At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and govern AI infrastructure architecture using Kubernetes for scalable solutions.
- Company: Join Era4, a mission-driven start-up transforming energy sites into modern data centres.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, autonomy, and the chance to shape next-gen tech operations.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national-scale AI workloads while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Expertise in Kubernetes, cloud architecture, and strong design skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Era4 develops, owns and operates AI infrastructure across the UK, powered by renewable energy. Converting legacy industrial and energy sites into modern data-centre facilities, Era4 is combining brownfield regeneration opportunities with cleaner, efficient, scalable compute capacity for healthcare, research, finance, enterprise, and public-sector organisations.
We are seeking a Systems Architect to define, design, and govern the architecture of our Kubernetes-based AI infrastructure. This role is responsible for translating business, customer, and regulatory requirements into scalable platform designs and technical specifications that guide platform engineering and operations teams. Work closely with Product Managers, Platform Engineers, ML engineers, and leadership to ensure the platform is secure, performant, resilient, and future-proof, enabling AI workloads at national-scale.
This is an opportunity to define the end-to-end architecture of our AI platform, defining how Kubernetes, GPU infrastructure, networking, storage, and automation components integrate into a cohesive system. This is a design authority role, responsible for:
- Technical standards
- Long-term scalability and evolution
Provide clear specifications and boundaries that enable Platform Engineers to build and operate the platform effectively.
Key Responsibilities
- Produce high-level and low-level designs (HLDs/LLDs) for platform components.
- Establish reference architectures for multi-tenant AI workloads.
- Specify system and integrations across Kubernetes, IAM, PaaS, Observability and automation, ITSM, Security, Billing – the complete cloud service provider stack.
- Define solutions for multi-tenant SaaS offerings for GPU cloud related offerings.
Scalability, Reliability & Performance
- Provide inputs for SLOs/SLAs across: Infrastructure, SaaS services, Storage services.
- Architect: Capacity planning (compute + storage), Performance optimisation across workloads.
- Proven results designing scaled end to end systems (not just components, or end services).
- An expert of infrastructure, cloud, or platform related Architecture/Engineering.
- Exceptional experience designing Kubernetes and cloud native solutions at scale.
- Commercial aptitude to enable performance, cost, time trade-offs and evolutions.
- Proven experience defining target architectures and technology roadmaps.
- Strong understanding of Infrastructure-as-code, automation, GitOps.
- Experience of Open Source scale-out storage/object stores (Ceph).
One or more would be an advantage:
- Contribution to open-source projects in the IaaS/PaaS space.
- Experience of building and consuming significant cloud services.
- Commercial success of turning technology into a commercially successful product offering.
- AI/ML System design and consumption practises.
Why Join Era4
You’ll be joining a mission-driven start-up building critical national infrastructure, where operational excellence directly enables growth. This role offers high visibility with leadership, real autonomy, and the chance to shape how a next-generation company operates at scale.
Diversity & Inclusion
Era4 is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Technology
United Kingdom, Hybrid - (Occasional travel to London office)
Systems Architect employer: Era4
Join a dynamic start-up that is at the forefront of building critical national infrastructure, where your role as a Service Desk Analyst will be pivotal in ensuring operational excellence. With a strong focus on employee growth and autonomy, you'll have the opportunity to work closely with leadership and influence the company's operations while enjoying a supportive and collaborative work culture. Located in a vibrant area, this position offers the chance to be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to making a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Systems Architect
✨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 Era4 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 Era4.
✨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 Era4.
✨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 Era4 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 Systems Architect
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 Era4.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Era4 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 Era4
✨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 Era4 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.
