At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architectural vision and modernise our cloud platform with innovative solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking team at a leading retail tech company.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, pension, and flexible hybrid working.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for career growth and learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on our digital future while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Expertise in AWS architecture and automation tools like Terraform and Ansible.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
We’re looking for a high‑calibre Platform Architect to join our team in a permanent capacity to spearhead our long‑term infrastructure modernization and governance strategy. This is a "hands‑on" architectural leadership role; you’ll be the primary custodian of our technical roadmap, responsible for defining high‑level strategy and leading the end‑to‑end execution of complex migrations, automated lifecycle management, and security hardening. As a permanent pillar of the team, you will be the driving force behind enforcing AWS Well‑Architected standards across our entire multi‑account estate. You will treat the platform as a product—continuously identifying and eliminating technical debt, from decommissioning legacy directory services to upgrading out‑of‑support libraries. By building and scaling the automated deployment pipelines and robust guardrails that underpin our operations, you will ensure our "seriously digital" future is built on a resilient, secure, and world‑class foundation.
What you’ll be doing:
- Architectural Ownership: Define and maintain the long‑term architectural vision for the Wickes cloud platform, ensuring it scales with the business.
- Governance & Guardrails: Design and enforce automated preventive and detective guardrails (SCPs, AWS Config) across the AWS Organization to ensure continuous compliance.
- Identity Modernization: Lead the strategic decommissioning of AWS Active Directory and manage the lifecycle of Microsoft Domain Controller upgrades.
- Automated Lifecycle Management: Establish frameworks for automated patching and version upgrades for AWS Lambda and RDS to ensure zero‑touch maintenance.
- Engineering Excellence: Champion Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/Ansible) and CI/CD (GitLab) best practices, mentoring engineers to improve overall code quality and deployment velocity.
- Security Hardening: Proactively manage CVEs by identifying and upgrading out‑of‑support tools and provider libraries.
- Stakeholder Partnership: Collaborating with cross‑functional teams to translate business requirements into scalable architectural patterns.
What we’re looking for:
You’ll be an expert AWS Architect with extensive hands‑on experience designing and operating production‑grade AWS environments at scale. You’ll have a solid background in traditional infrastructure (compute, storage, networking) applied to cloud‑native architectures. As well as this you’ll have skills and experience in the following areas:
- Automation Mastery: Expert‑level proficiency in Terraform and Ansible, with a strong focus on modular, reusable code.
- CI/CD Specialist: Deep experience building and optimizing pipelines, preferably within GitLab.
- Identity Expert: Strong working knowledge of identity protocols such as OpenID Connect, SAML and hands‑on experience with Microsoft Active Directory and AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management).
- Observability: Hands‑on experience with Datadog for enterprise‑wide monitoring and proactive alerting.
- Agile Tooling: Proficient in using JIRA for task management and Confluence for technical documentation and ADRs (Architectural Decision Records).
Preferred Qualifications
- Multi‑Cloud: Exposure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
- Retail Sector: Experience in high‑volume, high‑availability retail or e‑commerce environments.
- Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect Professional or Security Specialty.
What's in it for you?
Competitive package including an annual bonus. Contributory Pension and Life Assurance. Flexible Hybrid working (2–3 days in Watford). Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme.
Platform Architect in Watford employer: Wickes
At Wickes, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Platform Architect, you will not only lead cutting-edge projects but also benefit from a competitive package, flexible hybrid working arrangements, and numerous employee growth opportunities, all while contributing to our mission of building a resilient and secure digital future. Join us in Watford, where your expertise will be valued, and your career can thrive in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Architect in Watford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to AWS and automation. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to platform architecture. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable.
✨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 about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Architect in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Platform Architect role. Highlight your AWS expertise, automation mastery, and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how you can contribute to our long-term architectural vision!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our goals. Don’t forget to mention your experience with Terraform, Ansible, and CI/CD practices – we love that stuff!
Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on any significant projects related to cloud architecture or automation, make sure to include them in your application. We’re keen to see examples of your hands-on experience and how you've tackled complex challenges in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be one step closer to joining our awesome team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wickes
✨Know Your AWS Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your AWS knowledge, especially around Well-Architected standards. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these principles in past projects and how they can be leveraged in the role you're applying for.
✨Showcase Your Automation Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience with Terraform and Ansible. Have specific examples ready that demonstrate your ability to create modular, reusable code and how you've optimised CI/CD pipelines, particularly in GitLab.
✨Understand Identity Management
Familiarise yourself with identity protocols like OpenID Connect and SAML. Be prepared to explain your hands-on experience with Microsoft Active Directory and AWS IAM, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think of examples where you've worked with different teams to translate business requirements into architectural solutions. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve partnered with stakeholders to achieve common goals.
