Principal Architect - Infrastructure, Cloud & AI

Whitbread PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare: BUPA health cover

Employee discounts: Whitbread brands

Job summary

Whitbread seeks a Principal Architect to lead the architecture for infrastructure, cloud and AI-enabled services in a large, mixed environment. You will shape roadmaps and governance, partnering with security, product and engineering to set architectural standards.

The role offers a significant leadership impact across enterprise technology, with a focus on secure, scalable and future-ready platforms and AI-driven operations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Infrastructure, Cloud or Platform Architecture within a large enterprise.
• Deep knowledge of Azure, AWS, hybrid cloud platforms and modern infrastructure services.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking, security, resilience and platform engineering principles.
• Experience creating target architectures, technology roadmaps, governance frameworks and architectural standards.
• Knowledge of AI, Generative AI, AIOps, automation technologies and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic architecture for Whitbread's infrastructure, cloud and platform estate.
• Drive technology direction across cloud platforms, networks, hosting and end user computing.
• Define architecture principles, design standards and technology roadmaps.
• Provide governance and technical leadership across major programmes and investments.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and develop practical AI, automation and infrastructure strategies.

Skills

Infrastructure Architecture

Cloud Architecture

Platform Architecture

Governance frameworks

Architecture roadmaps

AI/Generative AI

Stakeholder influence

Enterprise security

Education

Bachelor or equivalent in computing/engineering

Tools

Azure

AWS

Hybrid cloud

Job description

Principal Architect - Infrastructure, Cloud & AI

Job Description

Posted Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 00:00

At Whitbread, we're transforming how technology powers some of the UK's most recognised hospitality brands. We're looking for a visionary Principal Architect - Infrastructure, Cloud & AI to define and lead the architecture strategy for our cloud, infrastructure and AI-enabled technology services.

This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll influence enterprise-wide technology decisions, shape long-term roadmaps, and ensure our platforms remain secure, resilient, scalable and ready for the future. You'll play a key role in helping Whitbread unlock the value of emerging technologies including AI, Generative AI, Automation and AIOps.

Role: Principal Architect - Infrastructure, Cloud & AI

Contract Type: Permanent, Full time

Location: Chancery Lane, London (3 days hybrid)

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Healthcare: Family BUPA healthcare
• Discounts: Up to 60% discount on Premier Inn stays and 25% discount on our Restaurant brand

You'll own the strategic architecture for Whitbread's infrastructure, cloud and platform estate, driving technology direction across areas including cloud platforms, networks, hosting, end user computing, platform engineering and AI-enabled operations.

Working closely with architecture, engineering, security and product teams, you'll define architecture principles, design standards and technology roadmaps, while providing governance and technical leadership across major programmes and investments. You'll also evaluate emerging technologies and develop practical strategies for adopting AI, automation and intelligent infrastructure capabilities across the organisation

What you’ll need:

• Significant experience in Infrastructure, Cloud or Platform Architecture within a large, complex enterprise environment.
• Deep knowledge of Azure, AWS, hybrid cloud platforms and modern infrastructure services.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking, security, resilience and platform engineering principles.
• Experience creating target architectures, technology roadmaps, governance frameworks and architectural standards.
• Knowledge of AI, Generative AI, AIOps, automation technologies and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes.