Solution Architect – Retail Applications & Digital Solutions

Job Title: Solution Architect – Retail Applications & Digital SolutionsLocation: Niles, IL (Hybrid - 3 days a week)Job Type: ContractJob Description: Role OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Solution Architect to define and guide the architecture of retail applications and digital solutions.The role will work closely with customer stakeholders, in-house technology teams, and offshore delivery teams to design scalable, secure, reliable, and maintainable solutions aligned with business requirements.The candidate will provide technical leadership across application development, system integrations, cloud platforms, data architecture, and application modernization, ensuring consistency in solution design and adherence to enterprise technology standards.Key Responsibilities Solution Architecture & DesignDefine end-to-end solution architecture based on business requirements, existing systems, and enterprise standards.Translate functional and non-functional requirements into technical architecture, design specifications, and implementation guidelines.Evaluate solution options, assess feasibility, and recommend appropriate technologies and architectural patterns.Define application components, integration patterns, data flows, security mechanisms, and deployment architecture.Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, maintainable, and cost-effective. Application & Integration ArchitectureDesign solutions involving web applications, APIs, cloud services, databases, workflow automation, and enterprise systems.Define integration approaches across applications, data platforms, and third-party systems.Establish standards for API design, authentication, error handling, logging, monitoring, and exception management.Guide application modernization, re-platforming, and migration initiatives.Ensure effective integration with existing retail and distribution systems. Technology Leadership & GovernanceProvide technical guidance to development teams and review solution designs, code quality, and implementation approaches.Establish reusable architectural patterns, technical standards, and best practices.Conduct architecture and design reviews at key stages of implementation.Identify technical risks, scalability constraints, performance bottlenecks, and architectural gaps.Ensure adherence to security, compliance, availability, performance, and disaster recovery requirements.Guide technology selection and evaluate trade-offs involving cost, complexity, maintainability, and business value. Performance, Reliability & Operational ExcellenceDefine non-functional requirements and measurable acceptance criteria for application performance, availability, scalability, and security.Review performance test results and recommend architectural improvements where required.Define monitoring, logging, alerting, backup, and recovery approaches.Support root-cause analysis of complex production issues and recommend long-term architectural solutions.Promote design practices that improve application stability, reduce recurring incidents, and simplify maintenance. Stakeholder & Delivery CollaborationWork with business analysts, PM, product owners, and customer technology teams to validate solution requirements.Collaborate with onsite stakeholders and offshore development teams to ensure consistent understanding of architecture and design decisions.Provide technical estimates, identify dependencies, and support delivery planning.Review implementation progress and resolve architecture-related blockers.Communicate technical options, risks, and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Required Skills & Experience12+ years of experience in software engineering, application architecture, or technology solution delivery, with demonstrated experience in solution architecture.Strong experience designing enterprise applications, APIs, integrations, and cloud-based solutions.Experience with Microsoft Azure services and cloud architecture.Experience with Angular, .NET/C#, SQL Server, REST APIs, and enterprise integration patterns.Experience with Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Apps, Power Automate, and Dataverse, is desirable.Understanding of identity management, single sign-on, role-based access control, application security, and data protection.Experience with performance engineering, scalability, availability, monitoring, and production support.Familiarity with CI/CD, source control, automated testing, and DevOps practices.Strong analytical, problem-solving, technical documentation, and stakeholder communication skills.Preferred Domain ExperienceRetail, consumer goods, beverage distribution, or supply chain applications.Point-of-sale (POS), demand forecasting, inventory management, order management, sales operations, and distribution systems.Enterprise application integrations and cloud-based digital transformation.Application modernization and migration from legacy or low-code platforms to web-based solutions.Key Deliverables Deliverable Expected OutputSolution Architecture Document End-to-end architecture, components, technology choices, and design rationaleHigh-Level & Low-Level Designs Component designs, data flows, APIs, integration patterns, and implementation detailsArchitecture Diagrams Application landscape, deployment topology, integrations, and data-flow diagramsNon-Functional Requirements Defined performance, scalability, availability, security, and recovery requirements with measurable acceptance criteriaIntegration Specifications API contracts, authentication, error handling, retry mechanisms, and interface dependenciesTechnical Standards & Guidelines Reusable patterns, coding guidelines, security standards, and architecture principlesTechnical Risk & Dependency Register Architecture risks, constraints, dependencies, mitigation actions, and ownershipArchitecture Review Outcomes Design review findings, decisions, action items, and resolution trackingPerformance & ReliabilityRecommendations Assessment findings and actionable improvements for identified bottlenecks or operational issuesModernization Roadmaps Recommended architecture improvements, migration approach, sequencing, and indicative effort where applicable Success MeasuresSolutions meet agreed functional and non-functional requirements.Architecture decisions and technical dependencies are identified early, reducing rework and delivery delays.Applications demonstrate improved performance, scalability, reliability, and maintainability against agreed baselines.Reusable components and integration patterns reduce duplication and implementation effort.Architecture reviews and technical standards improve consistency across applications.Production issues attributable to architectural weaknesses are reduced over time.Solutions align with business priorities, enterprise standards, and agreed cost and delivery constraints.