At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of innovative technology solutions across various platforms.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company committed to diversity and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping technology strategies and solutions in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience as a Solution Architect with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Reporting to the Head of Technology, the Solution Architect is a senior, hands-on role responsible for leading the design and delivery of technology solutions across the application, integration, and data landscape. You will work closely with senior stakeholders across IT, digital, data, infrastructure, and delivery teams to ensure solutions align with business strategy while remaining pragmatic and delivery-focused. This role balances strategic architectural direction with direct ownership of solution design for priority initiatives. You will act as a design authority across the portfolio while staying close to delivery teams to ensure solutions are implementable, scalable, and commercially sound.
What you’ll be doing
- Solution Architecture & Delivery
- Personally design and own solution architectures for priority initiatives, covering applications, integrations, and high-level data designs.
- Translate business requirements into clear, pragmatic architecture artefacts through direct engagement with business and delivery teams.
- Provide architectural leadership across the full delivery lifecycle, from feasibility and design through delivery and transition to support.
- Remain actively engaged with delivery teams to adapt designs as delivery realities evolve.
- Retail Systems & Integration
- Design solutions across core retail systems and processes, including ERP, eCommerce, and surrounding operational systems.
- Architect integrations using API-led, event-driven, and asynchronous patterns across a distributed application landscape.
- Design solutions supporting core retail capabilities such as order management, fulfilment, stock, pricing, promotions, and customer data.
- Governance Ownership
- Lead and contribute to architecture governance forums, including design authority and architecture review boards, for key initiatives.
- Own and operate architecture governance forums, including design authority and architecture review boards.
- Review and assure solution designs produced by internal teams and delivery partners.
- Clearly articulate the long-term implications of design decisions to support informed trade-offs.
- Strategy & Collaboration
- Work closely with the Head of Technology to shape and evolve application, integration, and data architecture strategy.
- Produce architecture feasibility and impact assessments at initiative inception.
- Support vendor and product selection, ensuring solutions are scalable, cost-effective, and fit for purpose.
- Provide guidance and mentoring to solution and technical architects across the portfolio.
- Collaboration & Leadership
- Provide guidance and mentoring to other solution and technical architects across the portfolio.
- Work effectively with third-party vendors, software providers, and systems integrators.
- Engage confidently with senior stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes.
What skills & experience you’ll need
- Significant and extensive hands-on experience as a Solution Architect, with broader experience across engineering or integration roles.
- Proven experience designing solutions across ERP, eCommerce, and integration landscapes (technology-agnostic experience acceptable).
- Proven experience producing clear, structured architecture documentation (e.g. solution design documents, system and integration diagrams).
- Strong hands-on solution design capability, including application architecture, integration flows, and high-level data models.
- Solid understanding of cloud-based architectures and modern integration patterns (API management, event-driven, orchestration).
- Experience designing solutions across core retail processes (order lifecycle, stock, fulfilment, pricing, customer data).
- Experience working across multiple delivery methodologies.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly.
- Experience working with third-party vendors and delivery partners.
- Strong commercial awareness and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable
- Experience working in retail and/or commerce environments.
- Experience with ERP and commerce platforms (e.g. Dynamics 365, SAP Hybris, or equivalents).
- Experience with modern integration platforms (e.g. API Management, iPaaS, workflow/orchestration tools).
- Experience with modern data platforms, including data ingestion and analytics ecosystems (e.g. Databricks, ADF, or equivalents).
- Familiarity with architecture and modelling tools (e.g. ArchiMate, UML).
What we’ll offer you
- Discount – Up to 50% discount (dependent on contract type).
- Holiday – 25 days, increasing to 28 days with length of service.
- Holiday Buy – opportunity to buy up to an additional 5 days holiday.
- 20% Bonus Potential – In addition to our competitive salaries, all our permanent employees are entitled to join a discretionary bonus scheme (dependent on contract type).
- White City House (Soho House Group) Tenants Membership at a discounted rate, offering access to facilities in the House.
- Wagestream Money Management app – access to Wagestream gives you power over your pay and supports financial wellbeing.
- Continued Development – we offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub.
- Pension Scheme.
- Life Assurance.
- Private Medical.
- Additional Benefits.
- Fruit basket daily.
- Tea and coffee provided.
- Hybrid working pattern with WFH – option on Mondays and Fridays.
- Social – Christmas party/social events throughout the year.
- Seasonal Sample Sales.
- Volunteer Day – with a charity of your choice.
Our Equality Diversity and Inclusion statement of commitment
At The White Company we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates a diversity of backgrounds and identities. We are working together to ensure our environment is one where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where their contribution is valued, ability enhanced, and perspective appreciated. Where difference is respected, encouraged, and celebrated. Where you can feel you belong. We are committed to an active Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process. We’d love you to join us on our journey.
Our Sustainability statement of commitment
We are committed to building a sustainable legacy that will enable a brighter future for people and our planet. We believe this should be reflected in everything we do.
Solutions Architect in Northampton employer: The White Company
Contact Detail:
The White Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solutions Architect in Northampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Solutions Architect role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills in real-time! Consider participating in hackathons or tech challenges related to solution architecture. This not only showcases your expertise but also gives you a chance to collaborate with others in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common architectural scenarios. Think about how you'd approach designing solutions for ERP or eCommerce systems. Being able to articulate your thought process will impress those senior stakeholders!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves.
We think you need these skills to ace Solutions Architect in Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your hands-on experience as a Solution Architect and any relevant projects you've worked on that align with our needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've designed solutions across ERP, eCommerce, or integration landscapes, and how you can contribute to our team.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be engaging with senior stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly. Use your application to show us how you can translate tech jargon into business outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, we can ensure your application is processed smoothly and you get the best chance to shine in front of our hiring team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The White Company
✨Know Your Solutions Inside Out
As a Solutions Architect, you need to be well-versed in the technologies and methodologies relevant to the role. Brush up on your knowledge of ERP, eCommerce, and integration landscapes. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've designed solutions, focusing on how they align with business strategies.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrating strong stakeholder engagement skills is crucial. Prepare to articulate complex technical concepts in a way that resonates with non-technical stakeholders. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated design decisions and their implications to senior management.
✨Showcase Your Documentation Skills
The ability to produce clear architecture documentation is essential. Bring samples of your work, such as solution design documents or system diagrams, to the interview. This will not only showcase your skills but also provide a tangible reference for your experience.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing solutions for core retail processes like order management or fulfilment. Think through potential challenges and how you would adapt designs based on delivery realities.