Client Software Architect

Description

The company is a billion-dollar global firm based in Research Triangle Park, NC, that supplies in-store retail solutions to major retailers.

This Senior Software Architect role leads solution delivery from start to finish, covering platform engineering, client work, and partner integrations.

You will guide work through both discovery (prototyping, feasibility checks, client alignment) and delivery (production builds, measurable results), while also building the shared platform that future solutions depend on. Architecture skill, hands-on coding, client-facing work, integration experience, and practical use of AI coding tools are all central to the role.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture from early discovery through design, delivery, and readiness for operations, for both platform and client work.
• Build new platform infrastructure for upcoming product needs and use cases.
• Write and maintain architecture documents: decision records, interface contracts, data flow and sequence diagrams, infrastructure specs, migration and rollback plans, and traceability matrices.
• Set and enforce standards for architecture, integration patterns, and non-functional requirements across all solutions.
• Write production code for critical platform features and infrastructure components.
• Create core capabilities that let teams ship features quickly, including reusable patterns, shared services, and API-first designs.
• Act as the hands-on technical lead on client engagements, facilitating workshops and presenting solutions.
• Lead Discovery Track work and secure sign-off from business and technical stakeholders.
• Set up and maintain partner integrations with third-party systems.
• Keep architecture consistent across partner integrations and internal product lines.
• Define authentication approaches (OAuth, SAML, API keys), error handling, and API versioning.
• Run architecture quality gates, join design reviews, and approve releases.
• Identify and reduce risks such as compatibility, data integrity, scaling limits, and partner dependencies, including backward compatibility and compliance constraints.
• Coach engineers and architects on AI-assisted development, Dual-Track methods, and platform practice.
• Help shape platform and portfolio strategy by spotting gaps that need investment and assets worth reusing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent experience.
• At least 8 years of professional software development, with recent hands-on coding and prototyping in current stacks.
• 5+ years designing cloud-native, microservices, or event-driven systems on Azure or a comparable cloud.
• Strong record building platform infrastructure and scalable backend systems.
• Proven record of owning end-to-end delivery on medium to large projects, including design, build, and accountability for operations after release.
• Experience integrating with partners such as payment, SaaS API, loyalty, inventory, or authentication providers.
• Hands-on experience building prototypes or reference implementations to test architecture and feasibility.
• Strong API-first design skills using REST and OpenAPI.
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Solid working knowledge of containers, CI/CD, and Kubernetes-based pipelines.
• Practical experience with generative AI and AI coding tools, for example GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, or Cursor.
• Excellent stakeholder communication, including running workshops, presenting technical solutions, and working across business and engineering teams.
• Proven ability to mentor engineers, run code reviews, and enforce architecture governance.
• Preferred: strong knowledge of retail platforms, such as POS systems, store operations, and payment processing.
• Preferred: certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, or equivalent.
• Preferred: experience with API gateways or integration platforms such as Azure APIM, Kong, Apigee, MuleSoft, or Boomi.
• Preferred: solid understanding of API security and compliance, including OAuth 2.0/OIDC, JWT, and PCI.
• Preferred: familiarity with formal specifications such as OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, and JSON Schema for contract-driven development.
• Preferred: background in distributed systems, microservices architecture, and infrastructure as code.
• Preferred: experience running Dual-Track Agile, managing both Discovery and Delivery tracks, and turning discovery results into backlog items.
• Preferred: experience contributing to platform strategy, reusable assets, and API-first designs.

Conditions

Based in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Competitive salary.

Benefits

• Group health coverage: medical, dental, and vision.
• Employee Assistance Programs.
• Pre-tax spending accounts.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Company-provided life insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Employee discounts.
• Paid vacation and sick or personal days, plus a generous paid holiday schedule.