The Solution Architect owns the end-to-end design integrity of solutions within their assigned platform vertical. Operating within the governance framework established by the Enterprise Architect, they translate business and product requirements into coherent, scalable, and standards-compliant architectures — bridging strategic intent and engineering execution. They are a key participant in the Architecture Review Board, accountable for ensuring their vertical's solutions align with the organisation's technology strategy, security posture, and target platform model.
Role responsibilities
- Develop high-level blueprints and detailed architecture specifications that address business requirements, technical constraints, and platform interoperability — including integration patterns, data flows, and system boundaries
- Evaluate and recommend technologies, frameworks, and platforms appropriate to the solution context, ensuring alignment with EA-approved standards and the organisation's target architecture. Document all material trade-offs.
- Produce and keep current comprehensive documentation — including architecture decision records (ADRs), C4 model diagrams, integration guides, and design specifications — as the authoritative source of truth for the vertical.
- Apply and advocate for architecture standards, patterns, and guardrails defined by the Enterprise Architect. Escalate deviations, exceptions, and cross-vertical dependencies to the ARB for resolution.
- Ensure all solution designs incorporate relevant regulatory, data governance, and security requirements from inception. Proactively identify and remediate architectural risk, technical debt, and compliance gaps.
- Present designs, review peer submissions, and contribute to binding technology decisions. Co-own the evolution of organisation-wide architecture standards within the ARB forum.
- Provide architectural direction and hands-on guidance to engineering squads throughout the delivery lifecycle — from design review and sprint planning through to production readiness — ensuring implementation fidelity to the approved design.
- Lead structured design reviews at key delivery milestones, validating adherence to standards, identifying risks, and ensuring non-functional requirements (performance, scalability, reliability) are addressed before release.
- Assess live solutions against performance benchmarks and reliability targets. Identify and prioritise optimisation opportunities, technical debt reduction, and platform evolution — feeding findings back into the architecture roadmap.
- Translate complex architectural decisions and trade-offs clearly for both technical and non-technical stakeholders — including product, engineering, and executive levels — ensuring shared understanding and informed decision-making.
- Work closely with peer Solution Architects, the Enterprise Architect, and third-party vendors to ensure cross-cutting concerns (integrations, shared services, security) are resolved cohesively and without duplication.
- Champion a knowledge-sharing culture within the engineering organisation through brown-bag sessions, architecture playbooks, and mentoring. Contribute to elevating architectural thinking and standards across teams.
Architecture Design and Solution Ownership
Governance, Standards and Risk Management
Engineering Enablement and Implementation Oversight
Stakeholder Engagement and Architecture Knowledge
Role requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
- Industry certification relevant to vertical (e.g. AWS/Azure/GCP Solutions Architect, TOGAF, or equivalent) — preferred
- 5+ years experience in a solutions architect or equivalent senior technical design role
- 10+ years experience in leadership of complex software designs
- Demonstrated experience designing and delivering complex, enterprise-scale solutions
- Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native architectures
- Experience in communicating across technical and non-technical audiences including executive stakeholder levels
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline
- Industry certification (e.g. AWS/Azure/GCP Solutions Architect, TOGAF)
- 5+ years experience in a solutions architect role
- 10+ years experience in leadership of complex software designs
- Experience designing and delivering complex, enterprise-scale solutions
- Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Experience communicating with both technical and non-technical audiences
What We Do
Coates Group is a growing global technology and digital merchandising solutions provider creating immersive experiences for some of the world's leading brands and their customers. We are focused on creating dynamic, personalised and engaging experiences powered by our range of digital hardware and proprietary content management system. If you’ve ordered in-store or in the Drive-Thru at McDonald’s somewhere in the world, chances are you’ve interacted with our digital solutions! We work across 50+ global markets with our headquarters located in Sydney, Australia and other offices in Japan, India, China, the Middle East, Canada, Europe and the United States. Our people who we proudly call our “Crew” are at the heart of everything that we do. So, it is our commitment to empower and develop the people that set us apart. This is done by implementing new policies that our people care about like an annual market competitive bonus program, opportunities for growth and prioritisation for learning and development that includes kick-starting our new wellbeing program called Thrive. The cornerstone of Thrive is our flexible work approach, including a suite of flexible work options because we are believers that you should never miss an important life or work moment. Thrive also equips our crew with wellness tools and dedicated time to prioritise our health with Yoga and Meditation programs as well as a Global Wellness Day off to enjoy and recharge plus a Give Back Day for the opportunity to make an impact on the community. Be part of a global team of talented, ambitious, creative people that value integrity, individuality and inclusivity. (Ask us about our Equality + Empowerment Initiatives). We are one global crew with diverse perspectives that make us stronger. We are curious, charismatic and authentic. And together, we make our purpose become a reality, to create immersive brand experiences for everyone
