IT Solution Architect - Enterprise Integrations

Ulta Beauty, Inc. • Bolingbrook, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Solution Integration Architect with deep experience in the retail industry to lead the design and implementation of scalable, real-time and near real-time integrations across core business processes. This role focuses on enabling seamless data exchange between applications, platforms, and services, supporting omnichannel experiences, supply chain operations, merchandising, and customer engagement.
The ideal candidate will bring strategic architectural vision and hands-on technical expertise, particularly in real-time, near real-time, and event-driven integration patterns using technologies such as Apache/Confluent Kafka, TIBCO, Spring Boot, API-first design, and GraphQL. This architect will play a key role in modernizing Ulta Beauty’s integration landscape to support agility, scalability, and innovation.
The architect will also drive the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation within enterprise integration, identifying opportunities to use AI to simplify integration development, improve operational intelligence, automate workflows, and enable more adaptive, scalable, and resilient integration solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in integration architecture or related roles, with strong emphasis on real-time, near real-time, and event-based integration patterns.
• 5+ years of leadership experience designing and delivering complex integration solutions within the retail industry.
• Proven experience implementing real-time and event-driven architectures using technologies like Apache Kafka, TIBCO EMS/BW, and Spring Boot-based microservices.
• Proven experience architecting or implementing AI-enabled solutions, including Generative AI, AI agents, intelligent automation, or machine learning capabilities within enterprise technology environments.
• Strong understanding of integrating AI services and agents with enterprise applications, APIs, event streams, and data platforms, with knowledge of AI security, governance, responsible AI practices, and enterprise data protection requirements.
• Strong understanding of retail business domains and how integration enables omnichannel, supply chain, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Expertise in API architecture, MCP API gateway tools (e.g., Apigee), and API security standards (OAuth, OpenID Connect).
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing integrations in on-premises and hybrid IT environments.
• Proficient in standard data exchange formats and protocols: REST, SOAP, JSON, XML, AMQP, JMS, and MCP integration protocol.
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks such as SOX, CCPA, GDPR, and experience building secure, compliant integration solutions.
• Practical experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments with a strong focus on CI/CD and DevOps principles.
• Strong hands-on experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including GKE, Pub/Sub, IAM, Monitoring, and cloud-native application design.
• Experience designing and implementing REST APIs, Microservices, Event-Driven Architectures, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt quickly to change in a dynamic environment.
• Strong work ethic and pride in producing high-quality solutions.
• Excellent documentation skills and ability to create clear architectural diagrams.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent decision-making and leadership capabilities.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment across stakeholders.
• Self-starter who works well independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Minimal travel required (e.g., training or conferences).

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the integration architecture strategy aligned with enterprise and retail business goals. Establish best practices for real-time, near real-time, and event-driven integration across platforms and systems, including in-store, online, supply chain, and CRM.
• Partner with functional and technical teams to design integration solutions supporting key retail processes such as order management, inventory synchronization, loyalty, pricing, promotions, and vendor collaboration.
• Design and implement solutions using platforms like Apache Kafka, TIBCO, and Spring Boot, enabling efficient real-time and near real-time data flow. Promote loosely coupled, scalable architectures through event streaming and messaging systems.
• Define and implement an API-first approach to integration using modern API management tools such as Apigee. Develop standards and governance for API lifecycle, versioning, cataloging, and reuse across the enterprise.
• Architect and drive the adoption of AI-enabled integration solutions across the enterprise, leveraging generative AI, AI agents, intelligent automation, and machine learning capabilities to enhance integration processes. Identify opportunities to use AI for intelligent routing, data transformation, anomaly detection, operational automation, and integration monitoring. Define patterns and standards for securely integrating AI services and agents with enterprise applications, APIs, event streams, MCP servers and data platforms. Partner with engineering and business teams to evaluate emerging AI capabilities and translate them into scalable, reusable, and governed enterprise integration solutions.
• Work closely with enterprise architects, application teams, and business stakeholders to translate business needs into integration strategies. Lead design sessions and guide teams in building scalable, reusable, and performant integration solutions.
• Establish integration governance processes to ensure consistency, security, and compliance. Define and maintain shared integration standards, canonical models, and reusable services.
• Architect integration solutions across on-premise and hybrid environments using modern integration technologies while ensuring scalability, performance, and security.
• Develop comprehensive documentation and promote knowledge sharing through internal communities, training, and best practice guidance.

Benefits

• paid time off
• health
• dental
• vision
• life and disability benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior