IT Solution Architect

Boots UK; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Boots Retirement Savings Plan

Discretionary annual bonus

Generous employee discounts

Enhanced maternity/paternity leave pay

Flexible benefits scheme

24/7 counseling support

Job summary

A leading retail company in Nottingham is looking for a Solutions Architect to design and deliver innovative IT solutions to support the International Retail, Commercial, and Supply Chain business. The role involves working on major IT projects across Europe, ensuring high-quality solutions and collaboration between teams. Candidates must have extensive experience in solution architecture with a strong understanding of Azure technologies and compliance standards. This position offers a flexible work pattern as well as a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of active experience in solution architecture.
• Strong background in cloud hosting, particularly Microsoft Azure.
• Ability to visualize complex systems using modelling languages.
• Knowledge of TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture framework.
• Experience with design governance and architecture pattern building blocks.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality solution designs for projects.
• Develop and maintain understanding of IT strategy.
• Support the creation of architecture standards and guidelines.
• Provide guidance on key design decisions to balance cost, complexity and business value.
• Contribute to architecture standards, patterns and reusable components.

Skills

Azure technology stack

Java EE

.NET

Solution architecture

ArchiMate

TOGAF

Alfabet

Integration patterns

Cloud Hosting

PCI & GDPR compliance

Tools

Sparx Enterprise Architect

Talend

MuleSoft

Job description

Information Technology Solutions Architect – Nottingham

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.

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 ensure 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 organisation’s 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 RFI/RFP 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 are implemented 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 an 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.

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.