Solutions Architect

Inspired Thinking Group (ITG); Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Enhanced family friendly leave

Pension scheme

Funding for professional qualifications

Paid volunteer day

Job summary

Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) is looking for a talented Solutions Architect to join our Digital Engineering team in Birmingham. In this role, you'll develop web-based products, act as an internal consultant, and provide mentorship to team members while integrating complex systems.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in developing customer-facing digital platforms using Agile methodologies and an understanding of AI tools. Exceptional communication and technical skills are required, alongside capabilities in HTML/JavaScript or Java.

Qualifications

• Must have a background in web applications development using Java/JEE, Spring, XML, Maven, and Tomcat.
• Experience with Content Management Systems (e.g., Adobe AEM) is desirable.
• Experience of managing and mentoring employees.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to business analysts and teams.
• Gather technical requirements and advise on impacts to solutions.
• Collaborate with project management on roadmap planning.
• Work closely with development teams during design and implementation.

Skills

Commercial experience with HTML/JavaScript or Java

Strong problem-solving skills

Exceptional communication skills

Experience with AI tools

Strong experience in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript

Education

Experience within the full software development life-cycle

Job description

Our Digital Engineering team at ITG is responsible for building world class, enterprise grade digital applications for high profile brands. We pride ourselves in working with mature Agile methodologies and make use of the latest versions of technology. Our teams are structured in such a way that gives every employee the opportunity to learn new skills, work on various projects over time and see the results of your efforts in the online consumer marketplace. Joining the Digital Engineering function would see you work as part of a cross‑functional, product style team, generally consisting of a Business Analyst, Scrum Master / Project Manager, Solution Architect, Lead Developers (FE and BE), Developers, and Testers (Manual and Automated).

ITG requires a talented Solutions Architect to work on the development of a range of web based products and tools.

Some of these tools are complex logic and product configuration related solutions, while others are bespoke web applications interfacing with a number of services.

The Solutions Architect will act as an internal consultant, advising teams and clients on how best to develop customer‑facing digital platforms and experiences, getting their hands dirty and writing code when required to solve particularly challenging problems, and building a knowledge base of the software products and services which ITG Connect offer.

As a Solutions Architect, candidates must be capable not only of developing software or reviewing code when needed, but also demonstrate a firm grasp of the full Software Development lifecycle: requirements capture, planning, project estimation and software design. Candidates should be able to provide leadership and mentoring of less experienced members of the development team.

Many of the projects we take on will involve integrating multiple systems and APIs into a common website, and experience of building and consuming microservices will be key. This could take the form of eCommerce related services, digital asset management, or product database and configurator integrations, for example.

We build software using Agile (SCRUM) processes, and candidates should also have experience of working within such an organisation.

We integrate AI tooling across the full development lifecycle — from business analysis and architecture through to design, QA, and code delivery. SAs use agentic AI assistants (primarily Claude) as a core part of daily workflow, not as an optional extra. It is important that candidates understand how to use AI effectively and where its limitations lie.

Responsibilities and Qualifications

• Provide technical support to business analysts by both attending meetings with customer and supporting solution design within discovery and ongoing projects
• Analyse and propose options for technical solutions based on provided business requirements
• Gather technical and non‑functional requirements and advise on impacts to solutions
• Technical architecture design
• Prepare high level designs to share with customer
• Prepare technical documentation to guide development teams
• Support project manager and scrum master in providing high level estimates
• Validate and work with the teams to ensure these estimates are realistic and completed to specification and time alongside project management
• Collaborate with project management and business analysts on roadmap planning
• Work closely with development teams during design and implementation phases and support where necessary with particularly difficult solution implementation
• Act as an interface between the development and third‑party infrastructure teams to analyse, optimise and help with issue triage (at a high level) on the platform
• Technical governance and code review
• Strong logical/problem‑solving skills
• Use AI tools to assist in research, in identifying solutions, and in the creation of documentation
• Identify improvements, efficiencies, and support the use of secure coding practices for the development team, ensuring CI/CD and agentic coding assistance are used optimally on projects supported by the SA
• Must have commercial experience with either HTML/JavaScript or Java, within the full software development life‑cycle
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, and experience of writing technical documentation — including the ability to craft clear, unambiguous prompts for AI tools
• Have experience of managing and mentoring employees, having acted as line managers for developers
• Excellent technical background in building applications for the web using Java/JEE, Spring, XML, Maven and Tomcat
• Strong experience in CSS, HTML and JavaScript is also desirable
• Experience of business rules management systems or Content Management Systems (particularly Adobe AEM) would be desirable

Benefits

• Time off that works for you — 25 days holiday + bank holidays, a paid Wellbeing Day, flexible bank holidays to honour cultural or religious observances, and the option to buy or carry over up to 5 extra days
• Family & life milestones — Enhanced family friendly leave, 3 extra days for your wedding/honeymoon, and an Employee Assistance Programme whenever you need support
• Financial perks — Pension scheme, Corporate Medical Cash Plan, electric car salary sacrifice scheme, and tax‑efficient payroll giving to your favourite charities
• Growth & recognition — Funding for professional qualifications, monthly Employee of the Month awards (£250 bonus), and referral bonuses of up to £1,500
• Community & wellbeing — Regular wellbeing workshops, 30+ wellbeing champions, a paid volunteer day, and an online perks platform with discounts on top brands, days out, and gym memberships

We Value Diversity

We champion and welcome diversity in our workforce and ensure all job applicants receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality.

We are not only committed to increasing the visibility and recognition of talent from under‑represented groups within our organisation, but the wider industry too.

At the end of the day, we make sure we take time to look after ourselves, each other, and the planet, because we’re always stronger together.

ITG have a number of community groups available to employees and exist to offer a safe space for like‑minded colleagues, with shared interests to connect, socialise and check in with each other.