Principal Architect – Programmatic / CTV

round8 talent search; Greater London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

round8 talent search is seeking a Principal Architect to lead the design of a next-generation programmatic/CTV advertising platform. This senior role blends deep technical architecture with strategic influence across the business.

Locations include London, Paris or Spain, with London preferred. You will own the technical roadmap, shape architecture decisions and help build a specialist team to drive commercial success.

Qualifications

• Significant experience architecting RTB, programmatic or ad-serving platforms at scale.
• Strong understanding of OpenRTB, auction mechanics, real-time systems and low-latency architecture.
• Experience across video advertising, CTV or related monetisation technologies.
• Proven ability to make build-vs-buy decisions and lead technical teams.
• Commercial understanding of the programmatic ecosystem, including SSPs, DSPs and yield optimisation.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical roadmap for the next-gen ad tech stack.
• Influence commercial strategy and product direction.
• Build and develop a specialist programmatic team.

Skills

RTB architecture

OpenRTB

Low-latency systems

Video advertising

CTTV monetisation

Lead technical teams

Programmatic ecosystem

Job description

Principal Architect – Programmatic / CTV

Location: Spain, UK, or Paris | Senior Leadership Opportunity

We're working with an established international digital media business looking for a senior technical architect to lead the development of its next-generation advertising technology infrastructure.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a programmatic technology stack from the ground up, combining deep technical architecture expertise with commercial strategy and hands-on leadership.

What we're looking for:

• Significant experience architecting RTB, programmatic or ad-serving platforms at scale.
• Strong understanding of OpenRTB, auction mechanics, real-time systems and low-latency architecture.
• Experience across video advertising, CTV or related monetisation technologies.
• Proven ability to make build-vs-buy decisions and lead technical teams.
• Commercial understanding of the programmatic ecosystem, including SSPs, DSPs and yield optimisation.

You’ll get ownership of the technical roadmap, influence over commercial strategy and the opportunity to build and develop a specialist team.

Location:

London, Spain or Paris preferred