Platform Engineering Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Platform Engineering Lead based in Switzerland. This is a remote freelance opportunity focused on shaping enterprise integration strategy and scalable platform capabilities. You will design reusable integration patterns that connect SaaS platforms with critical enterprise systems and data layers. The role combines hands-on solution architecture with enterprise-wide governance and technical leadership. You will work closely with business divisions to translate commercial needs into pragmatic, secure, and scalable technical solutions. A strong platform mindset is essential, with an emphasis on reusable architecture rather than one-off integrations. You will also establish standards that improve reliability, resilience, API performance, and operational consistency across platform data flows. The role offers significant exposure to a complex, fast-paced, matrixed environment within the pharmaceutical industry. Accountabilities: - Define, document, and drive adoption of standardized enterprise integration patterns, API governance frameworks, and data flow architectures across multiple delivery teams. - Architect and oversee integrations between core SaaS platforms and enterprise ecosystem layers, including identity management, central data platforms, and downstream business consumers. - Establish scalable and reusable integration approaches that prioritize reliability, security, maintainability, and long-term platform value. - Partner directly with business divisions to understand commercial requirements and translate them into pragmatic technical integration designs and implementation plans. - Lead communication and alignment across business stakeholders, engineering teams, and other technical functions within a complex matrix organization. - Establish operational standards for API performance, error handling, retry mechanisms, monitoring, and system resilience across platform data flows.

- Bring structure to ambiguous requirements while maintaining an execution-focused approach to enterprise integration initiatives. Requirements: - 5+ years of overall experience in IT or software engineering, with strong exposure to enterprise integration environments. - At least 3 years of hands-on experience in integration architecture, API design, data flow modelling, and established integration patterns. - Proven experience integrating enterprise SaaS platforms with broader IT ecosystems, including identity and access management and centralized data layers. - Strong understanding of API governance, solution architecture, integration standards, scalability, reliability, and secure data flows. - Demonstrated ability to develop scalable, repeatable platform capabilities rather than relying on point-to-point or one-off solutions. - Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships, influence decisions, and align technical strategies with business priorities in fast-paced matrix environments. - Full professional fluency in written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders. - High degree of ownership, strong execution focus, growth mindset, and comfort working through ambiguity and evolving requirements. Benefits: - Remote working arrangement. - Freelance/contract engagement. - Based in Europe. - 40 hours per week. - Expected start date: October 2026. - Opportunity to contribute to a major technology transformation within the pharmaceutical industry.