At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of a secure government cloud platform and influence technical decisions.
- Company: Join Appvia, a dynamic startup transforming cloud software delivery.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, private healthcare, and a learning budget.
- Other info: Be part of a fun, inclusive culture with regular team socials and a dog-friendly office.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical national cloud initiatives while shaping the future of tech.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in cloud architecture and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ per year.
Location: London, UK (Hybrid ~ 1 day in-office per week)
Contract: Permanent/Full-time
Package: £90,000 - 120,000 + 10% Bonus + 10% Shares + Benefits
About Us
At Appvia, we're committed to helping our customers navigate their journey to Cloud and DevOps maturity. As a leading provider in the industry, we offer cutting-edge technologies and services to support our clients' cloud adoption journey. Our mission is to enable every company to deliver apps in the cloud.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced Principal Technical Architect to join Appvia and play a leading role on one of the most significant government cloud initiatives in the UK, consulting on a critical national platform for a secure government client, ensuring this platform is designed and operated to the highest standards of resilience, security, and compliance. You’ll combine your technical expertise with excellent consultancy and stakeholder management skills, working directly with senior government stakeholders and partner organisations. In this role, you’ll report directly into Appvia’s Head of Cloud Solutions and act as a senior technical authority, shaping the design and governance of a cloud platform. While not heavily hands-on day-to-day, you will bring deep experience in cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, and solution architecture, enabling you to guide technical decision-making across teams. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on one of the most important and high-profile secure cloud programmes in the country.
Interview process - 3 stage:
- Initial conversation with our Talent team
- Technical Interview
- Final Interview with Leadership
Important
This is an urgent requirement for a public sector client and will require ACTIVE Security Clearance or Developed Vetting.
About you
Proven experience as a Principal Technical Architect in secure, complex environments, including the following:
- Deep expertise in cloud infrastructure and platform engineering, preferably with a strong AWS background (other major cloud providers also valuable).
- Strong technical foundation in:
- Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform)
- Kubernetes and container orchestration
- CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps toolchains
- Strong understanding of governance, compliance, and security requirements for UK government, including NCSC Cloud Security Principles and relevant frameworks.
- Experience operating at the technical design authority (TDA) level, shaping architecture and providing oversight across multiple delivery teams.
- Ability to influence and engage senior government stakeholders, with excellent consultancy and stakeholder management skills.
Skills & Experience
- Platform Architecture: Define the technical architecture vision and governance for a large-scale secure government cloud platform. Shape design patterns, standards, and guardrails to meet national security and compliance requirements. Provide oversight across platform-focused engineering teams (e.g. CI/CD, Observability, Security, Networking).
- Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a trusted technical authority for both partner organisations and government stakeholders. Facilitate architecture boards, workshops, and reviews to align technical and business priorities. Communicate complex technical decisions and risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Governance & Assurance: Lead on documentation, governance, and assurance of architectural decisions. Identify and mitigate technical risks and dependencies. Embed security, resilience, and compliance into every stage of platform design and delivery.
Desirables
- Multi-cloud experience (Azure, GCP) in addition to AWS.
- Knowledge of FinOps principles and cloud cost optimisation.
- Background in hands-on software engineering or platform delivery, bringing credibility with engineering teams.
- Experience in large-scale agile delivery environments (SAFe, LeSS, dual-track agile).
Qualifications
Certification in relevant cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) at an expert/professional level is highly desirable, e.g.:
- AWS Solutions Architect Professional
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ305)
Certification in Kubernetes or Terraform administration is desirable:
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKSS)
- HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
Why join Appvia?
We are a self-funded, London based startup; providing businesses with a fast and secure way to deploy containerised applications into the cloud. We are on a mission to enable organisations to make cloud-based software delivery simple and efficient, whilst having the insights into costs, security and cadence.
What’s on offer? (Permanent Employees)
- Work-life balance
- Flexible working with core hours of 10-4pm
- Hybrid working - only one compulsory office day per month
- 25 days’ holiday a year, plus bank holidays
- An additional day off for your birthday
- Enhanced maternity and paternity to full pay
- Workplace Nursery Benefit to help working parents
For your well-being
- Full Private Healthcare cover for you with partners and children covered
- 50% Death in Service
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
- Pension plus a salary sacrifice option for even greater savings
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Free hygiene products available in the London office
- Mental health support
- Free therapy through AXA
- Access to the Headspace App
- Trained Mental Health First Aiders
Other fun perks
- Learning budget of £1,000 a year
- Your own MacBook Pro while you work at Appvia
- Dog friendly office
- Wear what makes you comfortable
- Free snacks in the office
- Pool table & ping pong table
- Regular team socials, board game nights, industry meetups and more!
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and actively encourage, respect, and recognise diversity of thought and background throughout the business. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity, and disability status.
Principal Platform Architect - UK SC/DV eligibility required employer: Appvia
Appvia is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and innovation within a collaborative work culture. With a focus on modernising infrastructure and adopting cloud-native practices, employees benefit from competitive packages, including bonuses and shares, while working in a hybrid environment that fosters flexibility and engagement in high-impact projects across the public sector. Joining Appvia means being part of a forward-thinking team where your expertise in cloud networking will directly contribute to meaningful solutions that enhance security and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Platform Architect - UK SC/DV eligibility required
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Appvia or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Appvia.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Appvia.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Appvia that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Platform Architect - UK SC/DV eligibility required
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Appvia.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Appvia and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Appvia
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Appvia uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
