Solution Architect (Commerce)

Vmlenterprisesolutions; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus scheme

Training opportunities

Competitive pension

Job summary

VML Enterprise Solutions is seeking a permanent Solution Architect with commerce experience to lead the architecture for major online brands and retailers. You will collaborate with our Architecture team and delivery groups to translate business strategy into scalable eCommerce and cloud solutions.

You will design, document, and communicate architectures, engage with key client stakeholders, and drive workshops ensuring the architecture vision is realized across all delivery phases.

Qualifications

• Proven experience owning and delivering large-scale solution architectures.
• Experience designing transactional, enterprise-grade solutions for global clients.
• Strong understanding of eCommerce platforms and components.
• Advocate for cloud-native solutions and modern architectures.
• Experience running design workshops with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent communication and formal documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall solution architecture across projects from discovery to delivery.
• Document architectures and communicate to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Build relationships with client IT and digital strategy stakeholders.
• Lead design workshops and translate business requirements into technical designs.
• Ensure architecture vision is realized by delivery teams across all phases.
• Develop patterns for new technologies and PoCs to align with industry trends.

Skills

eCommerce knowledge

Solution ownership

Cloud-native architecture

Design workshops

Stakeholder management

Communication & documentation

Tools

React

Next.js

GraphQL

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Sanity.io

Google Cloud Platform

Job description

Who We Are

WPP Enterprise Solutions designs, builds, and operates the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where Al is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernization, connecting strategy directly to execution. Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses. VML, part of WPP, supports WPP Enterprise Solutions by helping brands activate transformation through creativity and experience.

Solution Architect (Permanent) with commerce experience wanted to join our Solution Archtiecture team, here at VML Enterprise Solutions

The opportunity:

A Solution Architect is required for a high-profile role giving the successful applicant the chance to lead the solution architecture for some of the world’s largest online brands and retailers and be an integral part of our talented and expanding Solution Architecture team.

You will be responsible for creating and assuring solution architecture using a wide range of technologies, from SaaS eCommerce platforms through to client-specific cloud solutions. You’ll develop relationships with key client-side stakeholders in charge of IT and digital strategy and architecture, and you’ll work closely with our internal delivery teams to ensure your architecture vision is realised

Our Solution Architecture team not only focus on delivery but also work with our clients in delivering the best consulting advice to ensure world class solutions that enable our clients to transact more digitally.

What you’ll be doing:

• Working on large-scale digital transformation programmes with global clients, designing solutions for all the opportunity and complexity this brings
• Own the solution architecture, document it, and communicate that architecture to a wide range of audiences
• See out and develop relationships with key client stakeholders responsible for digital and architecture strategy
• Orchestrate and run design workshops, and translate business strategy and requirements into solution architecture
• Ensure your architecture vision is realised by our teams, across all phases of programme delivery
• Understand common problems, design patterns and considerations for a distributed eCommerce architecture and apply this knowledge to your solutions
• Understand the level at which solution architecture applies, and help transition your solutions to application and cloud architects and technical leads
• Make and justify key architectural decisions considering all relevant constraints
• Follow the principles and guidance set out by the Solution Architecture team
• Contribute to the initiatives of our Solution Architecture team, including developing common patterns for new technologies and developing PoCs against industry trends.

What we want from you:

• Core understanding of the capabilities of a wide range of technologies typically found within an eCommerce landscape, including enterprise eCommerce platforms and components, and apply this knowledge to your solutions
• Proven experience of solution ownership,
• Experience delivering solution transformations, roadmaps and (or) Integration strategies
• Understand the capabilities of public cloud platforms and be an advocate of cloud-native solutions
• Proven experience Designingquality solutions, often large scale and transactional in nature, for global enterprise clients
• Be client and delivery focussed, able to adapt a solution to meet additional requirements and constraints and apply pragmatism when required
• Prior experience running design workshops
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Have excellent communication, presentation and documentation skills

If you know some of this, even better:

• Experience with OMS
• Experience with PIM
• Specific Solution Architecture experience with the following technologies:
• React, Next.js, GraphQL (incl. federated), Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Sanity.io, GCP

What we can offer you:

Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.

Permanent only:

We offer a great benefits package including a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, opportunities to buy and sell holidays, family friendly policies, discounts with hundreds of retailers and much more.

Our personality and behaviours:

• Connect Meaningfully
• Inspire Creatively
• Include Purposefully
• Approach Positively

Our brilliant, talented people are what makes VML Enterprise Solutions what we are. That’s why we look for people who go beyond and always push our thinking to be better than yesterday.

About VML Enterprise Solutions:

Welcome to VML Enterprise Solutions, a multi-award-winning powerhouse of innovation, creativity and growth through technology in an ever-evolving world.

Over 7,000 employees across VML’s global offices support VML Enterprise Solutions by helping to create and deliver digital transformations, Artificial Intelligence applications and technology solutions that introduce new operational efficiencies to organisations around the world.

Our mission is to inspire global audiences to embrace and advance the world of online and offline shopping through seamless digital experiences and tech innovation. To achieve this, we work with many of the most exciting brands, such as The Coca-Cola Company, Ford, DFS, Dr. Martens, Johnson & Johnson, Mars, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges and Unilever.

We’ve built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $56.5bn annually for our clients. We also work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Sitecore, Optimizely, BigCommerce, Commercetools and Acquia.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence and world-class partnerships – all united by our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com. WPP (VML/WPP Enterprise Solutions) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.