Solution Architect in Southampton, Hampshire

Role/Job title:  Solution Architect  - Blue Yonder (JDA) Category Management

Work Location:  Southampton

Mode of working: – Hybrid with 3 days based at Office /2 days Remote

Are you a proven Solution Architect with experience working on enterprise-scale Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management solutions within a major UK retail environment?

As a Solution Architect – Blue Yonder (JDA) Category Management, you will play a key role in designing and delivering enterprise Category Management solutions for a leading UK retailer.

You will work closely with customer stakeholders and global delivery teams to define solution architecture, lead functional and technical design workshops, and guide implementation across the delivery lifecycle. The role covers Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management, CKB environment configuration, solution extensions, database technologies and application integrations, providing an opportunity to combine architecture leadership with hands-on technical expertise.

Your responsibilities:

• Lead solution architecture and design for Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management.
• Lead functional and technical workshops and produce Functional Solution Design documentation.
• Define Category Management solution configuration, process flows and application security.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to global and offshore delivery teams.
• Work with customer teams across design, development, testing and implementation phases.
• Create project deliverables and review solution/design deliverables produced by the wider team.
• Prepare and configure CKB environments across Development, Test, Pre-Production and Production.
• Support Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management installation, configuration and upgrade activities.
• Design and develop required extensions and modifications to the Category Management solution.
• Create training materials and deliver user training where required.

Essential skills/knowledge/experience:

• Strong experience architecting solutions using Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management.
• Experience delivering at least three major Category Management implementations and/or upgrades.
• Strong understanding of CKB and Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management architecture and configuration.
• Experience designing Category Management solution configurations, process flows and application security.
• Strong database experience with Oracle RDBMS and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Hands-on experience with SQL and PL/SQL scripting.
• Technical development experience using .NET, C# or VB.
• Experience developing extensions/modifications within Blue Yonder Category Management.
• Ability to lead solution/design workshops and produce high-quality functional and technical design documentation.
• Experience leading and coordinating global/offshore delivery teams and working directly with customer stakeholders.

Desirable skills/knowledge/experience:

• Extensive experience in Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management architecture, ideally gained across complex enterprise implementations and upgrades.
• 14+ years of relevant experience in solution architecture and/or Blue Yonder/JDA Category Management.
• Experience with Cognos Reporting.
• Experience working within large-scale retail Category Management environments.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a lead role in a high-profile retail transformation programme, combining architecture leadership with hands-on technical expertise.