Hardware Architect

About the role

The Hardware Architect role at Scaleway involves owning the complete translation of demanding functional requirements from Product teams into concrete, cost-effective hardware solutions for Storage, Compute, AI, and HPC workloads. You will serve as the primary technical authority for hardware selection, driving the evaluation and customization of global vendor platforms to meet Scaleway's performance and financial targets. Your analysis will directly define the technical and economic viability of future infrastructure programs. You will synthesize complex trade-offs into clear documentation and decisions that shape our sovereign cloud roadmap. You will maintain a continuous technology radar on components and trends to future-proof our infrastructure investments. This role requires a high level of rigor to align hardware strategy with aggressive OKRs and business objectives. Ultimately, you will be at the heart of co-design efforts that define the next generation of Scaleway infrastructure.

Key facts

What you'll do

You will gather and analyze functional requirements from Product teams covering Compute, AI, and Storage domains. Following this analysis, you will identify optimal hardware solutions from global vendors, engaging with ODM and OEM partners to source appropriate platforms. You will evaluate detailed technical specifications and drive their evolution to ensure they meet Scaleway's standards for performance, security, and sustainability. Collaboration on the customization of existing or new hardware solutions will be a central activity, allowing you to tailor platforms to specific workload requirements. You will conduct thorough cost analysis and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) evaluations to validate project financial viability and support strategic investment decisions. This work includes supporting Product teams in building business plans by providing deep hardware expertise and scenario modeling. You will follow the full development lifecycle of hardware solutions, overseeing design, validation, and implementation stages. A continuous technology watch on market components and hardware trends will be maintained to inform roadmap decisions and mitigate future risks. You will synthesize and document technical choices, trade-offs, and project progress to ensure clarity and alignment across stakeholders. Daily interaction with external vendors and internal engineering experts will be required to negotiate and refine solutions. You will champion hardware feasibility assessments to avoid project delays and cost overruns by identifying potential constraints early. Translating strategic product visions into concrete bill-of-materials and architectural constraints will be a core responsibility. You will verify compliance with Scaleway security, sustainability, and performance standards throughout the hardware lifecycle. Leading technical negotiations with vendors to secure optimal configurations, delivery terms, and total value will be essential to the role.

Requirements

Candidates must bring 5 to 10+ years of experience in Hardware Architecture or Engineering, with a demonstrated track record in complex infrastructure environments. Expertise in server technologies spanning Compute, Storage, HPC, and AI workloads is essential. Deep knowledge of the hardware vendor ecosystem, including ODM and OEM structures, components, and supply dynamics, is required. Proficiency in communication protocols and Datacenter infrastructure principles is necessary to evaluate integration scenarios. You must possess the ability to conduct financial evaluations and TCO analysis to support business cases and justify investments. Excellent communication skills are required to engage effectively with both technical and business profiles across the organization. Strong ability to synthesize information and maintain rigorous documentation will ensure traceability and clarity in decision processes. A high level of technical curiosity, combined with a business-driven mindset, is necessary to balance innovation with financial discipline. A hands-on approach and the ability to work in a laboratory environment (DC5) will be important for validation and testing activities. Strong alignment with strategic objectives and OKRs is essential to ensure that hardware initiatives directly support company goals.

What you will find at Scaleway ++++

Scaleway offers a hybrid work model with up to 3 days of remote work per week, providing flexibility while maintaining team collaboration. Our offices are spacious, dynamic workspaces with bold design, conveniently located near public transport, and most feature outdoor terraces and bike parking facilities. We provide a healthy meal service at headquarters led by our chef, with breakfast available across all sites year-round. Scalers working from regional locations enjoy a Swile card for lunches. Scaleway is committed to supporting well-being through access to gym facilities, daycare places, and discounted services for caring needs. The environment is international, with dozens of nationalities and English spoken as widely as French. Career and mobility opportunities are emphasized, with internal transitions supported and accessible within the Iliad Group.

Join Scaleway to contribute to a diverse product portfolio featuring over 100 public cloud offerings in IaaS, PaaS, and AI. Engage with a cutting-edge technical environment that includes high-performance bare metal servers designed for demanding workloads. Commitment to responsible cloud operations drives our initiatives in sustainability and sovereign infrastructure, aligning with the investment of €3 billion from the Iliad Group to develop serious, sovereign AI alternatives. By joining Scaleway, you will shape the sovereign cloud of tomorrow alongside ambitious companies and institutions across Europe.