Boots Opticians is seeking a talented and high-performing Solutions Architect to design and deliver creative solutions across multiple capabilities of our International Retail, Commercial, and Supply Chain business. You will work on some of the biggest transformational IT projects in Europe. This is an architecture design role, not a development one.

What You'll Do

Deliver high-quality solution designs for your assigned projects.
Provide an open communication link between the Solution Delivery team, IT partners, and the wider business.
Support the development of roadmaps for the business and technology.
Develop & maintain a deep understanding of the organisation's IT strategy, technology frameworks, and overall Enterprise Architecture roadmap.
Ensure design governance at the Enterprise and Solution levels are adhered to within retail and supply chain.
Liaise and form good working relationships with other Architects to gain their expertise, input, and estimates.
Assist in the production and validation of estimates for Roadmaps and Projects.
Provide advice on key design decisions that drive high cost/complexity versus business value.
Support the Lead Architect through the creation and maintenance of Architecture Standards, Patterns, and Solution Building Blocks.
Support RFI/RFP tenders with suppliers as the technical SME.
Produce Outline Solution Architectures ensuring all key design decisions are identified and prioritised.
Be accountable for the technical delivery of your projects by taking ownership for the end-to-end design.
Review detailed designs and the solution at key points during the project to ensure design integrity.
Oversee and perform peer reviews of the Outline Designs, High Level Designs, and Detailed Designs produced by others.
Architect, design, govern, and support projects from an end-to-end perspective for the entire project lifecycle.

What We're Looking For

Experience in solution design preferably including the Azure technology stack, Java EE, or Microsoft .NET.
Extensive experience of Solution architecture (minimum of 5 years active).
Experience using architecture modelling languages such as ArchiMate.
Experience of a TOGAF-aligned framework for architectural designs.
Experience using case tools like Alfabet, Aris, or Sparx Enterprise Architect.
Understanding of different architecture building blocks and integration patterns somewhat agnostic of technology.
Experience working with and leading a cross-functional team of Solution Architects and other SMEs (Integration, Infrastructure, Security).
Experience working with Test teams, service introduction teams, and data governance teams to ensure effective project delivery.
Experience collaborating with other roles; Product Owners, Business Analysts, Testers, Security, and Service Introduction teams.
Experience collaborating with Enterprise Architects and contributing to the definition of transitional architecture.
In-depth experience of design and development of IT Solutions ideally Cloud Hosting (Microsoft Azure), Web Services & Micro Services with an understanding of Security such as PCI & GDPR and customer-facing technologies.

Nice to Have

Experience with integration technologies such as Talend, Software AG, WMQ, Azure stack, MuleSoft.
Experience designing and recommending Azure infrastructure capabilities to meet architectural needs; however, experience with other cloud technologies is acceptable.

Technical Stack

Azure technology stack, Java EE, Microsoft .NET, ArchiMate, Alfabet, Aris, Sparx Enterprise Architect, Talend, Software AG, WMQ, Azure stack, MuleSoft

Team & Environment

You will work within a cross-functional team of Solution Architects and other SMEs, reporting to the Lead Architect.

Benefits & Compensation

Boots Retirement Savings Plan
Discretionary annual bonus
Generous employee discounts
Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay and gift card
Flexible benefits scheme including option to buy additional holiday, discounted gym membership, life assurance, activity passes
Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.

Work Mode

This role is onsite in Nottingham - NG90.

At Boots, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, passionate about embracing the diversity of our colleagues and providing a positive and inclusive working environment for all.