E-Commerce Solution Architect

This is an excellent opportunity to join the transformation of the UK's leading online veterinary brand. You will be responsible for owning the website solution along with all extensions and integrations to periphery systems, including ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), payment gateways and CRM feeds etc. to deliver an exceptional service to both customers and business users.

Working under the guidance of the Architecture Lead /Head of Technology, you will be fully briefed on the business's strategy and plans. In return, you will be expected to have a comprehensive understanding of the existing solutions, and define the future eCommerce target architecture, producing an achievable plan to deliver it.

This will be a varied role, requiring hands-on work, becoming the go-to person for all system and process activities relating to the eCommerce website. It is expected you will be reviewing the existing set up and delivering easy wins; investigating new technologies; preparing design documents; overseeing projects from a technical point of view, including security and NFRs. Ensuring third parties are delivering from a technical perspective, providing incident response and supplier management; as well as refining the longer-term approach, including introducing transformational new approaches as we grow as a business.

Main Responsibilities:

Technical Subject Matter Expert

• Understand the existing solution in precise detail, including extensions and integrations to understand existing short comings and defined future solutions
• Ownership of the website roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals and future growth
• Define and prioritise system enhancements, upgrades, and integration projects
• Act as the technical expert for the website, driving continuous improvement

Solution Design & Integration

• Design and support system integrations between the website, ERP and other platforms (e.g., payment gateways, CRM etc )
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and meet performance requirements
• Support the definition and implementation of architecture standards for web related systems
• Responsible for defining solutions for the entire technology backlog. Define and own system architecture, solution overviews, and integration specification documents alongside out third-party developer.
• Coordinate and oversee third-party development partners and vendors

Data & Technical Oversight

• Oversee complex data requests, reports, and queries (e.g., SQL/stored procedures)
• Collaborate with the website development agency on database maintenance, data integrity, and performance tuning
• Ensure consistent handling of data across departments and systems
• Ensure robust processes in place to manage environments and deliver comprehensive testing (including exploring automated and regression testing).

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior point of contact for business stakeholders for website roadmap and technical queries
• Translate complex business needs into clear, actionable system requirements
• Communicate project status, risks, and timelines effectively to stakeholders

Quality, Testing & Governance

• Oversee, support and validate UAT planning, release scheduling, and deployment oversight
• Ensure all website changes follow structured change management and documentation practices
• Maintain internal documentation on website logic, integrations, and decision rationale, True to our values, we care about our employees and genuinely want our teams to have the best experience at work possible. You will work with our friendly teams in a dog-friendly office environment and have access to the following benefits

Do you have experience in Software development?, * An experienced eCommerce Solution Architect, having performed this role for many years, ideally with qualifications. Looking to make a real impact to transform the business.

• It is important you have an eye for detail and take pride in the quality of solutions to ensure we deliver great customer experience.
• Advanced experience of eCommerce website technologies (HTML, JavaScript, PHP, React). Ideally Magento / Adobe Commerce Cloud, Adobe Experience Manager.
• Advanced experience of eCommerce back-end functionality (order processing, stock management, CRM, reporting, couriers and payment gateway integrations etc).
• Advanced experience of wider eCommerce technologies (payment gateways, courier and supplier integrations, etc.).
• Advanced data integration experience (REST / SOAP API's, Graph QL, Web Sockets, Web Transport, SFTP), data formats (XML, YAML, JSON, CSV), and data querying SQL.
• Knowledge of build processes/ pipelines automation and tooling (e.g. Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab, Azure DevOps), understanding of performance testing frameworks, experience with browser-based debugging and tools such as New Relic.
• Knowledge and expertise across the software development lifecycle, as well as strong communication skills to work with stakeholders to ensure delivery of common goals.
• Experience developing customer identification and registration, reporting, and features such as subscriptions, loyalty, and single view of customer.
• Ability to understand complex business problems and processes to determine creative solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to generate and build effective relationships with team members.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize resources.
• IT Literate - able to use MS Office to manipulate data, present findings and work in ticketing systems (Zendesk, JIRA).
• Vast knowledge of ERP /OMS / WMS technologies (Khaos, Elucid, SAP, Oracle etc).
• A strong knowledge of software development methodologies such as Agile (Kanban, Scrum), DevOps or Waterfall.
• Actively mitigate roadblocks impacting successful team completion of release/sprint goals
• Driven by results and the delivery of a quality service
• Integrity to manage and safeguard company culture and role model our values and behaviors
• Enjoy working within a fast-paced environment and adaptable to changing priorities, As a BAME and LGBTQ+ inclusive employer, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

• Your birthday as a paid day off each year
• Discounts across most of our products together with discounted veterinary fees within IVCE practices - up to 50% discount!
• Bring your dog to work
• Company pension - Employee 5% / Employer 3%
• EAP and supportive wellbeing programmes
• Family friendly policies
• Access to our rewards platform where you can enjoy discounts with a wide variety of retailers
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan scheme
• Engagement activities, * Additional leave
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Private dental insurance
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

As one of the UK's biggest and most trusted suppliers of affordable veterinary medicines and pet products, our aim is simple - to provide the very best for the nation's pets just as we do for our own. Not only are we one of the largest retailers of pet medications: we're also part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe's largest veterinary group. At Pet Drugs Online we're striving to give our customers a fantastic experience and we recognise that our ability to do that rests with our greatest asset - our people. We feel personally invested in the continued success of the business and we aim to create a working environment that encourages you to feel the same way.