At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative tech solutions for Retail and Supply Chain transformation at Boots.
- Company: Join Boots, a leading retail brand committed to inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous discounts, flexible benefits, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values learning and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping technology that enhances customer and colleague experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in architecture methods and strong collaboration skills with diverse teams.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Join Boots as a Solution Architect - Retail & Supply Chain in Nottingham, Beeston and play a pivotal role in shaping technology solutions that support our transformation journey. This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping technology solutions that support Boots' Retail and Supply Chain transformation.
A broad portfolio of change is underway across the business, with technology central to improving how we serve customers, colleagues, stores, and supply chain operations. As a Solution Architect within the Retail & Supply Architecture team, you will work closely with business, technology, and delivery stakeholders to shape practical, high-quality solution designs for assigned projects. The role is focused on practical solution architecture, translating requirements into deliverable designs that align with enterprise standards and support successful project outcomes.
What you'll be doing:
- Shape end-to-end solution designs for Retail and Supply Chain initiatives and create clear architecture outputs that support governance and decision-making.
- Ensure solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned with enterprise standards.
- Work closely with delivery teams and partners through build, test, implementation, and transition into service.
- Support architectural integrity while balancing delivery pace, risk, cost, and complexity.
- Engage with stakeholders to translate business needs into actionable solutions and engage with Product Owners, Project Managers, Business Analysts, Testing, Security, Infrastructure, Data, and Service Introduction teams to support successful delivery.
- Apply enterprise architecture standards, domain guardrails, patterns, and roadmaps to project-level solution designs.
- Provide practical architectural input where requirements, constraints, or dependencies are evolving.
- Support early-stage shaping and estimating activity by providing high-level solution input.
- Apply architectural standards, reusable patterns, and practical solution building blocks.
What you'll need to have (our must-haves):
- Good working knowledge of architecture methods, governance practices, and TOGAF-aligned approaches.
- Comfortable collaborating with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Testing, Security, Infrastructure, Data, and Service Introduction teams.
- Able to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders, explaining solution options, risks, and design decisions in a meaningful way.
- Able to prioritise work effectively across agreed project demands, balancing pace, quality, standards, and delivery outcomes.
- Pragmatic and delivery-focused, with a willingness to take ownership of outcomes within agreed project scope.
Where your brilliance can take you:
At Boots, we believe in your potential. You'll have opportunities for career development and growth, supported by a culture that champions learning and collaboration.
Why Boots?
We offer a range of benefits designed for you, including:
- Boots Retirement Savings Plan (up to 6% company contribution)
- Generous employee discounts for you and a family member
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Flexible benefits scheme including options for additional holiday, discounted gym membership, life assurance, and much more.
- Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.
There's lots more in our benefits and discounts, MyBoosts - there to give you that little lift in your everyday. Find out more at http://boots.jobs/rewards. Exclusions may apply; eligible roles only.
A bit about us: At Boots, we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported, and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we’re committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.
What's next?
We hope to hear from you soon. Be brilliant with Boots.
Solution Architect - Retail & Supply Chain employer: Boots
Boots is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in Glasgow where you can thrive as a Wellness Solutions Advisor. With comprehensive training and opportunities to complete a Healthcare Training Programme, you'll be empowered to grow your skills while making a meaningful impact on customers' health and wellness journeys. Join a supportive team that values your contributions and fosters personal and professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect - Retail & Supply Chain
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Boots or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Boots.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Boots.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Boots that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect - Retail & Supply Chain
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Boots.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Boots and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Boots
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Boots uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
