IT Solutions Architect, Supply Chain

MSC Industrial Direct Co.,Inc.; Davidson (NC); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

MSC Industrial Supply Co. seeks an IT Solutions Architect for Supply Chain to lead the transformation of MSC’s software landscape across WMS/WCS/WES, Logistics, Planning and Purchasing.

You will translate business strategy into secure, scalable systems, guide legacy modernization, cloud, and integration patterns, and partner with IT and business teams to deliver measurable value. You will mentor engineers, drive AI adoption, ensure governance, and champion security, reliability, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience required; master’s preferred.
• 10+ years IT experience with significant solution design experience; lead designer or engineering leadership experience; enterprise-scale scope preferred.
• Programming/web/data technologies such as RPGILE, COBOL, DB2, SQL, QRY, C#, C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, relational/no-SQL query languages.
• Experience building real-time data streaming solutions between the cloud and enterprise systems using message queuing architectures that support event streaming and are reliable, resilient, and scalable.
• Strong experience supporting supply chain, distribution, warehouse, logistics, transportation, fulfillment or manufacturing technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IT solution for supply chain initiatives, decomposing business problems into scalable system designs and guiding solutions from concept to go-live and steady state.
• Define and maintain the system architecture vision, roadmap, reference architecture, standards, governance, stage gates and reusable design patterns; facilitate architecture/design reviews and build-vs-buy decisions.
• Architect system solutions across multiple platforms WMS, WCS/WES, TMS, planning, inventory, fulfillment, and custom IBM iSeries/AS400 applications.
• Own integration patterns across IBM iSeries applications, WMS, WCS/WES, ERP, TMS, SAP/S/4HANA/BTP, Google Cloud, IBM Sterling Integrator, EDI, APIs, middleware, event messaging, file exchange and partner connectivity.
• Design Microservices and APIs: create microservices, APIs, data models, and integration patterns that support modular, scalable and modern applications.
• Provide architectural leadership for warehouse automation systems and robotics, including ASRS, AMR, PLC, Fortna, AutoStore, Exacta, Savoye, iPack, Cubiscan, Plus One, Osaro and related material handling solutions.
• Ensure reliable data flow across systems; maintain integration frameworks, documentation, data dictionaries and traceability standards.
• Drive reliability, quality and operational readiness, environment strategy, testing assets, observability, SRE practices, security controls, DR/runbooks, release calendars, incident/problem management and root-cause remediation.
• Partner with Industrial Engineering, Logistics, Warehouse Operations, Maintenance, IT Operations, IT Security, Data Analytics, and software vendors; communicate effectively with warehouse teams, technical teams and executives.
• Identify automation opportunities, drive AI adoption, and technical debt reduction while ensuring compliance, and security.
• Mentor analysts/developers/architects and share current technology trends
• Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSC’s vision and unity of purpose
• Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required

Skills

RPGILE

COBOL

DB2

SQL

Java

Python

JavaScript

HTML/CSS

Google Cloud

WMS/WCS/WES

IBM iSeries/AS400

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Jenkins

GitHub

Jira/Atlassian

VSCode

Turnover

IBM Sterling Integrator

Job description

BUILD A BETTER CAREER WITH MSC

Serving customers and our community starts with the best people doing their best work. That is precisely what we have created at MSC Industrial Supply Co. We are a leading North American distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), products and services. We offer more than 2 million products and have over 80 years of experience across dozens of industries. We aim to execute our Built to Make You Better brand promise for all our stakeholders, including our associates.

Requisition ID :21288

Employment Type :Full Time

Job Category :Supply Chain

Work Location :Davidson, NC (CSC)

BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:

The IT Solutions Architect, Supply Chain is a member of the IT Application Development team who leads the transformation and modernization of MSC’s software landscape. This role translates supply chain business strategy across Warehouse Management & Execution Systems (WMS/WCS/WES), Logistics, Planning and Purchasing into secure, scalable systems. This role guides development of legacy solutions, cloud, package software, and custom solutions from roadmap to delivery. In this role you will guide AI adoption, guide developers, establish governance and reusable technology patterns; and partner with business, IT engineering, and vendors to implement software solutions, reduce technical debt, accelerate innovation, and deliver measurable business value.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead end-to-end IT solution for supply chain initiatives, decomposing business problems into scalable system designs and guiding solutions from concept to go-live and steady state
• Define and maintain the system architecture vision, roadmap, reference architecture, standards, governance, stage gates and reusable design patterns; facilitate architecture/design reviews and build-vs-buy decisions
• Architect system solutions across multiple platforms WMS, WCS/WES, TMS, planning, inventory, fulfillment, and custom IBM iSeries/AS400 applications
• Own integration patterns across IBM iSeries applications, WMS, WCS/WES, ERP, TMS, SAP/S/4HANA/BTP, Google Cloud, IBM Sterling Integrator, EDI, APIs, middleware, event messaging, file exchange and partner connectivity
• Design Microservices and APIs: create microservices, APIs, data models, and integration patterns that support modular, scalable and modern applications.
• Provide architectural leadership for warehouse automation systems and robotics, including ASRS, AMR, PLC, Fortna, AutoStore, Exacta, Savoye, iPack, Cubiscan, Plus One, Osaro and related material handling solutions
• Ensure reliable data flow across systems; maintain integration frameworks, documentation, data dictionaries and traceability standards
• Drive reliability, quality and operational readiness, environment strategy, testing assets, observability, SRE practices, security controls, DR/runbooks, release calendars, incident/problem management and root-cause remediation
• Partner with Industrial Engineering, Logistics, Warehouse Operations, Maintenance, IT Operations, IT Security, Data Analytics, and software vendors; communicate effectively with warehouse teams, technical teams and executives
• Identify automation opportunities, drive AI adoption, and technical debt reduction while ensuring compliance, and security.
• Mentor analysts/developers/architects and share current technology trends
• Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSC’s vision and unity of purpose
• Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required

