Composable Commerce Solution Architect

Lead a composable commerce discovery and platform assessment for a leading US retail brand followed by its implementation in longer run own the current-state assessment, target architecture, multi-vendor evaluation and phased modernization roadmap, working onsite with client leadership, ISVs and steering an offshore assessment

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 12+ years in eCommerce technology, with 5+ years as a Solution Architect owning end-to-end commerce architecture.
• 5+ years architecting on composable/MACH platforms — hands-on depth in at least two of Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Commercetools, Shopify (PlHydrogen/Functions), SCAYLE, VTEX, Spryer, Fabric or Elastic Path, including their real constraints, not just certifications.
• Recommended to have led at least one platform selection/assessment end to end — KPI-based scoring model, RFP, vendor deep-dives, and a recommendation presented to executive leadership.
• Must have architected at least one from-scratch or full-replatform enterprise eCommerce implementation through to production.
• Expert across commerce subsystems: Profile, Product/Catalog & PIM, Browse & Search, Cart/Order/Checkout, Pricing & Promotions, Payments, Inventory, Returns and Back Office.
• Strong foundation in enterprise Java Springboot microservices — enough to review the offshore team's designs and challenge an ISV's technical claims in a deep-dive.
• Event-driven and reactive architecture: event modelling, orchestration vs choreography, idempotency, and eventual consistency in order and inventory flows.
• PBC integration architecture across search & discovery (Constructor, Bloomreach, Algolia, Coveo), CMS (Contentstack, Contentful, Amplience), personalization/recommendations (Adobe Target, Dynamic Yield), loyalty, OMS and payment/fraud/tax providers.
• Ability to assess true modularity — swap-ability per domain, lock-in surface, event coverage, extension model and data export rights.
• Expert in one CSP (AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Platform) with in-depth knowledge of its services; strong on API gateways, serverless, containers and messaging (EventBridge/SQS/SNS/Kinesis/Kafka).
• Infrastructure-as-code with Terraform or equivalent (CloudFormation/ARM/Deployment Manager).
• SQL and NoSQL data architecture (MySQL, Oracle, Postgres, MongoDB, Cassandra, Cosmos, DynamoDB), plus product data modelling, catalog unification and search-index strategy.
• Strong API architecture: REST, GraphQL (incl. federation), JSON, OpenAPI/Swagger, versioning and contract governance.
• Headless storefront architecture — React/Next.js, edge rendering, BFF patterns, caching (Redis/Hazelcast/CDN), Core Web Vitals and SEO continuity through a phased migration.
• Observability and performance engineering with New Relic, Datadog or equivalent; NFR rigour across capacity, resilience, PCI-DSS, CCPA/GDPR and WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Must be able to build and defend a TCO model — licence/consumption cost, implementation and run cost, CAPEX/OPEX, and the cost of capability gaps.
• Experience defining phased, strangler-pattern roadmaps that absorb an incumbent platform slice by slice, with parity gates and no big-bang cutover.
• Good Retail domain knowledge; apparel/fashion preferred.
• Exposure to subscription or curated/stylist-led commerce models is a strong plus.
• Agentic commerce readiness — governed, machine-consumable access to catalog, inventory, pricing and order data — is an added advantage.
• Proficient in Agile methodologies and JIRA.

Professional Skill Requirements:

• Proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment, creating structure where the client has none.
• This is a client-facing onsite role — exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with business partners, technology partners, peers and senior management.
• Executive presence able to deliver an unwelcome finding without triggering defensiveness, and to hold a position under pressure from a vendor or an internal advocate.
• Workshop facilitation — able to run a room with competing agendas and leave with a decision.
• Exceptional written output: assessment charters, architecture blueprints, scoring narratives and board-ready readouts.
• Vendor/ISV management — runs RFPs firmly and fairly, extracts written commitments, and distinguishes roadmap promises from shipped capability.
• Able to lead and quality-gate an offshore pod across a significant timezone offset, personally reviewing every artefact before it reaches the client.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with multiple stakeholders across engineering, product, merchandising and finance to drive success.