At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural strategy and technical direction for innovative airport travel solutions.
- Company: CAVU, a forward-thinking company transforming airport travel experiences.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, annual bonus, gym access, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of travel technology while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Strong background in architecture and cloud-native solutions, preferably in SaaS environments.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Permanent Manchester Airport / Hybrid (2 days per week onsite)
About CAVU
For airports, for partners, for people. We are CAVU. At CAVU, our purpose is to find new and better ways to make airport travel seamless and enjoyable for everybody — from the smallest ideas to the biggest transformations. Every day is an opportunity to create better travel experiences. From our revenue-accelerating single-platform technology, Propel, through to our world-class hospitality venues including 1903 and Escape Lounges, our solutions make travel smoother for passengers and more profitable for our clients and partners. We know that to bring your best ideas, you need the space to think, the support to grow, and the freedom to be your authentic self. Whether you're working from our offices, from home, in our lounges, or on the road, we provide an environment where you can create, innovate, and help transform airport travel. Together, we can reach new heights. Together, we are CAVU.
About the role
We're looking for a Head of Architecture to lead the technical direction, architectural strategy and engineering standards across CAVU's technology landscape, with a particular focus on Propel, our market-leading airport travel platform. This is a senior technical leadership role, responsible for shaping modern, scalable and secure cloud-native solutions that support both current business priorities and future growth. You'll work closely with engineering, product and technology leaders to ensure architecture enables rapid delivery, commercial success and exceptional customer experiences. Reporting to the Engineering Director, you'll lead a team of architects and technical specialists, providing both strategic direction and technical guidance across multiple disciplines. While this is not a hands-on engineering role, we're looking for someone who remains close enough to modern software development practices to challenge thinking, influence technical decisions and support teams in solving complex problems. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future evolution of Propel as it continues to scale, support new products and integrations, and expand into new markets and airport partners globally.
Key responsibilities
- Architecture Strategy & Technical Leadership
- Define and evolve CAVU's architecture strategy, ensuring technology decisions align with business objectives, customer needs and long-term platform scalability.
- Provide technical leadership across cloud and solution architecture, driving the adoption of modern architectural patterns and engineering best practices.
- Lead architecture reviews and technical governance activities, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, resilient and commercially effective.
- Establish and maintain architectural standards, principles and technology roadmaps across the organisation.
- Champion modern cloud-native approaches and support the ongoing evolution of CAVU's technology platforms.
- Platform & Solution Architecture
- Guide the architectural direction of Propel and associated products, ensuring they can scale effectively to support future business growth.
- Work closely with engineering teams to evaluate solution designs, technical approaches and implementation strategies.
- Support the successful delivery of new platform capabilities, integrations and international implementations.
- Drive continuous improvement across system performance, reliability, observability and operational excellence.
- Promote architecture decisions that balance customer experience, technical quality, speed of delivery and cost efficiency.
- Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, coach and develop a multidisciplinary architecture and technical quality team, creating a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
- Build strong relationships across engineering, product and business teams, acting as a trusted technical advisor to senior stakeholders.
- Facilitate technical discussions and architecture forums, helping teams make informed decisions and align around shared objectives.
- Partner with internal and external delivery teams to ensure architectural consistency and high-quality outcomes.
- Innovation & Future Technology
- Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, industry trends and architectural approaches that could create value for CAVU and its customers.
- Champion an AI-first mindset where appropriate, exploring opportunities to leverage modern technologies to improve products, platforms and engineering effectiveness.
- Drive conversations around technology innovation, helping shape future platform capabilities and architectural direction.
About you
We're looking for a highly credible technology leader who combines strong architectural expertise with a deep understanding of modern software engineering. You'll likely have progressed from an engineering, technical leadership or architecture background and be comfortable operating at both strategic and technical levels. You'll enjoy working in fast-paced product and technology environments and be passionate about building scalable platforms that deliver real business value. You'll also bring:
- Proven experience leading architecture functions within modern technology, SaaS or product-led organisations.
- Strong expertise in cloud-native architecture, ideally within AWS environments.
- Experience designing and governing scalable, distributed and serverless architectures.
- A strong understanding of modern software engineering practices and the ability to engage credibly with development teams.
- Experience working with technologies such as AWS Lambda, Route 53 and wider AWS platform services.
- Knowledge of observability, monitoring and platform reliability approaches, with exposure to tools such as Datadog being advantageous.
- Experience balancing technical excellence with commercial considerations, including scalability, performance and cost optimisation.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing architecture or technical teams.
- A collaborative leadership style and a passion for continuous improvement.
- Experience within travel, aviation or airport technology is not required.
What's in it for you?
- 25 days holiday, increasing with service (up to 28)
- Option to buy up to 10 extra days + 4 flexible bank holidays
- 10% company pension
- Annual bonus scheme
- On-site gym
- MediCash scheme
- A range of flexible benefits and discounts, including up to 50% off CAVU products such as Escape Lounges and Airport Parking
- Rail and retail discounts
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Access to health & wellbeing events, ID&E activities, and learning opportunities
- Formal and informal development options, including mentoring programmes and learning grants
- Enhanced parental leave (T&Cs apply)
Equal Opportunities and Reasonable Adjustments
We’re building something brilliant at CAVU: a diverse team of people who reflect the global customer base we serve. We’re proudly part of MAG, and together we’re on a mission to be number one in our industries — and that takes talent in all its forms. Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you, even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know — we’re committed to helping you perform at your best. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that journey, including Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.
Ready to reach new heights?
Locations
Head of Architecture in Cheshire, Warrington employer: CAVU
CAVU is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, providing employees with the freedom to think creatively and grow professionally. With a strong focus on employee well-being, CAVU offers generous benefits such as flexible working arrangements, extensive holiday options, and opportunities for personal development, all within the vibrant environment of Manchester Airport. Join us to be part of a diverse team dedicated to transforming airport travel experiences while enjoying a supportive workplace that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture in Cheshire, Warrington
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from CAVU who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Architecture in Cheshire, Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at CAVU!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to CAVU. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at CAVU
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at CAVU.