QUALIFICATIONS

What You Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience required; master’s preferred
• 10+ years IT experience with significant solution design experience, lead designer or engineering leadership experience; preferred for enterprise-scale scope
• Programming/web/data technologies such as RPGILE, COBOL, DB2, SQL, QRY, C#, C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, relational/no-SQL query languages
• Experience building real-time data streaming solutions between the cloud and enterprise systems using message queuing architectures that support event streaming and are reliable, resilient, and scalable
• Strong experience supporting supply chain, distribution, warehouse, logistics, transportation, fulfillment or manufacturing technologies
• Proven delivery of major enterprise systems across multiple sites, including vendor, platform or budget/cost management
• Experience modernizing legacy environments
• Capability modeling, target/transition roadmaps, application rationalization and system documentation/diagrams
• IBM iSeries/AS400, RDI, VSCode, Turnover, Implementer, Jenkins, GitHub, batch processing, legacy integration and modernization patterns, Jira/Atlassian, Bitbucket, ServiceNow and Office365 products (word, excel, powerpoint, visio) or equivalent
• WMS, WCS/WES, TMS, planning, inventory, fulfillment, SAP S/4HANA/BTP, Ariba
• IBM Sterling Integrator, EDI, ANSI X12, XML, AS2, SFTP, APIs, middleware, event-driven patterns, queues and canonical data models
• Google Cloud, hybrid cloud architecture, cloud integration, API gateways, observability/APM/logs/metrics/tracing, security, CI/CD, testing and DR
• Multi-tier architectures, load balancing, distributed systems, loose coupling/stateless design, or performance optimization
• Application security, PKI/encryption, certificates/keys, remote access, credential management, vulnerability remediation and separation-of-duty/change controls
• SDLC, Agile/Waterfall/feature-driven methods, environment topology, sandbox/client management, data masking/seeding, repos, branching, promotion and rollback policies

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Preferred: TOGAF, ArchiMate, Google Professional Cloud Architect/Data Engineer, ITIL, SAFe Architect or other IT certifications
• Demonstrates ability to understand the business with effective and timely communications with business partners, understand the audience and tailor the message appropriately, ability to move decisions forward
• Self-starter who understands the distribution business, acts like an owner, works through ambiguity, uses sound judgment and applies the 80/20 rule where appropriate
• Innovative and strategic thinker with high standards and aggressive goals; pursues everything with energy and focus; pushes through setbacks to achieve objectives and demonstrates a track record of exceeding goals; demonstrates leadership by striving to achieve more
• Connects and demonstrates leadership while working collaboratively with others within and outside the organization
• Builds trust with a comfortable with “no problem too small or too large” mindset
• Handles multiple workstreams with discipline; learns, adapts to feedback, maintains high standards through setbacks

Other Requirements:

• A valid driver’s license may be required
• Position requires up to 25% of travel
• This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (“ITAR”) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”)

*INDICATES ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully an associate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of knowledge, experience level and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Compensation starting at $155,000 - $190,000 depending on candidate location and experience. The salary range represented is based on similar roles in comparable industries, and the cost of labor in respective cities. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's relevant experience, education requirements and peer pay equity. The Company reserves the right to modify the range as market conditions change.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position at this time.

This job posting will remain open for a minimum of 3 business days from the original posting date or longer as needed to fill the position.

WHY MSC?

People. Collaboration. Insight. That's how you build something that works. Built on a foundation of trust, MSC works side by side with our customers to help them drive business results. With more than one million product offerings and 80+ years of experience across industries, MSC strives to help our customers achieve greater productivity, profitability, and growth through inventory management and other innovative supply chain solutions. We care about our associates and have programs in place to help our 6,500+ team members achieve their potential.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

Our associates are our top priority and investing in their well-being is one way we execute our Built to Make You Better brand promise. Alongside competitive pay, we have a comprehensive benefits program to support you and your family's health, well-being and financial future. We offer dynamic healthcare plans, generous 401K and stock purchasing programs, tuition reimbursement opportunities, and paid time away for holidays, vacations, and illness. Visit our page for a better look at our extensive benefits: Your Future Benefits.

You will also have the opportunity to join our Associate Inclusion Circles: Women, Pride, Black, Generational, Veterans, HOLA, and Able. These circles are open to all associates and are designed to promote awareness, collaboration, and respect.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

At MSC, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants and our associates without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any category protected by applicable law. Accommodation requests can be made at any stage of the recruitment process; applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements known.

Please note that MSC uses electronic monitoring and system logs in its workplace, including monitoring of Company-provided systems and collaboration tools, as permitted by applicable law.