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

To find out more about Computer Futures please visit

Computer Futures, a trading division of SThree Partnership LLP is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy | Registered office | 8 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ, United Kingdom | Partnership Number | OC(phone number removed) England and Wales