At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural design for innovative retail technology solutions and drive business transformation.
- Company: Join the dynamic team at Very, a leader in digital retail.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 30 days holiday, and a £6500 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for continuous learning and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of retail technology while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in enterprise-scale solutions and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
About us
We're the team behind digital retailer Very. Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do. And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you're high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you'll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go. If you love making a difference, you'll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers.
About the Team
The Retail Tribe is at the heart of our digital transformation journey. Responsible for the technology that supports our end-to-end retail operation, the team owns the design, development, integration and operation of solutions spanning:
- Sourcing and Supplier Management
- Planning and Forecasting
- Buying and Merchandising
- Pricing and Promotions
- Product Information and Publishing
- Retail Operations and Commercial Systems
Together, we're modernising legacy platforms, embracing cloud technologies and creating innovative solutions that support the next generation of retail capabilities.
About The Role
As a Senior Solution Architect, you'll provide architectural leadership across complex technology initiatives, ensuring solutions deliver business value while adhering to enterprise standards and best practice. You will:
- Shape architecture roadmaps that align technology strategy with business objectives.
- Design scalable, secure and resilient solutions across a modern cloud-based ecosystem.
- Lead solution architecture for large-scale, business-critical programmes and products.
- Partner with Product, Engineering and Delivery teams to define technology direction and delivery approaches.
- Provide technical leadership on complex risks, dependencies and architectural challenges.
- Drive architectural governance, ensuring solutions align with standards, principles and target architecture.
- Evaluate technologies and recommend solutions that support future business growth.
- Influence stakeholders across Technology and the wider business, translating complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes.
- Support the evolution of our cloud-native architecture and engineering capabilities.
- Champion Agile and Lean delivery practices within multidisciplinary teams.
About You
We're seeking an experienced architect with a passion for technology, innovation and business transformation. You'll bring:
- Proven experience designing and delivering complex enterprise-scale solutions.
- Strong architectural leadership skills, balancing strategic vision with pragmatic delivery.
- Experience defining technology roadmaps and influencing senior stakeholders.
- The ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems and drive informed technical decisions.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage technical and non-technical audiences alike.
- Experience working within Agile delivery environments and modern product organisations.
- A collaborative approach, coupled with the confidence to challenge constructively and influence outcomes.
- A track record of driving architectural best practice and continuous improvement.
We're particularly interested in candidates with experience across:
- Java
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Cloud-native architecture and distributed systems
- API-led integration and modern engineering practices
Experience in any of the following would be advantageous:
- Spring Boot
- Oracle Database
- Terraform
- React
- AWS API Gateway
- AWS RDS
Some of our benefits:
Flexible, hybrid working model
Inclusive culture and environment
£6500 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
30 days holiday + bank holidays
LinkedIn Learning access
Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
Matched pension up to 6%
More benefits can be found on our career site.
How to apply
Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.
What happens next?
Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you're successful so keep an eye on your emails! We'll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we're a good match, we'll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely. You can expect a two stage interview process for this position: 1st stage - A one hour face-to-face or Teams interview with a System Design technical exercise. 2nd stage - final stage behavioural interview - ideally face to face.
As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments. If you'd like to know more about our interviews, you can find out here.
Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities
We're building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don't discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know via talentacquisition@theverygroup.com. We'll be happy to support you.
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.
Senior Solutions Architect - Retail Technology in Liverpool employer: The Very Group
The Very Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, perfect for aspiring finance professionals. Located in the vibrant East Midlands, we offer comprehensive employee growth opportunities, including training and development programmes, alongside competitive benefits that support work-life balance. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our financial success and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solutions Architect - Retail Technology in Liverpool
✨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 The Very Group 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 The Very Group.
✨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 The Very Group.
✨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 The Very Group 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 Senior Solutions Architect - Retail Technology in Liverpool
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 The Very Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at The Very Group 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 The Very Group
✨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 The Very Group 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.
