IT Solution Architect

Job Description

Role - Solutions Architect

Contract: Permanent

Shift pattern: Full time - 5 days in the Office

Location: Nottingham - NG90

Closing date: 12th November 2025

Recruitment Partner: Matthew Nelligan

About the role

Looking for a talented and high performing Solutions Architect to design and deliver creative solutions across multiple capabilities of the International Retail, Commercial and Supply Chain business. To work on some of the biggest transformational IT projects in Europe.

An individual who is adaptable and transferable with an ability to undertake a broader range of activities to capitalise the opportunities that will be available to them as they progress through our transformation programmes.

Whilst an understanding of development processes and design is useful as part of Solution architect's skillset, this is an Architecture design role not a development one.

Key responsibilities

• The delivery of high-quality solution designs for the projects you are working on.
• Provide an open communication link between the Solution Delivery team, IT partners and the wider business to develop quality architecture deliverables and ensures that the produced architectural artifacts are fit for purpose.
• Support the development of roadmaps for the business and technology.
• Develop & maintain a deep understanding of the organisations IT strategy, technology frameworks within IT and overall Enterprise Architecture roadmap.
• Ensure that 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 where required.
• Assist in the production and validation of estimates for Roadmaps and Projects, ensuring that all design components have been included and the costs represent best value for money. This includes validation of designs/estimates provided by third parties.
• Provide advice on key design decisions arising from the requirements/epics/user stories that drive high cost/complexity versus business value and propose adjustments and/or alternative solutions to deliver maximum value.
• Support the Lead Architect through the creation and maintenance of Architecture Standards, Patterns, and Solution Building Blocks to drive solution re-use, delivery pace, quality assurance and cost efficiency.
• Supporting RFIFP tenders with suppliers as the technical SME
• Produce Outline Solution Architectures that 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, ensuring that detailed design and development implement in accordance with the architectural deliverables.
• Review detailed designs and the solution at key points during the project to ensure that the integrity of the end-to-end integrated design has been maintained.
• Oversee and perform peer reviews of the Outline Designs, High Level Designs and Detailed Designs produced by other peers, partners and third parties.
• Architect, design, govern and support projects from and end-to-end perspective for the entire project lifecycle.

Skills and Attributes

• Experience in solution design preferably including Azure technology stack, Java EE or Microsoft .NET.
• Extensive experience of Solution architecture (minimum of 5 years active).
• Experience of using architecture using modelling languages such as ArchiMate to help visualise, analyse and describe complex systems.
• Experience of a TOGAF aligned framework for architectural designs.
• Experience of using case tools like Alfabet, Aris or Sparx Enterprise Architect in helping to design architectural deliverables.
• Understanding of different architecture building blocks and integration patterns somewhat agnostic of technology.
• Working with and leading a cross functional team of SAs and other SMEs (Integration, Infrastructure, Security)
• Work and support with Test teams, service introduction teams, data governance teams to ensure the effective delivery of projects.
• Collaborating with other roles; Product Owners, Business Analysts, Testers, Security and Service Introduction teams to ensure the effective delivery of solutions.
• Collaborate Enterprise Architects and contribute to the definition of transitional architecture moving the business towards desired target states.
• 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.
• Ideally experience with integration technologies such as Talend, Software AG, WMQ, Azure stack, MuleSoft,
• Ideally experience of designing and recommending azure infrastructure capabilities to meet architectural needs; however, experience of other cloud technologies would be acceptable.

Our benefits

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

We have a great range of benefits in addition to the above that offer flexibility to suit you - find out more at boots.jobs/rewards. Exclusions may apply, eligible roles only. Please note, any salary estimates given on third-party sites are not provided or endorsed by Boots and may not be accurate.

Why Boots

At Boots, we foster a working environment where consideration and inclusivity help everyone to be themselves and reach their full potential. 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. As the heart of everything we do at Boots, with you, we change for the better.

What's next

If Successful, one of our Talent Partners will be in touch to discuss your application and go through the process with you.

Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options during the application process. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you to be at your best.

This role requires the successful candidate to complete a Pre-employment check after receiving an offer. Depending on your location you will be asked to submit either a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service), PVG (Protection of Vulnerable groups) or an Access NI Check.

Boots is a Ban the Box employer and will consider the suitability of applicants with criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis.