At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative tech solutions for a global retail giant and lead delivery teams.
- Company: Join a leading global retail organisation driving digital transformation.
- Benefits: Permanent role with competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on emerging technologies and career development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of digital commerce and work with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in solution architecture with expertise in composable/MACH environments.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
A global retail organisation is seeking an experienced
Solution Architect to join its Technology Strategy & Architecture function.
This is a permanent role within a growing architecture practice, supporting large‑scale digital and technology transformation across the business.
This position will play a key role in shaping modern, scalable, composable technology solutions, guiding delivery teams, and ensuring architectural integrity across complex digital commerce and enterprise environments.
- What You’ll Do
- Design end‑to‑end technology solutions aligned to architectural principles, frameworks and best practice
- Translate business and technical requirements into clear, actionable solution designs
- Architect solutions within composable/MACH environments, including headless, API‑first and cloud‑native patterns
- Lead the design of microservices, event‑driven integrations, APIs and middleware at enterprise scale
- Provide architectural oversight across multiple delivery teams, ensuring consistency, quality and risk mitigation
- Collaborate with engineering, product, business and external partners to shape solution direction
- Support governance processes including design reviews, documentation and architectural assurance
- Contribute to digital commerce architecture across e‑commerce, mobile apps and omnichannel experiences
- Apply performance engineering principles including Core Web Vitals and performance budgeting
- Navigate complex multi‑vendor environments and support dependency management across teams
- Stay informed on emerging technologies and assess their relevance to future architecture direction
- What You’ll Bring
- Deep understanding of solution architecture principles , frameworks (e. g. TOGAF) and best practice
- Strong communication skills, able to explain complex concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences
- Experience designing solutions within composable/MACH architectures
- Expertise in microservices , event‑driven design ,
- API management and enterprise integration patterns
- Broad knowledge across digital commerce domains including e‑commerce, mobile platforms and in‑store digital
- Understanding of web performance engineering and designing for scale
- Proven experience (5+ years) delivering enterprise‑scale technology solutions
- Minimum 8 years in technology with relevant degree or professional qualifications
- Strong understanding of systems development lifecycles and delivery best practice
- Ability to communicate architectural decisions clearly to senior stakeholders
- Strong pragmatism under ambiguity, balancing short‑term constraints with long‑term direction
- Experience sustaining high‑quality design across multiple concurrent initiatives
- High emotional intelligence and ability to build trusted relationships across teams
- Curiosity about emerging technologies, including AI/ML applications
- Experience working in complex multi‑vendor delivery environments
- Familiarity with platforms such as commercetools, Amplience, Fluent Commerce, Salesforce or Bloomreach
- Experience in retail or digital commerce environments
- Experience mentoring or providing technical leadership to junior architects or engineers
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Solutions Architect - Digital in Reading employer: Caraffi
At Caraffi, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Global Retail Tech Delivery Lead, you will have access to extensive employee growth opportunities and the chance to make a significant impact in a transformative role within the retail sector. Our commitment to employee well-being and professional development, combined with our strategic location, makes us an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solutions Architect - Digital in Reading
✨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 Caraffi 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 Caraffi.
✨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 Caraffi.
✨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 Caraffi 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 Solutions Architect - Digital in Reading
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 Caraffi.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Caraffi 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 Caraffi
✨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 Caraffi 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.
