familiarity with tools such as Google Security Command Center. Be sure to share any examples where you improved security posture effectively.

When asked what interests you about working at Swarmia, highlight your alignment with the company values and mission. Discuss your excitement about contributing to the company's focus on continuous improvement and team collaboration. Convey your enthusiasm for using your skills to help shape a product that enhances team performance and discuss how the flexible work culture and commitment to work-life balance resonate with your professional aspirations.