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- Tasks: Drive architecture and technical direction for innovative EdTech products.
- Company: Fast-growing PE-backed SaaS business in the EdTech space.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant impact on product strategy and engineering quality.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI-first engineering and influence across multiple teams.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in architecture and technical leadership in scaling product businesses.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
Remote role in the UK, once a month travel to London office. Candidates need to be based in the UK currently, sponsorship or relocation, at this time, isn't available.
We’re partnering with a PE-backed SaaS business in the EdTech space that is scaling quickly and investing heavily in its product and engineering function. They’re hiring to help shape technical strategy across a growing core product suite used at real scale. This is a high-impact senior IC role for someone who loves solving complex architectural problems, influencing across multiple teams, and operating at the intersection of engineering, product, and business strategy. This is not a “staff in title only” role. The business is looking for someone who can work across domains, support technical leaders, raise the architectural bar, and bring strong judgement to a fast-moving environment undergoing significant transformation - including a major push toward AI-first engineering ways of working.
What you’ll be doing:
- Driving architecture, technical direction, and roadmaps across a complex product estate.
- Partnering with Tech Leads, Product Directors, and Engineering leadership on the company’s most important initiatives.
- Supporting delivery of new product areas, module rebuilds, and greenfield architectural challenges.
- Coaching senior engineers and technical leads while improving engineering quality and decision-making across teams.
- Helping define what AI-first software development looks like in practice, including how tooling and new workflows reshape the SDLC.
- Operating as a senior technical leader across multiple teams rather than sitting in one narrow delivery lane.
What they’re looking for:
- A proven background as a Staff Engineer / Principal-level IC / senior technical leader in a scaling product business.
- Strong experience in architecture, systems design, and technical strategy across multiple teams or domains.
- Someone who can influence senior technical and non-technical stakeholders and turn ambiguity into momentum.
- A leader who brings examples, judgement, and real-world experience not just theory.
- Strong opinions on how AI changes engineering productivity, team design, and delivery.
- Experience in modern product environments where quality, performance, security, and observability matter.
- Exposure to technologies such as PHP, Node, React, Python, MySQL, and AWS is helpful, but this is not a language-led search.
Lead Architect employer: ZEREN
Contact Detail:
ZEREN Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Architect
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the EdTech space or related industries. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or case studies showcasing your architectural projects and how you’ve influenced teams. This will help you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss AI! Since the role involves shaping AI-first engineering, brush up on how AI impacts software development and be prepared to share your thoughts on it.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We make it easy for you to connect with us directly, so don’t miss out on the chance to land that Lead Architect role.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Lead Architect role. Highlight your experience in architecture, systems design, and any relevant technologies like PHP or AWS. We want to see how you can influence and drive technical strategy!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us about your passion for solving complex architectural problems and how you've influenced teams in the past. Be sure to mention your thoughts on AI-first engineering and how you envision its impact on software development.
Showcase Real-World Examples: When detailing your experience, don’t just list responsibilities—share specific examples of challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame them. We love seeing real-world applications of your skills, especially in fast-moving environments!
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 this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at ZEREN
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you can discuss your previous architectural decisions and the reasoning behind them. Be ready to explain how you've tackled complex problems in the past, especially in a scaling product environment. This will show that you have the hands-on experience needed for this high-impact role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've influenced teams and stakeholders in previous roles. Highlight situations where you've coached others or improved engineering quality. This is crucial as the company is looking for someone who can operate across multiple teams and raise the architectural bar.
✨Embrace AI-First Thinking
Since the role involves defining what AI-first software development looks like, be prepared to discuss your thoughts on how AI can reshape engineering productivity and workflows. Bring real-world examples of how you've integrated new technologies or methodologies into your work.
✨Understand the Business Context
Familiarise yourself with the EdTech space and the specific challenges it faces. Being able to connect technical strategy with business outcomes will demonstrate your ability to operate at the intersection of engineering, product, and business strategy, which is key for this position.