Solutions Architect

Description

The company designs, builds and runs the growth systems that competitive businesses depend on, linking strategy to delivery in marketing modernisation and business transformation as AI changes how firms grow.

About 12,000 specialists in engineering, commerce, consulting, content, CRM and CX work in one global unit across more than 40 markets, alongside partners such as Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce and Shopify, plus AI innovators.

Forrester has named the company a leading player in commerce services and CX strategy consulting.

This is a permanent Principal Solutions Architect role in the Commerce and Technology division, which helps global brands design, build and run the commerce platforms behind their growth.

You will lead solution work for new business pursuits and grow existing accounts across enterprise commerce.

You will understand how the whole commerce estate connects, from storefront and mobile app to commerce platform, data and ERP, and turn that into a business case for senior client leaders. Where useful, you will build a working demo to show what good looks like.

The company's values are Heart, Brains and Courage: empathy and trust, curiosity and collaboration, and the confidence to speak up, experiment and push for better work.

Responsibilities

• Design end-to-end commerce solutions across Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify, HCL and composable MACH setups, covering web, mobile, data and back office.
• Frame each solution around commercial results such as cost, return and margin, so clients see a clear case for change.
• Build trust with senior business and technology leaders, run discovery sessions and focus on the decisions that matter most.
• Run workshops, take part in governance forums and work with commercial colleagues to spot and shape technical growth opportunities.
• Produce architecture diagrams and designs for storefront, apps, platform, search, content, order management, product data, payments, data and integrations, recommending the best fit for each client.
• Guide platform selection and migrations, including the move from monolith to composable, weighing total cost of ownership, time to market, risk and operating model.
• Work through how commerce links to ERP (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or Oracle), order management, warehousing, customer data and analytics, and design integration patterns that scale to enterprise level.
• Shape mobile strategy and architecture (native, cross-platform and headless) alongside web, store and marketplace channels so the customer journey joins up.
• Build business cases, value models and roadmaps that connect technology choices to revenue, conversion, margin and cost to serve.
• Quickly stand up demo storefronts and prototypes, such as a Shopify store or composable proof of concept, to show possibilities and reduce client risk.
• Own the solution narrative, architecture, assumptions and effort estimates in proposals, and present them with confidence at pitch.
• Make sure what is sold can be delivered by handing over cleanly to delivery teams and staying involved through mobilisation.
• Track the commerce market, including cloud (AWS, GCP), AI and agentic commerce, and share what you learn to strengthen propositions and partner relationships.

Requirements

• Extensive senior experience in enterprise commerce across retail, consumer brands or B2B, gained at digital agencies, consultancies or large brands.
• Strong working knowledge of Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Shopify, plus composable and MACH components (microservices, API-first, cloud-native, headless) such as Commerce tools, Contentful, Algolia, Akeneo or similar.
• A record of shaping and winning significant commerce deals, running workshops, writing proposals and presenting to senior audiences.
• Commercial sense: you understand how clients make money and can discuss value, cost and return with a CEO or CFO as easily as with a CTO.
• Hands-on understanding of how commerce connects with ERP, order management, product information, customer data and analytics, and the integration patterns that make it work.
• Solid grasp of mobile commerce app architecture and delivery, covering native and cross-platform approaches and how apps connect to headless commerce services.
• Strong diagramming, writing and speaking skills, with the ability to turn complex estates into simple visuals and clear stories for senior audiences.
• Comfortable building a demo store, configuring a platform or proving a concept yourself rather than relying on slides alone.
• Energetic, confident and credible with clients, able to cut through noise and lead the room.
• Nice to have: certifications in Adobe Commerce, Salesforce B2C Commerce or Shopify, or MACH.
• Nice to have: AWS certification (Solutions Architect Associate or Professional) and experience running commerce on cloud.
• Nice to have: experience with order management, product information management or marketplace platforms.
• Nice to have: B2B commerce experience, including complex pricing, catalogue and account structures.
• Nice to have: knowledge of agentic commerce concepts and standards (ACP, AP2, A2A) and practical use of AI in commerce.
• Nice to have: total cost of ownership and business case modelling skills.
• Nice to have: familiarity with the C4 model and diagrams as code.

Conditions

This is a permanent position only.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants fairly, with the same chances to progress.

AI is used in recruitment only to take objective notes, never to make evaluative judgments. You can ask for a transcript of the notes or opt out at any time without affecting the interview outcome.

Benefits

• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Training opportunities and support for career development
• Competitive pension
• Medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Social events
• Option to buy and sell holidays
• Family-friendly policies
• Discounts with hundreds of retailers
• Further benefits beyond these