Principal Cloud Architect

Swift Navigation is hiring. We’re the market leader in automotive precision GNSS and have been awarded programs for a total of more than 10 million ADAS-enabled and autonomous vehicles worldwide across 20+ automotive OEMs & suppliers as well as multiple mobile handset OEMs. 

Our flagship service is Skylark, a 24/7 GNSS corrections service that allows for centimeter-level navigation safely. Skylark consists of a global GNSS station network, redundant data center architecture, and state-of-the-art monitoring algorithms to ensure 99.9% guaranteed availability and fewer than 1 failure per 1,142 years of driving. To give you a sense of our scale, we process 1.4 billion satellite signals per hour.

We’re looking for a Cloud Architect to play a pivotal role in developing the cloud infrastructure and services for our global GNSS corrections service, designed to support millions of concurrent users. Your expertise in cloud architecture and distributed systems will drive the scalability, reliability, and efficiency of our services, enabling Swift Navigation to maintain its leadership in providing high-precision, autonomous navigation.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture of scalable, high-availability GNSS corrections cloud services and infrastructure supporting the current user base of 8 million plus and growing to 100s of millions of users
• Lead the architecture and design of services necessary to build a high availability, high reliability service that is used in safety of life applications and is cost optimized
• Lead design of external service APIs for customer use
• Lead the architecture of systems for scalable and reliable real-time ingestion, processing, and analysis of streaming data from diverse, real-world GNSS data sources
• Architect safety and security as a foundation of the cloud services. Help maintain related certifications ( ISO26262, ISO27001, ISO20000, ISO21434, etc).
• Drive adoption of best practices in cloud services, security, and DevOps, including automation, monitoring, and continuous deployment.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including systems engineering, GNSS algorithms, software development, and service operations
• Collaborate with a cross-functional team in the development of new product offerings and their integration into our cloud services
• Lead the effort to move to a multi-tenant, highly scalable cloud architecture, including supporting systems such as CI/CD, telemetry, health, and diagnostics.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Extensive experience in designing and managing scalable online services and distributed systems on major cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Excellent understanding of distributed systems (pitfalls, scaling issues, residency, integrity), including algorithms, data structures, data stores, and the use of database systems in these environments
• Proficient in container orchestration technologies, such as Kubernetes, and in infrastructure as code for automated deployment and management.
• Superb communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to lead technical discussions and projects across multiple teams.
• Experience with security protocols and how to architect a secure cloud infrastructure

• Excellent problem-solving capabilities and judgment with a detailed but flexible approach. Ability to make sound, scalable decisions and create clear processes
• Lead and drive progress through increased uncertainty and ambiguity
• High emotional intelligence and empathy. Outstanding interpersonal relationship building.
• Desire to learn new things constantly.

Desired Skills/Experience

• Experience in high-end production infrastructure, particularly in automotive or similar industries requiring high reliability and precision.
• Proficiency in modern software engineering practices, such as CI/CD, Agile development, and infrastructure automation.
• Knowledge of GNSS technologies and/or real-time sensor networks.

• Experience with software development for regulated industries (e.g., automotive, aerospace, medical devices), including familiarity with relevant standards and certifications.

• Proficiency with C++, Go, Rust, and Python. 
• Experience in test and validation of complex systems

Benefits:

We are headquartered in San Francisco, close to public transportation and we are well financed. We offer Flexible vacation, competitive salary, and for our US based employees -  employer covered health insurance, 401(k), flexible spending, HSA. We organize Tech talks, mentorship programs, employee events, growth and learning opportunities from a tech environment includie working closely with an international team of scientists, engineers, platform architects, programmers, executive staff and professionals.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $145,000 - $230,000 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.

Swift Navigation is a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, or other defining characteristics.

Swift Navigation will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of SFPC Art.49