Lead Platform Engineer - API Platform

ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a  Lead Platform Engineer  to join our API Platforms (HAPI) team at H&M Group. In this role, you will be a senior technical leader with deep, hands-on expertise in API platforms, responsible for evolving and scaling one of H&M’s most critical technology platforms.  You will play a central role in shaping the future of our API platform, including the consolidation of multiple API Management instances, modernization of CI/CD pipelines, and significant improvements to developer experience and time-to-market. This is a strategically important, highly senior role, focused on platform depth rather than enterprise-wide solution architecture.  WHAT YOU’LL DO  Lead the technical design and evolution of H&M’s central API platform (HAPI)  Own and drive the technical roadmap for API platform pipelines and onboarding  Design and implement target architecture to consolidate multiple API Management instances into a unified platform  Provide deep technical guidance on API Management, gateways, onboarding flows, and platform governance  Lead modernization and optimization of CI/CD pipelines supporting API lifecycle management  Improve developer experience and time-to-market, reducing friction for internal engineering teams  Balance centralized governance with decentralized API ownership across teams  Work hands-on where valuable (PoCs, experimentation, platform improvements) while keeping a strong strategic focus  Act as a technical mentor and guide for platform engineers without formal people management  Collaborate closely with the Engineering Manager and Lead Technical Architect to shape strategy and execution  WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH You will work within the API Platforms ( HAPI ) team, a small, highly specialized group responsible for building and evolving H&M Group’s central API platform. The team partners closely with hundreds of internal engineering teams who publish and consume APIs across global digital, retail, and e‑commerce domains. You will collaborate day‑to‑day with the Engineering Manager, a Lead Technical Architect, and senior platform engineers, as well as security, cloud, and operations teams who ensure the platform remains secure, resilient, and scalable. The API Platforms team plays a central role in major digital initiatives and supports multiple H&M Group brands, making collaboration, technical credibility, and strong stakeholder engagement essential to success in this role.  WHO YOU ARE  We are looking for people with…  Experience & leadership  8–10+ years of experience in platform engineering, API platforms, or infrastructure engineering  Proven experience owning and delivering large-scale platform modernization initiatives  Demonstrated success in consolidating or modernizing complex platform ecosystems  Strong track record of defining and maintaining platform standards and guardrails  Ability to lead through technical credibility, ownership, and influence  Must-have technical experience  Strong, hands-on experience with Azure API Management (architecture, governance, scaling)  Deep understanding of API platforms, gateways, and enterprise API patterns  Proven experience modernizing and optimizing CI/CD pipelines at scale  Solid knowledge of cloud-native platforms on Azure (GCP experience is a strong plus)  Experience working with legacy platforms while building modern, greenfield solutions  Good understanding of security, compliance, and governance for API platforms  Way of working  Strategic and pragmatic—able to balance long‑term vision with real‑world constraints  Comfortable working in a small, high-impact team with high ownership  Strong communicator, able to explain complex platform topics clearly  Collaborative mindset; thrives working closely with other senior technical leaders  Willing to be hands-on when it adds value, without being a delivery-focused IC role  Technical Skills & Competencies  Advanced platform and API architecture experience  Azure (required) | GCP (highly valued)  API Management platforms (e.g. Azure API Management, Kong)  CI/CD pipeline architecture and orchestration  Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, ARM)  Kubernetes, Docker, container-based architectures  Centralized and decentralized platform models  Developer portals, onboarding flows, and API lifecycle tooling  Strong security and governance awareness for enterprise platforms  Preferred Qualifications  Azure certifications (AZ‑305, AZ‑400)  Experience with API platform consolidation strategies  GitOps practices and tools  Event-driven and enterprise integration patterns  Experience improving developer experience at scale  WHO WE ARE H&M Group is a global company with strong fashion brands and ventures. Our goal is to prove that there is no compromise between exceptional design, affordable prices, and sustainable solutions. We want to liberate fashion for the many, and our customers are at the heart of every decision we make.   We are made up of thousands of passionate and talented colleagues united by our shared culture and values. Together, we use our scale and knowledge to push the fashion industry towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.  WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE  At H&M Group, we are proud to be a vibrant and welcoming company. We offer our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities ar