Principal Consultant

Consult; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Flexible working

High-profile enterprise projects

Involvement in pre-sales

Broad tech exposure

Leadership access

Innovation freedom

Professional development

Job summary

Expert Thinking is a UK-based consultancy specialising in Cloud Platforms, Data & AI, Cloud Migration and DevSecOps. We seek two Principal Consultants to shape our growth, combining deep architectural expertise with strong client-facing skills.

You will lead strategic engagements across cloud, platform engineering and transformation, advising CIOs/CTOs while shaping solutions for enterprise clients. Remote-first with UK-based opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a principal consultant or cloud architect in a consultancy environment.
• Strong technical foundations in AWS and Azure with broad architectural knowledge.
• Experience leading pre-sales, shaping solutions and producing SOWs.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted technology advisor to CIOs, CTOs and senior stakeholders.
• Lead strategic engagements across cloud, platform engineering, DevOps, SRE and transformation.
• Drive technical pre-sales, including discovery workshops and proposals (SOWs).
• Define cloud strategies and transformation roadmaps across AWS and Azure.
• Advise on how cloud, data, analytics and AI fit into wider tech strategies.
• Take ownership of complex engagements, leading cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with Delivery and commercial teams to ensure project success.
• Mentor consultants and establish technical standards.

Skills

Cloud architecture

AWS

Azure

DevOps

SRE

Pre-sales

SOWs

Cost modelling

AI data platforms

Tools

Terraform

CI/CD

Job description

Principal Consultant - Cloud & Technology Transformation

Location: Fully Remote, UK based only

About Expert Thinking

Expert Thinking is a pioneering UK consultancy specialising in Cloud Platforms, Cloud Data & AI, Cloud Migration and DevSecOps.

Built by engineers, for engineers, we help enterprise organisations solve complex technology challenges through modern cloud platforms, automation and innovative technologies.

We're experiencing significant growth, driven by strong channel partnerships, a successful go-to-market strategy and increasing demand for our expertise.

With confirmed enterprise projects ready to commence, we're looking for two exceptional Principal Consultants to help shape our next phase of growth.

The Role

We're looking for experienced technology leaders who combine deep technical expertise with broad architectural knowledge, commercial awareness and exceptional client-facing skills.

Your background will likely be in cloud platforms, DevOps, SRE or platform engineering, but you'll have developed the ability to advise clients across a much wider technology landscape.

You'll be equally comfortable discussing cloud strategy with a CIO or CTO, shaping solutions during pre-sales, or providing technical leadership to engineering teams.

You'll have strong knowledge of AWS and Azure, alongside an understanding of modern data platforms, analytics and emerging AI technologies.

You don't need to be an expert in everything. What matters is your ability to understand how different technologies fit together, advise clients strategically and bring in specialist expertise where required.

This is a genuine Principal-level position with significant influence over client engagements, technical strategy and the future direction of Expert Thinking.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted technology advisor to CIOs, CTOs and senior enterprise stakeholders.
• Lead strategic consulting engagements across cloud, platform engineering, DevOps, SRE and wider technology transformation.
• Drive technical pre-sales, including client discovery workshops, solution shaping, proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Define cloud strategies, solution architectures and transformation roadmaps across AWS and Azure.
• Advise clients on how cloud platforms, data, analytics and AI capabilities fit into their wider technology strategies.
• Take technical ownership of complex client engagements, leading architects, engineers and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Work closely with Delivery Managers and commercial teams to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Support business growth through new client opportunities, channel partnerships and the development of new consulting services.
• Mentor consultants and help establish technical standards and best practices across the business.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a Principal Consultant, Principal Cloud Architect, Cloud Practice Lead or equivalent within a consultancy or professional services environment.
• Strong technical foundations in AWS, Azure, DevOps, SRE or platform engineering.
• Deep expertise in at least one major cloud platform, with a strong architectural understanding of both AWS and Azure.
• Experience designing and delivering enterprise cloud transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, CI/CD, automation and modern cloud architecture.
• Broad understanding of modern data platforms, analytics and AI technologies, without necessarily being a hands-on specialist.
• Demonstrable technical pre-sales experience, including leading discovery sessions, shaping solutions and producing SOWs.
• Confidence engaging with CIOs, CTOs and board-level stakeholders, translating complex technology into clear business outcomes.
• Experience leading technical delivery teams and making key architectural decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness, including cloud costs, TCO, ROI and the commercial considerations behind technology investments.

About You

You're a technically credible consultant who can see the bigger picture.

You have the confidence to lead conversations across multiple technology disciplines, challenge architectural decisions and advise senior stakeholders on complex transformation programmes.

You enjoy the commercial side of consulting, from understanding client challenges and shaping solutions to helping win new business.

You're equally comfortable in the boardroom and working alongside engineering teams, and you want to influence the direction of a growing consultancy rather than simply deliver the next project.

Why Join Expert Thinking?

Expert Thinking is deliberately different. We're a boutique consultancy where experienced consultants have the autonomy to influence both client outcomes and the direction of the business.

We offer:

• Remote-first, flexible working.
• High-profile enterprise cloud transformation programmes.
• Genuine involvement in pre-sales, architecture and technical delivery.
• The opportunity to work across AWS, Azure, DevOps, data and emerging technologies.
• Direct access to technical and business leadership.
• Freedom to develop new services, introduce ideas and shape the consultancy's future.
• Continued professional development and certifications.
• A collaborative culture focused on engineering excellence rather than hierarchy.

With significant growth, strong client demand and exciting projects already secured, this is an opportunity to make a genuine impact.

If you're an experienced Principal Consultant or technology leader who combines technical depth, commercial experience and strategic thinking, we'd love to hear from you.