Contract - Solution Architect

At Honda we embrace inclusion in our various policies, so whilst our contracts state that the hours are as required to fulfil the role with a minimum of 35 hours per week, we offer flexibility for when you work.  The regular office hours are 08:00 – 16:00 Monday to Thursday with a half hour lunch break & 08:00 – 13:00 on a Friday.  However, we offer flexibility of when you work with our daily flex-time start of between 07:00 and 11:00 providing that there is no business requirement.

Whilst there is no contractual right to work from home, the flexibility we offer is that you can request to work from home 2 days per week, again providing there is no business requirement to attend the office.

Role:
The person in role decides on and designs the technical solution/architecture (modules, components, layers, interfaces, classes, tables) of IT Systems in alignment with the Enterprise Architecture. This role is typically engaged as the highest-level technology expert on a project team. Partners with business analysts, systems analysts and engineers in requirements gathering and reviews. Viewed both internally and externally as a technical expert and critical technical resource across multiple disciplines.

Strong emphasis on cross platform integration, feasibility assessment, legacy-to-target migration and stakeholder-facing technical leadership.

Main Responsibilities:

• Responsible for analysing and translating business, information and technical requirements into a technical architectural blueprint that outlines solutions to achieve business objectives, and this in alignment with the Enterprise Architecture.
• Works with Enterprise Architecture, application and infrastructure teams to produce an optimal, high level, conceptual design for the projects.
• Designs solution architectures that integrate across multiple enterprise and vendor platforms, including CRM, ERP, dealer systems and global platforms.
• Acts as the primary technical interface with external delivery partners and SaaS vendors (e.g. Salesforce / Arlanis), ensuring alignment on data models, APIs, security, non functional requirements and delivery feasibility.
• Designs and governs integrations with SAP (master data, finance, logistics, order flows), including upstream and downstream impacts.
• Leads and documents technical feasibility studies, including:
  
  • Assessment of legacy solutions.
  • Options analysis for migration to future model years.
  • Cost, risk, dependency and delivery impact assessment.
  • Clear recommendation supported by evidence.
• Develops application and custom integration solutions including major enhancements, interfaces and APIs.
• Proposes changes in process, policy and standards as they relate to the architecture and design principles.
• Researches and maintains knowledge in emerging technologies and solutions to solve business problems.
• Provides expertise regarding the integration of applications across the business.
• Acts as an internal consultant, advocate, mentor and change agent.
• Analyse technology, industry and market trends in order to determine the potential impact on the enterprise.
• Contributes to the buy-or-build decision on new projects, aligned with the Enterprise Solution Architect and Enterprise Technical Architect.

KPI’s

• Requirements Volatility / Change Request Impact.
• Feasibility accuracy (early identification of constraints, risks and integration impacts).

Qualifications, skills and experience:
Required

• Advanced expertise in solution and integration architecture across complex enterprise landscapes.
• Strong experience designing and governing integrations between SaaS platforms, ERP systems and bespoke applications.
• Demonstrated experience working with CRM (Salesforce), ERP (SAP) and global enterprise platforms.
• Strong understanding of modern integration patterns (API led, event driven, middleware, data synchronisation).
• Expert understanding of application development methodologies and lifecycle governance.
• Strong Business Analysis capability, including:
  
  • Requirements shaping and validation.
  • Stakeholder interrogation and challenge.
  • Translating business intent into technically feasible solutions.
• Highly personable with strong stakeholder management skills; able to lead technical discussions with vendors, global teams and senior non technical stakeholders.
• Requires advanced to expert level knowledge of architecture, systems engineering and enterprise integration.

Desirable

• Experience leading feasibility studies, options assessments and migration strategies for legacy systems.
• Experience delivering programmes with significant external vendor dependency.
• Experience in automotive, mobility or regulated product environments.
• Experience operating in a global / regional matrix organisation.

Honda is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in the workplace for all employees, temporary workers, contractors, applicants and visitors. Honda also encourages respect for the individual differences and talents of others while making full use of one's own abilities, based on Honda's philosophy of respect for the individual.

At Honda, we value and celebrate diversity and are committed to being a fair, non-discriminatory company that promotes and welcomes the uniqueness and differences of people around the world. We recognise that a diverse workforce allows for different ideas and perspectives, and we encourage everyone to share them. We strive to foster a culture of belonging that is consistent with Honda's core values and lived out in the way we work and respect each other. For us at Honda, diversifying our workforce means increasing its overall strength by providing people with equal opportunities - regardless of personal characteristics or previous careers.

This commitment flows directly from the Honda philosophy and the belief that we are all working towards a common goal. Honda recruits, hires, trains and promotes the most qualified/experienced individuals at all levels without regard to race, origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.