Scotiabank

Principal Platform Engineer

Scotiabank • $120K — $150K *
Toronto, ON M3C 0E3In-Person
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10 years of IT experience in regulated enterprises across multiple geographies.
  • 7+ years of experience with Microsoft Azure, focusing on networking, security, identity, and storage.
  • 5+ years working with Databricks on Azure including platform governance.
  • 7+ years using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform); familiarity with ARM/Bicep is a plus.
  • Strong automation skills with Python; knowledge of Bash/PowerShell is beneficial.

Responsibilities

  • Define the technical strategy and roadmap for Azure & Databricks platforms.
  • Own the architecture for identity and access management and Databricks governance.
  • Evolve the platform operating model, setting SLAs and service objectives.
  • Implement reliability engineering practices and lead post-incident reviews.
  • Standardize observability measures across Databricks and Azure platforms.
  • Design and develop reusable Terraform modules for automated deployments.
  • Lead change management processes and ensure compliance with risk and security controls.

Benefits

  • Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Allyship in the workplace.
  • Accessibility initiatives to create an inclusive environment.
  • Opportunities for upskilling through courses and tuition assistance.
  • Competitive rewards program with benefits starting on day one.
  • A dynamic workspace offering collaboration spaces and amenities.
  • Various programs for community engagement.
Full Job Description
Requisition ID: 265477

The Principal Platform Engineer will play a critical role within the Enterprise Data & AI Technology organization - one of Scotiabank's most significant enterprise wide strategic initiatives. This organization drives data enabled decision making, AI innovation, and technology modernization across the Bank.

The Principal Platform Engineer will be responsible for defining and owning the technical strategy, architecture, and operational excellence for the Data & AI platform(s) in alignment with the Bank's Data & AI strategy. This role sets platform standards and guardrails, leads reliability and security improvements, and drives automation and enablement at scale. The Principal Platform Engineer partners across IAM, Network, Cloud Ops, Security, Data Governance, and client delivery teams to influence enterprise roadmaps, manage risk, and deliver new capabilities and modernization initiatives.

Is this role right for you? In this role, you will:

  • Platform Strategy and Roadmap: Define the platform technical strategy and multi-quarter roadmap for Azure & Databricks, aligning to enterprise architecture, security, and data governance standards. Identify capability gaps, prioritize investments, and drive adoption across delivery teams.
  • Architecture Ownership and Standards: Own end-to-end architecture for Azure identity and access (RBAC, PIM, workload identities), and Databricks governance (Unity Catalog, workspace configuration, cluster policies). Establish reference architectures, design patterns, and reusable blueprints; ensure designs are compliant, resilient, and cost-effective.
  • Operating Model and Governance: Define and evolve the platform operating model (intake, onboarding, support tiers, change management, controls evidence), including SLAs/SLOs, service objectives, and runbooks. Drive consistency across environments and delivery streams.
  • Reliability Engineering (SRE): Establish error-budget aware practices, incident severity models, and resilience engineering (autoscaling, retry/backoff strategies, capacity planning). Lead post-incident reviews, ensure corrective actions are delivered, and continuously reduce toil and MTTR.
  • Observability and Monitoring: Design, build, and standardize observability across Databricks and Azure using Azure Monitor and Log Analytics. Deliver actionable dashboards and alerting for cluster/job health, audit events, performance, and cost insights; enable proactive detection and capacity management.
  • Infrastructure as Code and Automation: Design and develop reusable Terraform modules for Azure and Databricks (clusters, SQL warehouses, Unity Catalog objects), enabling consistent, scalable, and automated deployments via Terraform Cloud/Enterprise and CI/CD. Set IaC standards, review practices, and policy-as-code controls.
  • Release, Change, and Risk Management: Own the Infrastructure & Platform release and change management approach, including approvals, change windows, automated validations, and rollbacks. Partner with Risk, Security, and Compliance to ensure auditability and control adherence.
  • Performance, Troubleshooting, and Cost Optimization: Lead complex troubleshooting across Databricks jobs, clusters, SQL warehouses, and Azure dependencies. Drive performance tuning, capacity planning, and cost optimization (tagging/chargeback, cluster policies, autoscaling, right-sizing) in partnership with Finance/Cloud Ops.
  • Stakeholder Leadership and Enablement: Build strong relationships with platform users and delivery teams. Communicate platform direction, constraints, and best practices; influence cross-functional stakeholders (Platform, Security, Cloud Ops, Networking, Data Governance) to align priorities and accelerate adoption of standards.
  • Security and Secrets Management: Establish secure patterns for secret management using Azure Key Vault and HashiCorp Vault; integrate with Databricks secret scopes and workload identities. Enforce least-privilege access, credential rotation, and secure-by-default platform configurations.
  • Vendor Partnership and Technology Evolution: Partner with Microsoft and Databricks to plan upgrades, troubleshoot complex issues, evaluate new capabilities, and influence product/enterprise roadmaps while maintaining control compliance.
  • Technical Leadership and Mentorship: Provide hands-on technical leadership across squads; mentor engineers on architecture, IaC, CI/CD, incident response, and operational excellence. Raise engineering standards through design reviews, documentation, and continuous improvement.


