At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architecture of our AI Portal Platform and drive innovative solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on AI and enterprise solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusivity and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI technology and make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in SaaS architecture and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
The Role
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 will work closely with engineering leads, product managers, and external partners to shape a platform that serves enterprise OEM customers worldwide.
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.).
Full‑time role based in our office in London. We operate a hybrid working policy that combines time together in our offices and workshops with remote work.
Principal Architect employer: Wayve
At Wayve, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our hybrid working policy allows for flexibility while ensuring that our team thrives together, and we are committed to employee growth through mentorship and hands-on leadership opportunities. Join us to be part of a diverse and inclusive culture where your contributions will shape the future of AI technology for enterprise customers worldwide.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Architect
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A personal connection can often get you a foot in the door faster than a CV.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects that highlight your architectural prowess, make sure to share them during interviews. It’s all about demonstrating what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Brush up on common architectural challenges and be ready to discuss how you’d tackle them. This shows you’re not just a thinker but a doer.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with SaaS platforms and multi-tenant architectures. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Principal Architect, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a hands-on leadership role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to mentor and influence teams. Share examples of how you've guided engineering leads or collaborated with product managers in past roles. We love seeing that collaborative spirit!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
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 AI Portal Platform. Be ready to discuss your experience with multi-tenant microservices and how you've scaled products from MVP to production. This will show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Technical Deep Dives
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions about workflow engines, data ingestion, and security compliance. Brush up on your knowledge of GDPR and ISO 27001, as well as any architectural decision-making processes you've been involved in. This will demonstrate your hands-on expertise.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this role involves mentoring senior engineers and influencing cross-functional teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've led teams in high-ambiguity environments. Highlight your communication skills and how you've aligned both technical and non-technical stakeholders in past projects.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to a respectful culture and how your unique perspective can add value to the team. This shows that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company ethos.
