How to Build a Platform Engineering Team

Building a platform engineering team is like constructing a house: it requires careful planning, the right mix of skills, and collaboration among different experts. Just as a house needs a solid foundation, reliable materials, and skilled workers to stand the test of time, a platform engineering team needs a strong structure, essential tools, and a mix of technical and soft skills to create a robust and scalable platform. But what goes into building such a team, and why is it necessary in the first place? This blog will guide you through creating a platform engineering team, exploring the tools they use, the roles involved, and how to overcome common challenges.

Yes, I know you’ve heard this analogy in many different shapes and forms. It’s quite effective in simplifying complex and often abstract software development concepts into something more tangible and relatable. In a nutshell, it works.

In construction, there’s always a General Manager (GM) or a project manager who hires the individuals needed to form a team to build a house while overseeing the entire build process successfully. This person makes real-time decisions, ensures the project meets budget constraints, and balances trade-offs. This role could be filled in platform engineering by a Head of Engineering or CTO, who oversees the team, aligns platform efforts with business goals, and makes critical decisions on resource allocation and priorities.

But why build a platform engineering team in the first place?

Much like in construction, where a well-organized crew is crucial to completing a project on time and within budget, having a platform engineering team is essential for businesses that need to build and maintain scalable, reliable, and efficient digital infrastructures. This is especially important for companies in industries like finance, healthcare, and technology, where the platform’s performance directly impacts the business’s success.

A platform engineering team ensures the infrastructure is robust, automated, and scalable, allowing the business to focus on delivering value to customers without worrying about the underlying technology.

Platform Engineering Team Structure

Roles and Responsibilities

Think of your platform engineering team as the construction crew for your house. Each role within the team is like that of a specialist on a construction site, with their own tools and expertise to contribute to the overall project.

Platform Engineers

Platform engineers are akin to the structural engineers of a building project. They design and maintain the core infrastructure—the foundation that supports all other activities. Their work ensures the platform is stable, scalable, and ready to support developers’ “building” of software.

Site Reliability Engineers (SREs)

SREs are like the building inspectors who ensure everything is up to code. They focus on the platform’s reliability and performance, ensuring it can handle the pressures of daily use and unexpected challenges, much like ensuring a house can withstand storms and heavy usage.

DevOps Engineers

DevOps engineers are the construction workers who bring everything together, ensuring the house is built efficiently and according to plan. They automate the process of building and deploying software, just as construction workers use tools and machinery to expedite the building process.

Cloud Architects

Cloud architects are the project’s architects responsible for designing the “blueprint” of the platform. They make decisions about the overall structure, choosing the right cloud services and ensuring that the platform is secure and scalable, similar to how an architect decides the layout and materials for a house.

Optimal Team Size and Composition

The optimal size of your construction crew (or platform engineering team) depends on the size of the “house” you’re building. You might need a larger team with more specialized roles for a complex project, while a leaner crew can manage a smaller project.

The team’s composition also evolves as the project progresses, just like a construction team might bring in electricians or plumbers at different stages. For example, a team might start with a few key roles and expand to include more SREs or cloud specialists as the platform scales.

Collaboration with Other Teams

Just as a construction project requires close collaboration between architects, builders, electricians, and plumbers, a platform engineering team must work closely with other teams—like development, operations, and security—to ensure all platform aspects are aligned and functioning smoothly.

Skill Set and Expertise

Core Technical Skills

Building a platform is a technical endeavor, requiring a deep understanding of the tools and technologies that form the “building materials” of the project.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the foundation of modern platforms, much like the concrete foundation of a house. It must be strong and resilient to support the weight of the applications built on top of it. Tools like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are the primary “materials” used to create this foundation.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

IaC is like the blueprint of a house, allowing platform engineers to manage and replicate the infrastructure as needed. It provides a clear plan that platform engineers can follow to ensure consistency and scalability. Tools like Terraform and Ansible automate and manage this process.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

CI/CD practices are similar to the assembly line in construction, ensuring that each platform component is built, tested, and deployed efficiently, just as each part of a house is constructed and inspected before moving on to the next phase. Tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, and CircleCI play roles here.

Soft Skills

Beyond technical skills, soft skills are crucial in ensuring that the “construction site” runs smoothly.

Communication

Effective communication is vital on a construction site, ensuring everyone knows their roles and responsibilities and works within quality, safety, and governance standards. In platform engineering, effective communication aligns all team members and allows them to address issues promptly. Tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams help facilitate this communication.

