Platform Lead (3572)
- Salary:Competitive plus benefits
- Location:Monument Place
- Contract Type:Permanent
- Closing Date:30 June 2026
GTR are recruiting a Platform Lead based out of Monument Place
This is a great opportunity for an individual with a proven track record to work for one of the country's busiest and award-winning rail companies.
Job Purpose
As Platform Lead, you will be accountable for the day‑to‑day technical leadership, delivery and governance of GTR's DataHub platform mainly to Semantic model layer. You will ensure that data engineering, reporting and platform development activities are delivered in a controlled, consistent and scalable manner.
You will own the technical operating model for the platform, ensuring robust Dev/Test/Production lifecycles, documentation, training and adherence to governance standards across all users of the Fabric estate.
The role requires strong professional expertise in modern data platforms and delivery practices, with the ability to apply this knowledge pragmatically across a complex enterprise environment.
Anticipated interview dates:
First stage: w/c 06 July 2026 (Teams)
Second stage: TBC (in person, Monument Place)
Key Accountabilities:
- Lead all data engineering activity on the DataHub platform, including internally delivered engineering and third‑party contributions
- Own and enforce platform governance, including environments, access controls, deployment pipelines and release management.
- Regularly balance competing priorities across delivery speed, platform stability, cost, and governance, making informed judgements where trade‑offs are required
- Ensure Power BI reports and semantic models are developed and deployed in line with agreed standards
- Work closely with the Data Architect to ensure architectural principles are implemented consistently
- Ensure platform documentation, onboarding materials and training are available and maintained
- Oversee platform performance, reliability and cost efficiency
- Act as the main operational interface with third-party managed service providers
- Ensure development follows agreed portfolio and change processes.
Context:
The DataHub platform is built on Microsoft Fabric and underpins analytics across GTR. Historically engineering has been delivered via a managed service provider; this role supports the transition to a blended model with increased in‑house capability
While strategic ownership sits with the Head of Data & AI, the Platform Lead holds day‑to‑day accountability for the safe and effective operation of the DataHub platform
DataHub is a large‑scale enterprise platform, serving over 2,000 users, integrating with 50+ systems and encompassing more than 40 data products
The Platform Lead is accountable for the day‑to‑day management and operational integrity of this end‑to‑end ecosystem, ensuring all components function cohesively
The role requires a strong understanding of how data models, pipelines, reporting and access controls interconnect, along with the ability to manage escalations from a wide range of stakeholders across the business
This demands a high degree of technical judgement to resolve issues quickly while maintaining platform stability, governance and long‑term sustainability
The complexity of the platform will continue to increase as wider industry stakeholders, including Network Rail, DfTO and GBR/GBRX initiatives, require access, introducing additional integration, governance and operational risk considerations that must be managed effectively
Knowledge:
- Strong understanding of modern data platforms, particularly Microsoft Fabric and Power BI
- Good understanding of data engineering patterns and CI/CD principles.
Skills:
- Strong technical leadership and delivery management skills
- Ability to balance speed of delivery with platform stability and governance
- Clear technical communication and documentation skills
Experience:
- Experience owning or leading enterprise data platforms
- Experience operating formal Dev/UAT/Prod lifecycles
- Experience managing technical delivery with third party partners.
What we can offer you
- Final salary pension
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Healthcare
- Free travel on GTR and sister groups for you and your family
- 75% off travel on other train operating companies for you, and leisure for your family
- Discounted Oyster Card
- GTR offers maternity, paternity and adoption leave and time off for prenatal care, as well as shared parental leave - all part of our commitment to family friendly policies
- StarHub – our great benefits package which, for example, includes discounts with many retailers.
Benefits
Pension
Staff Travel
Childcare Vouchers
Extra Holidays
Discount Scheme
Long Service Awards
Employee Assistance Programme
The Transport Benevolent Fund
In-House Occupational Health Department
Cycle to Work Scheme
Testimonials
What our staff say
“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”
Hannah Richards
Fleet Infrastructure Administrator
“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”
Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion
“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first-hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”
Jack Gow
Mobile Station Manager
“I love the freedom that comes with being a train driver. Obviously, there are rules and regulations to follow as well as duties and commitments to carry out, but in a way, you’re sort of your own boss, which is nice.”
Ashley John
Train Driver
“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”
Bob Bryce
Passenger Host Team Leader
“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”
Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager
“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”
Harriet Dee
Team Administrator
“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”
Maggie Luckhurst
Platform / Train Dispatch
“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”
Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager