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Solution Architect

• On-site, Hybrid
• • Utrecht , Utrecht , Netherlands

Lead the future of fonQ's E-commerce Platform

At fonQ, we're in the middle of a large-scale digital and technical transformation. Our e-commerce platforms, domains, and integrations are being modernized to become more scalable, flexible, and future-proof. To drive this next phase, we're looking for a Senior Solution Architect who brings clarity, ownership, and hands-on technical leadership to our evolving technology landscape.

About fonQ

fonQ is the home store for anyone looking to furnish their home with style, character, and a touch of surprise. We offer unique interior items from leading brands, designers, and styles-everything you need to express your own personal style. Our ambition: to give every home character and a signature that's truly its own. We believe in innovation , creativity and exceeding expectations .

What will you do?

In this role, you are the key link between business, product, and technology. You design and realize the future-state architecture, guiding teams as we transition from legacy systems to modern platforms. You think in domains, platforms, and end-to-end value streams, translating strategic goals into concrete, implementable solutions.

You turn architectural vision into action by defining Solution Outlines, Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), and technical enablers. Solution Designs, Requirements and decisions are clearly documented using tools such as IcePanel, Lucid Charts, Confluence and Jira, providing teams with clear direction and guardrails.

You work closely with Tech Leads and Senior Backend Developers to coordinate architectural work across teams. You ensure solutions are implemented in line with agreed principles and standards, while acting as a trusted sparring partner for developers, testers, and information analysts.

Together with product owners and engineers, you safeguard architectural coherence across the platform. You make deliberate design choices and help teams move fast-without compromising on quality, scalability, or sustainability.

Your key responsibilities include, but aren't limited to:

• Design and continuously evolve the target architecture for our e-commerce and integration landscape, currently PHP-based and transitioning towards event-driven architecture.

• Lead the migration from legacy integrations to cloud-native, API-first, event-driven architectures.

• Define system boundaries, ownership, and responsibilities, avoiding overlap between platforms and services.

• Design and implement integration patterns, routing rules, and orchestration logic for reliable end-to-end flows.

• Identify architectural gaps and decide when to introduce new SaaS solutions vs. custom-built services.

• Ensure consistency and alignment across domains such as Shop & Digital Experience, Commerce, Data, and Operations.

• Define and enforce architecture standards, principles, and guardrails within development teams.

• Work hands-on with Business Stakeholders, Tech Leads and Senior Developers as a technical sparring partner.

Job requirements

Here's what makes a great fit for this role:

• An experienced Senior Solution Architect with a strong technical background and proven experience leading technology and landscape transformations.

• Strong understanding of SaaS-based ecosystems ; hands-on experience with platforms such as Shopify, Algolia, Zendesk, Omnia, Business Central, Akeneo, Mirakl, FlxPoint or similar systems is a strong plus.

• Strong experience designing end-to-end data setups, including operational data models (SQL and NoSQL), data ownership and contracts, and the reliable sharing of data with BI and data lake platforms.

• Solid cloud-native experience, ideally within GCP with services such as Compute Engine, Cloud Functions, GKE, and Pub/Sub, and you understand what it takes to design systems that are secure, scalable, and production-ready.

• Strong API design skills and practical experience applying Domain-Driven Design (DDD) to define clear service boundaries

• Familarity with IaC and CI/CD practices and consider monitoring, logging, alerting, and operational readiness as first-class architectural concerns rather than afterthoughts.

• Hands-on coding experience with modern frameworks such as Symfony or Laravel is a plus.

• Able to balance strategic thinking with pragmatic execution

• Comfortable communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Thrives in dynamic environments where not everything is fully defined

• Education: You think and work at Master's level.

• Communication: You explain technical solution designs clearly, whether you're talking to teammates or non-technical stakeholders.

• Personal qualities: Flexible, self-starter, hands-on, structured, solution-oriented, and always eager to learn.

Lastly, what can you expect from fonQ?

• A flat hierarchical structure with room for innovation in a supportive team

• A welcoming and fonQ-y environment that fosters a culture of learning, exploration and problem solving

• A diverse work week and a dynamic e-commerce company with plenty of space for new ideas and initiatives, regardless of your role

• Unlimited and nicely priced lunch with a roof terrace

• Exciting, inviting and frequent events to meet and spend time with your colleagues in Utrecht

A hybrid work environment with a structure that fosters quick and easy collaboration between colleagues.