At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop innovative IT solutions to support children with disabilities.
- Company: Join Perkins, an international NGO dedicated to empowering children with disabilities.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and tuition reimbursement from day one.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive community focused on growth and well-being.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children while shaping modern technology.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and 6-8 years of relevant experience required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Perkins helps children with disabilities find their place in the world. An international NGO, we are committed to delivering best‑class education to children, providing immersive training and support to professionals and families, advocating for inclusion, and accelerating innovation for people with disabilities. At Perkins, we think courageously, act collaboratively, and we own our work. Join a supportive community committed to growth where your work makes a difference.
As our Solutions Architect, you will play a critical role in shaping and modernizing our IT ecosystem. You will be responsible for analyzing operational and technological challenges across Perkins, designing robust enterprise‑grade technical solutions, and overseeing their end‑to‑end development, launch, and user adoption. In this role, you will bridge strategic vision and hands‑on execution—working across teams to ensure our systems are secure, scalable, and aligned with Perkins’ mission.
How you will make an impact:
- Architecture & Solution Design: Define, document, and maintain overall enterprise solution architectures. Evaluate appropriate platforms and technologies to ensure performance, scalability, and security standard alignment.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Gathering Requirements: Partner closely with the CTO, department leads, stakeholders, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to diagnose system challenges, evaluate operational needs, conduct research, and architect feasible solutions.
- Hands‑on Development & Code Review: Develop technical solutions, perform regular code reviews, and maintain custom codebases as needed.
- Integration & Enterprise Ecosystem Collaboration: Work alongside the Applications Manager, IT leadership, and external consultants to ensure integrated systems consistently meet functional user requirements.
- Continuous System Optimization: Continuously evaluate existing and emerging technologies to drive architecture best practices and continuous improvement across system components.
- Systems Administration & Support: Perform routine systems administration and maintenance across core enterprise applications as required.
- Training & Enablement: Deliver application, workflow, and process training to end users to drive high system adoption.
- Other Duties: Perform additional IT‑related duties and project tasks as assigned.
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.
- 6-8+ years of progressive experience in software development, systems engineering, or solution architecture roles.
- Deep expertise in enterprise technologies, platforms and architectural patterns including: Salesforce APEX development, API/SKI development and integrations, FlowGear platform, Workday, Domo, etc.
The following shared salary range is what Perkins reasonably expects, in good faith, to pay for the position. The applicable range could differ based on experience and qualification: $82,400.00-$116,375.00.
Perkins offers a comprehensive benefits package for part time and full time employees, including:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Wellness programs available.
- Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employer-Paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) Plan with employer match
- Education Benefits: Tuition reimbursement day one
- Paid Time Off
- Extras: Employee Recognition Programs, EAP, legal services, referral bonuses, credit union access, pre‑tax MBTA passes and more!
Perkins is a mission‑driven community that supports your well‑being at work and beyond. We are located in the heart of Watertown, adjacent to the Charles River and less than 1 mile from food & entertainment at Arsenal Yards. Perkins is an equal opportunity employer.
Solutions Architect employer: Perkins & Will
Perkins & Will is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children with disabilities by providing best-class education and support. The company fosters a collaborative work environment where employees are encouraged to think courageously and take ownership of their work, contributing to a culture of growth and innovation. Employees can expect to be part of a supportive community that values their contributions and focuses on making a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solutions Architect
✨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 Perkins & Will 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 Perkins & Will.
✨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 Perkins & Will.
✨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 Perkins & Will 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
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 Perkins & Will.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Perkins & Will 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 Perkins & Will
✨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 Perkins & Will 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.