Solutions Architect

Job Purpose

To create the overall technical vision for a specific solution to a business problem. Deliver solution design artefacts for complex projects, building the bridge between business requirements and  technology.  Look to the existing environment to understand what technologies are available and what software product must be developed to provide the best solution.

Key Role Accountabilities

Design

• Creating Solution Options, High Level Solution Designs and Integration Designs for assigned projects or internal architecture tasks, ensuring that where possible the solution options are compliant with the IT Strategy and Architecture Principles
• Orchestration of low-level design from vendors and internal technical teams closely collaborating with  system engineers ensuring they align to the high-level design and fulfil functional and non-functional requirements.

Stakeholder management

• Work and effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders in developing a solution that meets the needs of the business.
• Works with external suppliers to ensure that the appropriate technology direction is set with respect to systems, data and technical infrastructure

Halfords delivery framework

• Add detail to user and job stories for features and integrations in scrum-led projects
• Be aligned with cross-functional scrum team or project team
• Ensure all designs are approved by governance forums and compliant with legislative and regulatory requirements
• Creates technical documentation for service transition

Success Measures

Operational Responsibilities

• Assesses the impact of project initiatives on the existing architecture and supports the prioritisation of these changes
• Supports the Business Analysts in determining and defining non-functional requirements
• Solutions technically deliver and meet the needs of the business on time and budget
• Provision of timely architectural and risk insight to all relevant projects
• Ensures the solution fits with the Target Architecture and adhere to defined standards and appropriate exceptions are documented and approved
• Assess and understand technical debt implications of solutions, creating dispensation and remediation plans
• Promotes and encourages enterprise and innovation throughout the team, in looking for new answers and delivery of a fresh approach

Stakeholders

• Customer satisfaction scores confirming delivery to expectations
• Be a recognised authority on solution architectures by Technology colleagues and those in the wider organisation

Knowledge and Skills

A proven track record in IT Architecture, project delivery with experience of the retail sector or similar.

Competent Solution Architect with both broad technical skills and a specialism in one or more of the following areas:

• Understanding of Architectural Frameworks (e.g. TOGAF)
• Cloud technologies – IaaS, PaaS, SaaS (in any public cloud)
• Microsoft Azure such as Logic App, Functions, Data Factory, Event Grid, Microservice, APIs, Power Apps and Office 365
• Integration patterns (API’s, Microservices etc)
• Tooling (Postman, Swagger, VS Code)
• APTOS ePOS
• SAP
• Ecommerce (Sales Force Commerce Cloud)
• Customer Services (Sales Force Service Cloud)
• Payment (Ecommerce, Card Present, Credit Agreements, Gift Cards)
• Supply Chain (Infor, Manhattan etc)
• Work Force management (e.g. Day Force)
• Database Technologies (SQL, Cosmos etc)

Behaviours

• Driving clarity and action against business goals, putting the customer at the heart of everything we do
• Understands the difference between strategy and tactical
• Good problem solver
• Ability to carry out tasks independently and as part of a team
• Commercially focused on benefits and costs
• Proactive can-do attitude
• Ability to work at pace and deliver to deadlines.
• Embracing change – flexible in approach to ways of working, ability to adapt to change and being open to new ideas
• Communication with multiple levels of stakeholders and external partners
• Innovative and ability to think laterally
• Delivery Focus