About the role
About OLIX AI is growing faster than any technology in history and the explosion in demand has created a massive infrastructure gap; we can no longer build chips or power stations fast enough to keep up. The industry is still leaning on a ten-year-old hardware blueprint that has reached its limit. A new paradigm that is faster and more efficient will be the biggest economic opportunity of the next century and create the most important company of the next decade. OLIX is building this next paradigm; the Optical Tensor Processing Unit (OTPU) achieves performance and energy efficiency that is impossible to match from existing chips. Role As Software Architect, Platform Integration, you will be the technical authority on how OLIX systems operate as hyperscale AI infrastructure — spanning cluster orchestration, platform management, networking, and field engineering. We are looking for an experienced principal-level engineer who will shape OLIX’s direction through systems thinking and technical depth. You will partner closely with the Software Engineering Director, Platform Integration to set the technical direction for the organisation, define architectural standards, and make the hard technical calls across the platform stack. You bring rare depth across the full stack, the judgment to know what matters and why, and the influence to drive alignment across engineering without relying on authority. Responsibilities Shape the technical vision. Partnering with the Software Engineering Director to set long-term technical direction across cluster orchestration, fleet management, networking, and deployment - and own the architectural integrity of that vision across the full platform lifecycle. Translate strategy into architecture. Work with the Director and cross-functional partners to turn long-term business direction into concrete architectural priorities, and identify where technical investments will have the highest leverage Set the architectural bar. Define the principles, interface contracts, and standards the organisation builds to - across scheduling, fleet operations, ingress/egress, and platform management - and ensure they hold across teams. Make the hard calls. Own the technical decision-making across the platform stack: orchestration and scheduling architecture, fleet management systems, networking design, and deployment strategy. Lead through influence. Drive alignment across teams without direct authority - through rigour, clarity, and the quality of your technical thinking. Raise the technical ceiling. Mentor and stretch senior engineers across the organisation - not as a manager, but as a technical leader who holds the bar high and helps others reach it. Skills & Experience Proven track record delivering large-scale distributed infrastructure or platform architecture that has shipped, across multiple teams in fast-moving environments. Deep expertise in distributed systems, cluster orchestration, networking, and fleet operations — with hands-on experience designing and scaling systems at hyperscale. Track record driving technical outcomes in high-reliability production environments: SLOs, observability, incident management, and security at scale. Full lifecycle experience - from early architecture through to production operations and long-tail reliability. Outstanding technical communicator - you articulate architectural decisions clearly to engineers, managers, and senior leadership alike, and write design thinking that becomes the organisational reference point. Compensation & Equity Competitive Salary: £195,000+, commensurate with your experience, skills, and location. Equity & Ownership: Meaningful stock options. You’re not just joining the mission; you’re owning a piece of it. Proximity Bonus: We value your time. To minimise your commute and maximise your life, we offer a £24k annual Living-Local Bonus if your residence is within 20 minutes of the office. Health & Wellbeing Premium Healthcare: Comprehensive BUPA medical and dental cover, including Medical History Disregarded (MHD), for complete peace of mind. Time Off: 25 days of annual leave, plus all UK bank holidays. The Workspace & Tech Elite Hardware: M4 Macs come as standard, with M4 Pro upgrades for our engineering team. We will provide whatever you need to do your best work. Optimal Environment: High-spec noise-cancelling headphones and a fully ergonomic workstation designed for deep focus. Rapid Prototyping: Access to our high-performance 3D printing lab for work, experimentation, and personal creative projects. Life at the Office Chef-prepared meals: if you need to work late. Caffeine on Us: We’ve got you covered with a tab at our favourite local coffee shop. Relocation & Global Mobility Visa Sponsorship: We hire the best in the world. We offer full UK and international visa sponsorship. Seamless Relocation: Whether you’re moving across the country or across the globe, our dedicated relocation partner provides funding and concierge support to get you settled. Due to U.S. export control regulations, candidates’ eligibility to work at OLIX depends on their most recent citizenship or permanent residency status. We are generally unable to consider applicants whose most recent citizenship or permanent residence is in certain restricted countries (currently including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Venezuela). Applicants who have subsequently obtained citizenship or permanent residency in another country not subject to these restrictions may still be eligible.