At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architecture of our AI Portal Platform, ensuring scalability and security for enterprise customers.
- Company: Wayve, a pioneering developer of Embodied AI technology for automated driving.
- Benefits: Hybrid working policy, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and making a positive impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of autonomous driving with cutting-edge AI technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in SaaS architecture and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology. Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems. Our vision is to create autonomy that propels the world forward. Our intelligent, mapless, and hardware-agnostic AI products are designed for automakers, accelerating the transition from assisted to automated driving. In our fast-paced environment big problems ignite us—we embrace uncertainty, leaning into complex challenges to unlock groundbreaking solutions. We aim high and stay humble in our pursuit of excellence, constantly learning and evolving as we pave the way for a smarter, safer future. At Wayve, your contributions matter. We value diversity, embrace new perspectives, and foster an inclusive work environment; we back each other to deliver impact.
We're looking for a Principal Architect to define and drive the ‘north star’ architecture of our AI Portal Platform - enterprise grade platform that can scale to multiple OEM customers. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in early-stage, high-ambiguity environments and has a track record of taking products from MVP to scale. You'll work closely with engineering leads, product managers, and external partners to shape a platform that serves enterprise OEM customers worldwide. This is a pivotal, high-impact role — we want someone who can bring clarity, structure, and strong technical judgment to a fast-moving, collaborative team.
What You'll Do
- Define and own the architecture of the AI Portal Platform — a cloud-native, multi-tenant SaaS platform — ensuring scalability, resilience, security, and maintainability for enterprise-grade OEM deployments.
- Drive architectural decisions across microservices, multi-tenancy, IAM, workflow orchestration, APIs, and large-scale data transfer pipelines.
- Define scalable architectures for high-volume data ingestion, transfer, storage, and processing to support AI training, validation, and OEM fleet operations.
- Define and enforce platform-wide Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs), including scalability, availability, observability, disaster recovery, operational supportability, performance, and cost efficiency.
- Lead security and compliance architecture aligned with enterprise and automotive standards, including secure-by-design principles, GDPR, ISO 27001, and auditability requirements.
- Own and maintain Architectural Decision Records (ADRs), architecture documentation, system maps, and reference architectures.
- Evaluate build-vs-buy trade-offs and guide technology selection across cloud, platform, and data infrastructure.
- Influence cross-functional technical direction and align stakeholders across engineering, product, infrastructure, and data teams.
- Mentor senior engineers and provide technical leadership to support platform evolution from MVP to a scalable enterprise SaaS ecosystem.
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- Proven experience as a principal engineer or architect on a greenfield SaaS product, ideally taken from MVP to production scale.
- Strong background in multi-tenant microservices architecture.
- Hands-on experience with workflow engines (e.g., Temporal or equivalent).
- Experience with make vs. buy decision-making at an architectural level.
- Comfortable working in mixed-mode environments (in-house teams + contractors).
- Excellent communication and influencing skills — able to align technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, early-stage or scale-up environment.
Nice to Have:
- Experience with data platform architecture (not a core requirement, but a plus).
- Familiarity with OEM or automotive industry processes (e.g., A-SPICE, TISAX).
- Experience with AI-powered tooling or integrations (Jira, Slack, Notion, etc.).
This is a full-time role based in our office in London. At Wayve we want the best of all worlds so we operate a hybrid working policy that combines time together in our offices and workshops to fuel innovation, culture, relationships and learning, and time spent working from home.
Wayve is committed to creating an inclusive interview experience. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to participate fully in our interview process, please let us know. We understand that everyone has a unique set of skills and experiences and that not everyone will meet all of the requirements listed above. If you’re passionate about self-driving cars and think you have what it takes to make a positive impact on the world, we encourage you to apply.
At Wayve we're committed to creating a diverse, fair and respectful culture that is inclusive of everyone based on their unique skills and perspectives, and regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law.
Principal Architect in London employer: Wayve
Wayve is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and inclusivity in the rapidly evolving field of AI technology. With a hybrid working policy that promotes collaboration and personal growth, employees are empowered to tackle complex challenges while contributing to groundbreaking advancements in automated driving systems. The supportive work culture, commitment to diversity, and opportunities for professional development make Wayve a truly rewarding place to build a meaningful career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Architect in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Wayve's projects and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Practise common interview questions and be ready to showcase your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for AI and automated driving! Share your thoughts on recent advancements in the field during interviews. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm and keep the conversation engaging.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Wayve team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and automated driving shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the role and how you can contribute to our mission at Wayve.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in SaaS architecture and multi-tenant systems. We love seeing how your past roles have prepared you for this Principal Architect position, so don’t hold back on those details!
Be Clear and Concise:While we appreciate creativity, clarity is key! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your qualifications at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wayve
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the architecture principles relevant to the role. Brush up on multi-tenant microservices, cloud-native platforms, and security compliance standards like GDPR and ISO 27001. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the concepts but can also apply them effectively.
✨Prepare for Technical Deep Dives
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions during your interview. Prepare to explain your past experiences with architectural decision-making, especially around build-vs-buy scenarios. Have examples ready that showcase your ability to lead teams through complex challenges and how you’ve influenced cross-functional stakeholders in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Architect, you'll be expected to mentor and lead others. Be ready to share specific instances where you've guided teams or individuals, particularly in high-ambiguity environments. Highlight your communication skills and how you've aligned both technical and non-technical stakeholders towards a common goal.
✨Embrace the Company Culture
Wayve values diversity and an inclusive work environment, so make sure to express your alignment with these values. Share your thoughts on how diverse perspectives can drive innovation and problem-solving. This will demonstrate that you not only fit the technical requirements but also the cultural ethos of the company.
