VML
Principal Solutions Architect
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Principal Solutions Architect
About VML
VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.
Our Commerce & Technology Division
Our Commerce & Technology division helps leading global brands design, build and run the commerce platforms behind their growth. We are seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to lead solutions in business pursuits and account growth, across enterprise commerce.
You will be the person in the room who understands how the whole commerce estate fits together, from web storefront and mobile app through commerce platform, data and ERP. You will turn that understanding into a clear case for business value, win the trust of senior client stakeholders, and when it helps, build a working demonstration to show them what good looks like.
Key Responsibilities
Architect Enterprise Commerce
Design end-to-end commerce solutions across Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify, HCL and composable (MACH) solutions, spanning web, mobile apps, data and back office systems.
Lead with Value
Frame every solution around commercial outcomes, cost and return, so clients can see clear cases for change rather than a technology shopping list.
Serve as an Outward-Facing, Energetic Leader
Run workshops, participate in governance, and collaborate with commercial teams to identify and shape technical growth opportunities.
Client Engagement and Discovery
Build trusted relationships with senior business and technology stakeholders. Run discovery workshops, ask the questions that uncover what really matters, and cut through complexity to the decisions that count.
Solution Design and Architecture
Produce clear architecture diagrams and solution designs covering storefront, mobile apps, commerce platform, search, content, order management, product information, payments, data and other integrations. Recommend the right platform and approach for each client rather than defaulting to one.
Platform Selection and Replatforming
Guide clients through platform choices and migrations, including the move from monolithic to composable, weighing total cost of ownership, speed to market, risk and operating model.
Data, Integration and Back Office
Get into the detail of how commerce connects to ERP (such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or Oracle), order management, warehouse, customer data and analytics, and design integration patterns that hold up at enterprise scale.
Mobile and Omnichannel
Shape mobile app strategy and architecture (native, cross platform and headless) alongside web, store and marketplace channels, so the customer experience is joined up.
Business Case and Value
Build business cases, value models and roadmaps that link technology decisions to revenue, conversion, margin and cost to serve.
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Demonstrations and Proofs of Concept
Stand up demo storefronts and prototypes quickly, such as a Shopify store or a composable proof of concept, to show clients what is possible and take risk out of their decisions.
Proposals and Pitches
Own the solution story, architecture, assumptions and effort estimates in proposals, and present them with confidence at pitch.
Handover and Delivery Assurance
Make sure what is sold can be delivered, with a clean handover to delivery teams and continued involvement through mobilisation.
Market and Partner Leadership
Stay across the commerce market, including cloud (AWS, GCP), AI in commerce and agentic commerce. Share that knowledge to strengthen our propositions and our partner relationships.
What We Want from You
Enterprise Commerce Experience
Extensive senior experience in enterprise commerce across retail, consumer brands or B2B, gained in digital agencies, consultancies or large brands.
Breadth Across Platforms
Strong working knowledge of Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Shopify, plus composable and MACH (microservices, API first, cloud native, headless) components such as Commerce tools, Contentful, Algolia, Akeneo or similar.
Presales and New Business
A track record of shaping and winning significant commerce deals, running workshops, writing proposals and presenting to senior audiences.
Commercial Acumen
Understands how clients make money. Speaks confidently about value, cost and return, and can hold a commercial conversation with a Chief Executive or Chief Financial Officer as easily as with a Chief Technology Officer.
Data and ERP Integration
Hands on understanding of how commerce connects with ERP, order management, product information, customer data and analytics, and the integration patterns that make it work.
Mobile Apps
Solid understanding of mobile commerce app architecture and delivery, including native and cross platform approaches and how apps connect to headless commerce services.
Architecture and Communication
Excellent diagramming, written and verbal skills. Able to turn complex estates into simple pictures and clear stories for senior audiences.
Hands On Credibility
Comfortable building a demo store, configuring a platform or proving a concept yourself, rather than relying on slides alone.
Presence
Energetic, confident and credible with clients. Able to cut through noise and lead the room.
If You Know Some of This, Even Better
Certifications across Adobe Commerce, Salesforce B2C Commerce or Shopify, MACH
AWS certifications (Solutions Architect Associate or Professional) and experience running commerce on Cloud solutions.
Order management, product information management and marketplace platforms
B2B commerce, including complex pricing, catalogue and account structures
Agentic commerce concepts and emerging standards (ACP, AP2, A2A) and practical use of AI in commerce
Total cost of ownership and business case modelling
The C4 model and diagrams as code
What We Can Offer You
Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritize your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.
Permanent only
We offer a great benefits package including a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, opportunities to buy and sell holidays, family friendly policies, discounts with hundreds of retailers and much more.
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Our culture thrives on our core values, designed for impact-driven individuals: Heart, Brains and Courage.
- Heart: We foster empathy and trust where genuine connections and human-centric work flourish.
- Brains: We value relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges.
- Courage: We inspire you to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions that push our thinking to be better than yesterday.
How We Use AI in the Recruitment Process
To ensure more focused and engaging conversations, we leverage AI in our recruitment process exclusively for secure, objective note-taking, never for evaluative judgments. This allows our team to be fully present with you. You are always welcome to request a transcript of these notes or opt out of this feature at any time. Opting out will not impact the outcome of the interview process.
WPP Enterprise Solutions
WPP Enterprise Solutions designs, builds, and operates the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where AI is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernisation, connecting strategy directly to execution.
Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX, work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses. We have received distinction as a leader in Commerce Services and CX Strategy Consulting by the Forrester Wave™
To find out more, visit enterprisesolutions.wpp.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
WPP Enterprise Solutions is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
#LI-EMEA #LI-HYBRID
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
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