Problem-Solving

Every construction project encounters challenges, from unexpected weather to supply chain delays. Similarly, platform engineers need strong problem-solving skills to overcome technical hurdles and keep the project on track.

Project Management

Good project management is like a foreman on a construction site, ensuring that the project is completed on time and within budget. In platform engineering, this means managing tasks and resources effectively to meet deadlines and achieve goals. Tools like Digital.ai Agility help track progress and manage tasks while driving toward the business’s strategic goals.

Tools and Technologies

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools

IaC tools are like construction blueprints, allowing teams to automate the provisioning and management of infrastructure. These tools ensure that teams build every component to specification. Many organizations widely use Terraform and Ansible, as they provide the automation and consistency needed for managing large-scale infrastructures.

CI/CD Tools

CI/CD tools are the machinery and tools used on the construction site. They streamline the build and deployment process to ensure everything fits together perfectly. Jenkins, Bamboo, and others help automate the build, test, and deployment phases, ensuring quick and reliable software delivery.

Monitoring and Logging

Monitoring and logging tools are like the building inspectors who continuously check the quality and safety of the construction work. They ensure that the platform is reliable and that any issues are quickly identified and resolved. Tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and the ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) are essential for maintaining visibility and performance monitoring.

Collaboration and Communication Tools

Collaboration tools are like the communication systems on a construction site, ensuring everyone is in sync and the project progresses smoothly. Slack, Microsoft Teams, and collaboration tools in Agility are commonly used to keep all stakeholders aligned and informed.

Let’s not forget about AI. I encourage readers to check out a New Stack video to listen to Digital.ai Intelligent DevOps GM, Wing To, explain how AI will enhance platform engineering and DevEx.

Best Practices

Automation and Scripting

Automation in platform engineering is like using power tools on a construction site—it speeds up the process and ensures precision. Automating repetitive tasks allows engineers to focus on more complex challenges, just as power tools free up builders to focus on intricate details.

Scalability and Performance Optimization

Just as a well-designed house can be expanded or modified without compromising its integrity, a scalable platform can grow with the needs of the business without requiring a complete rebuild.

Security and Compliance

Security in platform engineering is like building a house with a strong lock and alarm system. It protects the platform from external threats and ensures compliance with industry standards.

Challenges and Solutions

Technical Debt

Technical debt is like cutting corners during construction—while it might save time initially, it can lead to costly repairs down the line. Addressing technical debt early prevents these issues from compounding, ensuring the long-term stability of the platform.

Keeping Up with Rapid Technological Changes

The construction industry evolves with new materials and techniques, just as technology advances in platform engineering. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential to staying current and effective. Digital.ai provides tools and solutions that help platform engineering teams stay ahead of the curve, integrating the latest technologies seamlessly into their workflows.

Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

Just as a builder must balance quick wins with long-term durability, platform engineers must prioritize immediate needs while keeping an eye on the future, ensuring the platform can evolve.

H3 Emerging Technologies

Adopting new technologies in platform engineering is like integrating the latest construction materials or methods. Evaluating and incorporating these advancements are table stakes to stay ahead of the competition. Digital.ai helps platform engineering teams navigate the rapidly changing tech landscape, offering tools that simplify adopting and integrating new technologies without disrupting ongoing projects.

Evolving Role of Platform Engineering

The role of platform engineering is constantly evolving, much like the construction industry. Teams must adapt to new practices and tools to remain effective and relevant. Digital.ai solutions provide the flexibility and scalability needed to support this evolution, ensuring that platform engineering teams can continue to deliver value as the industry changes.

Summary of Key Points

Hopefully, I’ve used an overused analogy to effectively hit “home” the need for platform engineering and what’s needed to build a team, but just in case, let’s recap. Building a platform engineering team is like constructing a house: it requires a well-thought-out plan, the right mix of skills, and collaboration among experts. To create a robust, scalable, and ready platform that supports your business needs, equip your team with the right tools, technical and soft skills, and an understanding of best practices. Proactively address challenges such as managing technical debt and keeping up with technological changes to position your platform engineering team for success.

Conclusion

Just as a well-managed construction team builds a strong and resilient building, a well-structured platform engineering team provides a reliable and scalable platform that drives business success.

Digital.ai empowers enterprises to build and manage platform engineering teams by providing the tools and insights needed to automate release orchestration across complex environments, improve developer productivity, and adhere to governance, quality, and security standards.

To learn more about how Digital.ai can help your organization build a successful platform engineering team, visit our Transition to Cloud in Complex Environments solution page.