Do you have the skills that will enable you to succeed in this role? We'd love to work with you if you have:

  • Around 10 years of progressive IT experience in large, regulated enterprises operating across multiple geographies.
  • 7+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including architecture and deep expertise in networking, security, identity, storage, compute, and PaaS services.
  • 5+ years of hands-on Databricks on Azure experience (workspaces, jobs/workflows, clusters/SQL warehouses, Unity Catalog governance), including platform standards and guardrails.
  • 7+ years using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform modules, Terraform Cloud/Enterprise; working knowledge of ARM/Bicep a plus), including establishing IaC standards and reusable blueprints.
  • 7+ years with CI/CD and GitOps practices (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions), including automated testing, security scanning, policy gates, and release/change controls.
  • Strong development and automation skills (Python required; Bash/PowerShell; Go optional) used to build platform tooling, self-service enablement, and operational automation.
  • Proven experience designing secure, enterprise-grade Azure network and identity architectures (VNets, Private Endpoints, NSGs, UDRs, Azure Firewall, RBAC/PIM, workload identity) using zero-trust principles.
  • Deep understanding of data platforms and integration patterns: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Databricks Lakehouse (Delta Lake, SQL Warehouses), ADLS Gen2, Event Hubs, and enterprise data governance controls.
  • Demonstrated ownership of SRE and incident management practices: SLOs/error budgets, on-call readiness, major incident leadership, post-incident reviews, and reliability improvements delivered through measurable outcomes.
  • Experience establishing observability standards (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, dashboards, alerting) and driving performance/cost optimization at scale.
  • Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills; able to influence enterprise roadmaps, align priorities, and communicate tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Management or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).


What's in it for you?

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Allyship - We strive to create an inclusive culture where every employee is empowered to reach their fullest potential, respected for who they are, and are embraced through bias-free practices and inclusive values across Scotiabank. We embrace diversity and provide opportunities for all employee to learn, grow & participate through our various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that span across diverse gender identities, ethnicity, race, age, ability & veterans.
  • Accessibility and Workplace Accommodations - We value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. Scotiabank continues to locate, remove and prevent barriers so that we can build a diverse and inclusive environment while meeting accessibility requirements.
  • Upskilling through online courses, cross-functional development opportunities, and tuition assistance.
  • Competitive Rewards program including bonus, flexible vacation, personal, sick days and benefits will start on day one.
  • Dynamic Ecosystem - Free tea & coffee, universal washrooms, and lots of space for team collaboration.
  • Community Engagement - No matter where you choose to work from; we offer opportunities for community engagement & belonging with our various programs.


Location(s): Canada : Ontario : Toronto

About Scotiabank

Scotiabankers are committed to helping individuals, companies, and communities to thrive in a changing world. From personal and business banking, brokerage, and insurance, to private wealth, and the most sophisticated commercial, corporate and institutional services, they serve the diverse needs of some 21 million customers in more than 55 countries. Founded in 1832 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, their growth has always been fuelled by the success of their customers and their longevity secured by an unshakable commitment to carefully and expertly managing risk and capital. That focus on doing what's right for customers—short- andlong-term—has made us a global financial services leader. Headquartered in Canada, they are over 86, 000 Scotiabankers strong. Each of us are committed to being the best at understanding their customers' needs and all of us working together to deliver practical advice and relevant solutions that help their customers become financially better off.

Scotiabank Careers

Join Scotiabank, a premier financial institution, and become part of a diverse and inclusive team that’s leading the way in global banking. At Scotiabank, we offer more than just job opportunities; we provide a platform for professional growth and innovation in the financial services industry.

Work You’ll Do

At Scotiabank, we’re not just filling positions; we’re cultivating leaders. Dive into a workplace where diversity training and leadership development shape the path to your future. Our commitment to professional growth is evident in our robust training programs and continuous learning opportunities that foster innovation and strategic thinking.

Explore a World of Opportunities

Whether you’re looking for a full-time position, an internship, or a leadership role, Scotiabank has a spectrum of opportunities to fit your career ambitions. Our team is composed of individuals who bring a wealth of skills and perspectives to our company, driving us forward with their creativity and strategic insights.

Innovative Work Environment

Scotiabank’s culture is one of collaboration and respect, where each team member’s contribution is valued. Engage in meaningful work that challenges you to leverage your skills and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the banking sector. Our innovative projects not only support the growth of the company but also ensure our position as a leader in the industry.

Benefits and Growth

Choosing a career at Scotiabank means opting for a life of growth and opportunity. Our employees enjoy competitive benefits, including comprehensive health coverage, retirement plans, and flexible working conditions, all designed to support your career and personal life. We believe in nurturing our team’s potential by providing them with the tools they need to succeed both professionally and personally.

Join Our Team

Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the job opportunities at Scotiabank by searching our open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players.

Networking and Professional Development

Stay connected and advance your career through Scotiabank’s extensive networking opportunities. Participate in events that connect you with other professionals and leaders within the industry. Our career resources will help you prepare your resume, ace your interviews, and land the job that best suits your career goals.

Stay Ahead

Keep up to date with the latest in career tips, industry insights, and company news—all from the people who work here at Scotiabank. Personalize your experience by subscribing to job alert emails tailored to your preferences and be the first to know about new openings and exciting developments. Join Scotiabank and be part of a team that values integrity, respect, and accountability. Discover how your career can flourish in an environment committed to your professional development and personal growth.
Learn more about Scotiabank
Size
90,619 employees
Market Cap
$57.5 billion
Industry
Finance & Insurance
5 Year Trend
+7%
NASDAQ
BNS
* Ladders Estimates

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