Associate Senior Product Owner - Platform Engineering

Job Posting Organization:
The World Bank Group is a prominent international financial institution established to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries. It is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for development, with a mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The organization comprises five institutions and has 189 member countries, operating in over 130 offices worldwide. The World Bank Group collaborates with public and private sector partners to invest in groundbreaking projects and leverage data, research, and technology to address urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Job Overview:
The Associate Senior Product Owner - Platform Engineering position is a senior technical role within the World Bank Group's Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit. This role is pivotal in the organization's digital transformation efforts, focusing on the development and operation of the Internal Developer Platform (IDP) and the underlying cloud infrastructure. The selected candidate will serve as the technical authority for platform engineering, driving the design, development, and continuous evolution of the IDP, cloud infrastructure-as-code, and AI infrastructure capabilities. The role requires a blend of technical expertise and leadership, as the candidate will guide and mentor junior staff, set engineering standards, and ensure the successful delivery of platform engineering initiatives. The position emphasizes a product-oriented, developer-first approach to platform engineering, enabling software delivery teams to operate with greater autonomy and efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Platform Engineering Specialist will be responsible for leading the technical design, development, and operations of the Internal Developer Platform (IDP). This includes owning the end-to-end implementation of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) practices using Terraform, ensuring consistent infrastructure provisioning across cloud environments. The candidate will define, build, and maintain golden paths for software delivery workflows, architect and operate cloud infrastructure on AWS and Azure, and serve as the lead engineer for the Internal Developer Portal. Additionally, the role involves championing the shift from traditional infrastructure management to platform engineering, developing a platform roadmap, contributing to the Bank's DevSecOps culture, and automating the provisioning of AI infrastructure components. The candidate will also provide mentorship to junior engineers, track technical work, and engage with stakeholders to communicate technical concepts effectively.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a closely related technical field, with a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree with at least 10 years of equivalent experience is acceptable. Required technical skills include expert-level proficiency in Infrastructure-as-Code, hands-on experience with Terraform, and practical experience with AWS and Azure cloud services. The candidate should have experience building or operating an Internal Developer Platform and a background in software development, demonstrating an understanding of the full software delivery lifecycle. Familiarity with AI infrastructure platforms and hands-on experience building AI agents are also essential. Leadership and interpersonal skills are crucial, including the ability to mentor junior staff and communicate complex technical concepts clearly.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a closely related technical field. A Bachelor's degree is acceptable if accompanied by significant relevant experience, specifically at least 10 years in a related role. The emphasis is on a strong technical foundation that supports the responsibilities of the position, particularly in platform engineering and cloud infrastructure.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience for candidates with a Master's degree, or at least 10 years for those with a Bachelor's degree. Candidates should have extensive hands-on experience in Infrastructure-as-Code, particularly using Terraform in production environments, and practical experience with AWS and Azure cloud services. Experience in building or operating an Internal Developer Platform and a solid background in software development are also critical. The candidate should demonstrate a deep understanding of platform engineering principles and have experience driving the transition to a product-oriented approach in previous roles.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English. Proficiency in additional languages is preferred but not explicitly required. The ability to communicate effectively in English is essential for collaboration and stakeholder engagement within the organization.

Additional Notes:
This position is a local recruitment opportunity with a term duration of 3 years. The World Bank Group offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a retirement plan, medical, life and disability insurance, and paid leave, including parental leave. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal opportunity for all applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. The selected candidate will be expected to demonstrate core competencies such as leadership, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and decision-making in a fast-paced technical environment.