Head of Platform Strategy & Engineering

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance.  We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture.  As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry.

At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves. This means that we bring our whole selves to work. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, civil union status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in the selection process.

About Us: AXIS Capital Services Limited is a leading Specialty Insurance company. We are looking for a talented and experienced Platform Strategy & Engineering Lead to join our dynamic team to lead our Platform Strategy & Engineering function.

Job Description:

The Head of Platform Strategy & Engineering will play a critical role in defining and executing the platform and application strategy that supports AXIS’s overall business and technology goals.

As part of the Enterprise Architecture (EA) team, the Head of Platform Strategy & Engineering will define and execute AXIS’s platform strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and enterprise priorities. This is a strategic leadership role requiring close collaboration with senior business leaders and stakeholders to ensure platform initiatives drive measurable business outcomes such as revenue growth, cost optimization, and operational efficiency.

On the Engineering side, this role will work collaboratively with SRE, DevSecOps, application development, and IT Operations teams to oversee and improve platform delivery processes. By enabling modern engineering practices and fostering cross-functional alignment, the Head of Platform Strategy & Engineering will ensure that AXIS’s platforms are scalable, and capable of meeting current and future business needs.

Responsibilities:

Platform Strategy & Business Alignment

• Partner with senior business leaders and stakeholders to develop and communicate a technology application platform vision and strategy that aligns with the company’s overall objectives and BTS Strategy.
• Collaborate with business and product leaders to identify evolving priorities and translate them into actionable platform strategies and roadmaps.
• Ensure the platform strategy supports measurable business outcomes such as faster time-to-market, enhanced customer experiences, and cost optimization.
• Lead efforts to integrate emerging technologies and trends to maintain competitiveness in the insurance and reinsurance industry.
• Champion a "Platform as a Product" mindset, prioritizing end-user experience, developer productivity, and scalability.

Oversight of Platform Engineering Processes

• Work collaboratively with SRE, DevSecOps, application development, and IT Operations teams to oversee and continuously improve key delivery processes:
• Ensure efficient provisioning and management of application infrastructure and cloud environments.
• Guide the development and implementation of automation instrumentation.
• Oversee the design and optimization of CI/CD pipelines, including build, test, and deployment workflows.
• Ensure robustness of monitoring systems and practices, to analyze platform performance, security, and reliability.
• Integrate security and compliance into platform processes, including encryption, access management, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all platform configurations and processes are well-documented and accessible for cross-team understanding and reuse.
• Drive improvements in application development tools and processes, focusing on efficiency, productivity, and alignment with strategic goals.

Strategic Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide high-level technical direction to engineering and operational teams, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture principles and standards.
• Act as a key advisor to senior leadership on platform strategy, emerging technologies, and engineering best practices.
• Foster collaboration across BTS, product, and business functions to ensure platform initiatives deliver cross-functional value.

Strategic Focus Areas:

• Ensure platforms deliver measurable business outcomes like faster product launches, revenue growth, and operational efficiencies.
• Drive the adoption of modern practices, including DevSecOps, Agile, and SRE, to improve platform delivery and resilience.
• Define and track KPIs to measure platform performance, reliability, and business impact.
• Evaluate and scale innovative technologies to enhance platform capabilities and maintain market competitiveness.
• Ensure seamless collaboration across SRE, application development, and IT Operations teams to align platform delivery with enterprise goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Proven experience in a strategic leadership role focusing on platform strategy, enterprise architecture, and application delivery oversight.
• Strong technical understanding of Platform Engineering, DevSecOps, SRE, and Agile methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to align technology strategies with business objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Industry experience in insurance, reinsurance, or financial services.
• Experience fostering collaboration across business, product, and technical teams.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills to engage senior executives and cross-functional teams.

Preferred

• Familiarity with key technologies, including:
  • Azure DevOps, Azure Integration Services, ARM/Bicep, GitHub Co-Pilot, React, .NET, Duck Creek
  • SQL Server, SSIS/SSRS, Dynatrace, Unqork
  • Expertise in platform management frameworks, such as "Platform as a Product" or enterprise-scale DevSecOps practices.