## Senior Platform Owner - Sysco Corporate, Houston, Texas Are you a seasoned technology leader passionate about platform engineering and empowering developers? Sysco, the global leader in foodservice distribution, is seeking a Senior Platform Owner to drive the vision, strategy, and execution of our cutting-edge platform engineering initiatives. In this critical role, you will lead the "product" of platform engineering, directly impacting thousands of developers and services across our organization. ### Role Overview As the Senior Platform Owner, you will be at the forefront of Sysco's digital transformation, enabling self-service for our business technology (BT) product teams. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of mission-critical gateways, define the roadmap for our Internal Developer Platform (IDP), and pioneer the integration of agentic AI capabilities to create a next-generation, assistive platform. This is a hybrid position based in Houston, Texas, requiring an on-site presence 3 to 4 days per week. This allows for collaboration and innovation while maintaining a flexible work environment. ### A Day in the Life Your day as a Senior Platform Owner will be dynamic and impactful. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect: * **Strategic Planning:** Collaborate with engineering leaders to refine the long-term vision for our PaaStry+ ecosystem, defining the "paved road" for hundreds of microservices. * **Product Ownership:** Manage the roadmap and self-service features for our API Gateway and new LLM Gateway, ensuring secure access to large language models. * **Innovation:** Drive the AI-powered platform initiative, exploring and embedding advanced AI capabilities for troubleshooting, pipeline optimization, and proactive developer assistance. * **Ecosystem Management:** Maintain a unified backlog for the entire platform, including the core IDP, network gateways, service bootstrapping processes, and test automation frameworks. * **Developer Enablement:** Design and implement a robust developer adoption strategy, ensuring seamless integration and utilization of the platform. * **Customer Engagement:** Establish feedback mechanisms (surveys, interviews) to track developer satisfaction and address pain points. * **Performance Monitoring:** Define and track key value metrics, including DORA metrics (Lead Time, Deployment Frequency), to demonstrate the platform's ROI. * **Communication and Evangelism:** Serve as the public representative for PaaStry+, presenting at tech talks, crafting stakeholder updates, and fostering a vibrant internal community. ### Why Houston, Texas? Houston is a vibrant and diverse city with a thriving tech scene. As the fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston offers a unique blend of cultural attractions, culinary experiences, and affordable living. The city is home to a growing number of tech companies and startups, making it an ideal location for technology professionals. Sysco's corporate headquarters in Houston provides a collaborative and innovative work environment, with access to cutting-edge technology and a diverse talent pool. Houston's central location also offers convenient access to other major cities in the United States. ### Career Path The Senior Platform Owner role at Sysco offers a clear path for career advancement. You can progress to roles such as: * **Director of Platform Engineering:** Lead a larger team of platform engineers and drive the overall platform strategy for the organization. * **VP of Engineering:** Oversee multiple engineering teams and contribute to the overall technology vision for Sysco. * **Chief Technology Officer (CTO):** Lead the entire technology organization and drive innovation across all aspects of the business. Sysco is committed to providing its employees with opportunities for growth and development. We offer a variety of training programs, mentorship opportunities, and leadership development programs to help you reach your full potential. ### Salary & Benefits The estimated salary range for this position in Houston, Texas is $140,000 - $220,000 annually. Note that this is an estimated range, and the exact compensation will be determined based on your skills, experience, and qualifications. Sysco also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: * **Health Insurance:** Medical, dental, and vision coverage * **Financial Benefits:** 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan * **Paid Time Off:** Generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave * **Work-Life Balance:** Flexible work arrangements and employee assistance programs * **Professional Development:** Tuition reimbursement and training opportunities ### Sysco Culture Sysco is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees feel valued and respected. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed. Our core values include: * **Integrity:** We conduct our business with honesty and transparency. * **Excellence:** We strive for excellence in everything we do. * **Teamwork:** We work together to achieve our goals. * **Inclusion:** We embrace diversity and create an inclusive environment. * **Responsibility:** We are accountable for our actions. We are looking for passionate and driven individuals who share our values and are committed to making a difference. ### How to Apply If you are interested in joining our team as a Senior Platform Owner, we encourage you to apply online through the Sysco careers website. Please submit your resume and a cover letter highlighting your qualifications and experience. ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q1: What are the key responsibilities of a Senior Platform Owner?** **A:** The Senior Platform Owner is responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of Sysco's platform engineering initiatives, including leading the platform engineering "product", establishing the long-term vision for the PaaStry+ ecosystem, and driving the AI-powered platform initiative. **Q2: What qualifications are required for this role?** **A:** A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent degree or 5 years related work experience in a technical field and 8+ years experience as a Platform Owner , Developer or similar technical roles with 5+ years of experience in an agile environment are required. **Q3: What is the work environment like at Sysco?** **A:** Sysco offers a collaborative and innovative work environment with a focus on teamwork, inclusion, and employee development. We are committed to providing our employees with the resources and support they need to succeed. **Q4: What is the career path for a Senior Platform Owner at Sysco?** **A:** A Senior Platform Owner can progress to roles such as Director of Platform Engineering, VP of Engineering, or Chief Technology Officer (CTO). **Q5: What benefits does Sysco offer its employees?** **A:** Sysco offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, financial benefits, paid time off, work-life balance programs, and professional development opportunities. **Q6: What is the hybrid work arrangement for this role?** **A:** This is a hybrid position requiring an on-site presence 3 to 4 days per week in Houston, Texas. **Q7: What is PaaStry+?** **A:** PaaStry+ refers to Sysco's Platform-as-a-Service ecosystem and the collection of tools and services that empower developers. **Q8: What are DORA metrics?** **A:** DORA metrics (DevOps Research and Assessment) are a set of metrics used to measure the performance of software development teams. Key metrics include Lead Time and Deployment Frequency. **Q9: What is the role of AI in Sysco's platform engineering strategy?** **A:** Sysco is actively investigating and embedding advanced, agentic AI capabilities (such as AI-driven troubleshooting, pipeline optimization, and proactive developer agents) to deliver a next-generation, assistive platform. **Q10: How does Sysco support employee growth and development?** **A:** Sysco is committed to providing its employees with opportunities for growth and development, including training programs, mentorship opportunities, and leadership development programs. We look forward to receiving your application!