Lead Platform Engineer

Welcome to Whataburger Careers!

Our Flavor — Why Whataburger

Whataburger isn’t just a fast-food burger chain it is where bold leadership starts — and where potential doesn’t just grow, it heats up. Whether you're leading the line or working behind the scenes, this is the place where opportunities stack up, and every day gives you a chance to Make a Difference.

Since 1950, we’ve invested in people who lead with integrity, Serve with Heart, and bring their best flavor to the team. We believe in working together, speaking up, having a little fun, and Winning as One — because great burgers (and great teams) start with the right ingredients. If you're ready — to learn, grow, impact, and Move Forward Boldly — we’ve got your back and your path cooked to perfection.

Your Recipe for Impact — What You’ll Do

As a Lead Platform Engineer, you'll shape the future of restaurant technology by providing technical leadership across the platforms that power our restaurants, team members, and guest experiences. From modernizing cloud and on-premises solutions to advancing automation, AI capabilities, and scalable platform architecture, you'll drive innovative solutions that improve reliability, efficiency, and operational performance across the enterprise.

In this role, you'll Make a Difference by delivering technology solutions that create meaningful impact for restaurant operations and the guest experience. You'll Serve with Heart by building dependable, secure, and supportable platforms that empower teams to do their best work. You'll Win as One through partnership with cross-functional teams, vendors, and business leaders to achieve shared goals.

And you'll Move Forward Boldly by evaluating emerging technologies, challenging the status quo, and helping define the next generation of restaurant technology platforms.

Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities

As a Lead Platform Engineer, you will:

Lead architecture and modernization of restaurant technology platforms

Define platform standards for security, resiliency, observability, and deployment

Drive automation strategies that improve scalability and operational efficiency

Lead enterprise technology initiatives with broad business impact

Evaluate emerging technologies and translate them into practical solutions

Establish validation, testing, and production-readiness frameworks

Oversee platform integrations, vendor deliverables, and technical quality

Influence technology roadmaps, architecture decisions, and engineering standards

Partner with Product, Operations, Infrastructure, Security, and vendor teams

Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across the organization

Guide proof-of-concepts, pilot programs, rollouts, and production stabilization

Champion continuous improvement across platform engineering practices

Perform additional duties as assigned

The Sauce — Pay & Perks

As a Lead Platform Engineer, you will receive:

Competitive Weekly Pay

Bonus Program that scales up to 2.5X payout potential based on company results

5 weeks PTO

Flex Weeks

Paid Corporate Holidays

Paid Parental Leave*

401(k) match $1/$1 up to 4%

Competitive Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits*

Short-term and Long-term Disability Benefits*

Opportunities for Career Development and Growth

Whataburger Family Foundation - Scholarship Program (dependents eligible) and Hardship Grant Assistance

Discounted Meals for You and a Guest

Wireless Service Discounts

Computer & Software Discounts

Fitness / Gym Discounts

Awards and recognition for all you do

Retirement Celebration Program

What You Bring to the Table — Required Experience

As a Lead Platform Engineer, you must have:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

6+ years of platform engineering, systems engineering, or related experience

Experience designing and supporting enterprise technology platforms

Experience with cloud platforms, preferably Microsoft Azure

Experience with APIs, system integrations, and distributed applications

Experience implementing automation and deployment frameworks

Knowledge of platform security, resiliency, and operational best practices

Experience leading complex technical initiatives from design through deployment

Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills

Ability to influence technical decisions across cross-functional teams

Strong communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills

Extra Toppings — Desired Experience

As a Lead Platform Engineer, we prefer you to have:

Experience supporting restaurant, retail, or multi-site technology environments

Expertise in Microsoft Azure architecture and cloud modernization

Experience with AI-enabled tools, automation platforms, or intelligent agents

Experience with data platforms, analytics, Power BI, or Microsoft Fabric

Experience establishing platform governance and engineering standards

Azure Solutions Architect Expert, DevOps Engineer Expert, or related certifications

ITIL, Product Delivery, Agile, or other relevant certifications

Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical communities of practice

Where & How You’ll Work

This role is based at the San Antonio Home Office, working on‑site Monday through Thursday with remote flexibility on Fridays. In this role, you’ll have strong collaboration with leadership, across cross-functional teams, and with external partners to align capabilities with restaurant realities. The work environment is fast‑paced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills.

Full‑time availability is required, with occasional extended hours based on business needs, along with occasional travel to properties, project sites, and external meetings. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office.

Whataburger is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, age, or other condition or status protected by law. Whataburger participates in the federal E-Verify Program. For more information go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

*Eligibility rules may apply

300 Concord Plaza Dr San Antonio TX 78216-6903