Senior Engineer, Platform Engineering

About the role

The Senior Engineer – Platform Engineering is a seasoned infrastructure engineer who designs, builds, and optimizes Chipotle’s core computing platforms with an emphasis on reliability and automation. You will act as a technical lead, driving complex projects (such as cloud migrations, container platform deployments, and infrastructure automation initiatives) that modernize our environment. In this role, you influence platform architecture and standards, mentor junior engineers, and ensure our systems are scalable, secure, and resilient to support Chipotle’s growth. This senior position is pivotal in advancing our infrastructure strategy by implementing innovative solutions and best practices across cloud and on‑premise environments.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle has restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. With employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of major infrastructure solutions (e.g. multi-region cloud architectures, Kubernetes container platforms, automated configuration management) to enhance scalability and resiliency.
• Serve as an expert in platform operations (Linux/Windows servers, cloud services, databases), troubleshooting advanced issues and tuning systems for optimal performance and cost-efficiency.
• Develop and enforce infrastructure standards and best practices (security hardening, backup/recovery, Infrastructure-as-Code conventions) to ensure consistency and compliance across environments.
• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers, reviewing their designs and code, and providing technical training to elevate team capabilities.
• Collaborate with architects and other IT teams on strategic initiatives (cloud cost optimization, AI-readiness of infrastructure, improved observability), aligning technical solutions with Chipotle’s long-term roadmap.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BS) in a relevant field. Preferred: Master’s degree in information technology or engineering.

5-8 years technical experience.

• Deep expertise in cloud and platform services – including designing scalable architectures in Azure/AWS, managing Kubernetes or similar platforms, and optimizing CI/CD pipelines for enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated ability to automate and script complex tasks (leveraging tools like Terraform, Ansible, or custom code) to advance our “infrastructure-as-code” and AIOps initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills; comfortable leading incident resolution for high-impact infrastructure issues and performing root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.
• Technical leadership qualities – capable of setting standards, reviewing others’ work, and mentoring junior engineers to elevate team capability.
• Clear and influential communication, with experience collaborating across teams (security, development, operations) and translating technical concepts for stakeholders.
• A proven track record of driving infrastructure improvements aligned to strategic goals (reliability, cost optimization, modernization).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Sick leave
• Vacation time
• Additional rewards (see Chipotle benefits page for details)

Pay

A reasonable estimate of the current base pay range for this position is $99,000.00–$139,500.00. You are also eligible for annual cash bonuses and equity awards based upon performance and other factors. Actual compensation offered may vary depending on skill level, experience, and/or education.