Solution Architect

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Solution Architect to join our Technology team, focusing on high-volume customer-facing systems. This role is crucial for designing, enhancing, and maintaining high-volume transaction systems that directly impact our customers and business operations across our entire retail network. The ideal candidate has a strong technical background, excellent communication skills, and a proven track record of working within a full-stack, agile development environment.

Key Note & Application Instructions

To apply, send your current CV directly to SHERYL.SAN.LORENZO@RANDSTADDIGITAL.COM.

Please note: Due to high application volumes, only candidates who meet the outlined requirements will be contacted for further discussion.

To be considered, you MUST have the following minimum experience:

- 8–10 years of overall professional experience, showing career progression (e.g., from Developer/Analyst to Solution Architect).
- Strong proficiency in Node.js / JavaScript
- Proven experience with Non-Relational Databases, preferably Cosmos DB
- Proven, hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure (required) implementing API/Microservices.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture: Design & Implementation

- Maintain and evolve solution architecture for loyalty and personalization platforms, ensuring alignment with enterprise and domain standards.
- Translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and cloud-native technical designs using Azure services, event-driven patterns, and API-first principles.
- Define and document integration patterns, system interactions, and data flow diagrams for core capabilities.
- Develop and review architectural deliverables, including solution blueprints and high-level design documents (HLFDs).
- Ensure code quality through design reviews, reusable patterns, and performance optimization.
- Assess trade-offs between architecture options considering scalability, performance, cost, and maintainability.
- Contribute to discovery phases, proposals, and project charters by providing architectural input.
- Support estimation, dependency mapping, and technical feasibility assessments across related initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Collaborate with product owners, delivery leads, developers, DevOps, data, and security teams to ensure a shared architectural vision.
- Partner with internal and external architects to align integration and governance strategies.
- Act as a technical authority in stakeholder discussions, translating business needs into solution architectures.
- Advise on process improvements and support change management efforts as needed.

Innovation & Strategic Influence

- Evaluate vendor platforms and define transition strategies toward in-house, cloud-native capabilities.
- Lead or participate in vendor evaluations and proof-of-concepts (POCs) for modernization opportunities.
- Research and assess emerging technologies (AI, personalization engines, headless loyalty solutions) to support future platform evolution.

Governance & Standards

- Coach and mentor technical leads and developers on architectural principles and best practices.
- Drive governance around reusability, scalability, observability, and technical debt management.
- Define and enforce standards for API design, data contracts, security, identity, and deployment.
- Ensure non-functional requirements (NFRs) such as high availability, performance, and compliance are incorporated into all designs.

Must-Have Qualifications

- 8+ years of experience in backend application development (Node.js, JavaScript), systems integration, and solution architecture in cloud-native environments.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure services (Cosmos DB, Service Bus, Blob Storage, Event Grid, Application Gateway, App Services, Azure Functions, API Management, ACR, Key Vault).
- 3+ years of experience designing and optimizing non-relational databases (preferably Cosmos DB).
- 5+ years of experience with microservices, REST APIs, and event-driven architecture.
- Strong knowledge of security best practices in cloud and application design.
- Experience with Docker, containerization, and Kubernetes.
- 4+ years of experience in frontend development (Next.js, JavaScript).
- Proven ability to architect for scalability, resilience, and flexibility in ambiguous environments.

Good to Have

- Experience influencing multiple delivery teams without direct authority.
- Ability to simplify complex technical concepts and balance short-term needs with long-term scalability.
- Experience working in Agile/Scrum and SAFe environments.
- Familiarity with loyalty platforms and personalized offer systems is a strong plus.
- Exposure to CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (Bicep, ARM, Terraform), and container orchestration (Kubernetes, ARO).

Preferred Qualifications

- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (strongly preferred).
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture certification.

Location: This is a Hybrid role requiring employees to be in the office three days a week