Software Architect WCS

WCS Software Architect

Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Software Architect to play a key role in shaping and evolving a mission-critical Warehouse Control System (WCS) used in highly automated logistics environments. This platform sits at the heart of real-time operations, orchestrating material flow across conveyor systems, integrating with PLC controls, robotics (AMR/AGV), and upstream enterprise platforms such as WMS and ERP.

This is a highly technical position where you will set architectural direction, make critical design decisions, and remain close to the code and engineering challenges. You will work alongside an existing architecture function to scale capability as the platform transitions to a modern .NET / Blazor-based ecosystem from its current Python/Django foundation.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Define and evolve the architecture across application, data, messaging, and deployment layers
• Lead the design of complex features and subsystems, producing clear design artefacts and architecture documentation (including ADRs)
• Make key technical decisions across persistence, messaging, caching, and integration patterns
• Ensure solutions meet non-functional requirements including performance, scalability, availability, and security
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex system issues, including concurrency, bottlenecks, and integration failures

Systems Integration

• Own and define integration patterns between the WCS platform and external systems including PLCs, WMS, ERP, and robotics platforms
• Design robust, scalable messaging and API-based interfaces
• Ensure resilience through clear contract definitions, error handling, and recovery strategies
• Support emulation and pre-deployment validation approaches to reduce risk

Client-Facing & Delivery Support

• Act as a technical authority in client workshops, design reviews, FAT/SAT, and commissioning phases
• Provide support during go-live activities, including system tuning, troubleshooting, and stabilisation
• Collaborate with delivery and project teams to ensure integration success
• Maintain a calm, solution-focused approach in high-pressure live environments

Technology Strategy & Governance

• Contribute to architectural standards, coding guidelines, and design governance
• Evaluate new tools and technologies, making evidence-based recommendations
• Ensure alignment between business requirements, architecture decisions, and delivered solutions
• Drive best practices across performance, observability, and system resilience

Collaboration & Mentoring

• Work closely with product, development, test, and controls engineering teams
• Provide visibility of architectural direction, risks, and readiness to stakeholders
• Mentor and support engineers, raising overall technical capability within the team
• Promote a culture of high-quality engineering and continuous improvement

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience as a Software Architect or a senior/lead engineer stepping into architecture
• Strong expertise in C# / .NET and modern application development practices
• Experience designing distributed systems, microservices, and high-performance applications
• Solid background in system integration (APIs, messaging, event-driven architecture)
• Exposure to industrial systems, warehouse automation, WCS/WMS, or similar environments
• Experience working with PLCs, robotics, or real-time control systems (desirable)
• Knowledge of CI/CD, containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes), and Linux-based environments
• Strong problem-solving ability, with experience in performance tuning and scalability challenges
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Working Environment

• Fully remote role with flexibility in working patterns
• Involvement in occasional onsite activities during key project phases such as system go-lives and commissioning
• Collaborative, engineering-led environment focused on delivering high-quality, real-world solutions
• Opportunity to work on a platform undergoing significant modernisation and growth

What We're Looking For

• A hands-on technical leader who takes ownership of architectural outcomes
• Someone pragmatic, detail-oriented, and confident in making decisions
• A strong collaborator who can work across disciplines and teams
• An individual who can balance long-term architectural vision with delivery priorities
• A professional who thrives in complex, real-time, integration-heavy environments