What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal, Site Reliability Engineering position at Pearson?
Role Overview:
The Principal Site Reliability Engineering is a pivotal leadership role accountable for guiding Pearson's SRE teams towards increased operational excellence, system reliability, and strategic alignment with organizational objectives. This role is responsible for supervising Junior, Titled, and Senior SREs, fostering an environment of innovation, learning, and collaboration.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Excellence: Champion operational excellence by directing initiatives that elevate system reliability, availability, and overall efficiency. Your oversight transforms Pearson's operational landscape.
Strategic Alignment: Be the orchestrator of engineering goals and business objectives, ensuring every SRE project and initiative is a stepping stone to Pearson's overarching ambitions.
Performance Evaluation: Stand as the arbiter of performance excellence, conducting comprehensive assessments that offer tangible pathways for team growth and improvement.
Resource Allocation: Guide resource orchestration, ensuring that both human and technological assets are utilized to their full potential, thereby driving team performance and project success.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Function as the diplomatic link that binds the SRE team to other organizational units, harmonizing goals, and facilitating collaboration for mutual success.
Crisis Management: Act as the sentinel during high-severity incidents, directing the SRE team’s response to swiftly resolve issues while minimizing business impact. Your crisis leadership is the bedrock of operational resilience.
Continuous Improvement: Be the catalyst for perpetual innovation and refinement within the SRE department. Your vision for improvement sets the tone for ongoing excellence.
Team Leadership & Development: Cultivate an environment of excellence, propelling the development of Junior, Titled, and Senior SREs. Your leadership serves as the backbone of the team’s unity and effectiveness.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Lead the charge in identifying vulnerabilities and proactively setting up defenses, ensuring that Pearson’s systems remain robust and trustworthy under your watch.
Change Management: Steer the transition and implementation of new practices and tools with assurance and expertise, transforming the SRE team’s modus operandi for the better.
Talent Acquisition & Retention: Play the pivotal role in building and sustaining the team, from the recruitment stage to long-term retention. Your judgment in talent management solidifies the team’s foundation.
Skills & Qualities:
Strong leadership and people management skills.
Exceptional technical proficiency in Pearson's technology stack.
Advanced project management capabilities.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Adept at risk assessment and crisis management.
Strategic thinking with a focus on long-term operational excellence.
What to expect from Pearson
Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?
At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.
We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.
Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.
To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.
Job: TECHNOLOGY
Organization: Corporate Strategy & Technology
Schedule: FULL_TIME
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Req ID: 16510
