Principal Solution Architect, Retail

Company: Bain & Company
Location: Schiller Park
Posted on: January 7, 2026

Job Description:

Description & Requirements What Makes Us a Great Place to Work We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. We are currently the 1 ranked consulting firm on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list and have maintained a spot in the top four on Glassdoor’s list since its founding in 2009. Extraordinary teams are at the heart of our business strategy, but these don’t happen by chance. They require intentional focus on bringing together a broad set of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills in a supportive and inclusive work environment. We hire people with exceptional talent and create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally. Who Youll Work With You will join the Architect experts within the Enterprise Technology team, part of Bain’s digital capabilities practice. In this multidisciplinary group, you’ll help clients modernize their tech strategy, architecture, and systems aligning technology with business goals to drive efficiency, agility, and innovation. You’ll develop enterprise-wide solutions, optimize cloud and data architectures, and integrate AI to enable scalable end-to-end digital transformations. What Youll Do Essential Functions: Shape Architecture and Technology Strategy Lead the definition of enterprise, solution, cloud, and data architectures that align with client business outcomes. Architect and guide the integration of end-to-end retail technology ecosystems including ecommerce, ERP, WMS, OMS, and POS solutions. Should be well versed across the retail technology stack, from customer experience platforms to back-office solutions Have hands-on implementation experience of retail technology solutions, should have experience in estimating, planning and executing large complex retail technology programs Define and establish enterprise integration standards and reference models for APIs, event streaming, and data pipelines that connect store systems, warehouses, data lakes, and eCommerce platforms. Advise and accelerate client adoption of modern technologies such as AI/ML, IoT, and advanced analytics to transform retail in store, digital customer experiences and operations. Develop strategic architecture roadmaps, frameworks, and reference models that enable modernization, integration of AI, and long-term value creation. Translate complex technical and business requirements into clear, actionable strategies that clients can adopt and scale. Contribute to thought leadership, publications, and community engagement to advance Bain’s technology point of view. Assess, select, and integrate vendor platforms, fintech solutions, and hyperscaler technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) into client architectures to maximize business and technology value. Advise and Influence Senior Leaders Serve as a trusted advisor to CIOs, CTOs, Chief Architects, and senior executives on architectural decisions and trade-offs. Bridge the gap between business priorities and technology execution, ensuring architectures support strategic objectives. Influence, coach, and mentor client technology leaders and Bain teams to build sustainable internal architecture capabilities. Enable Transformation at Scale Guide Bain consulting and client teams in executing architecture roadmaps, identifying risks, and embedding effective governance. Ensure architectures evolve with agile and MVP approaches while maintaining coherence, resilience, and scalability. Partner with Bain consulting teams to integrate architecture seamlessly into broader digital and business transformation programs. Advance Bain’s Reputation and Growth Contribute to Bain’s intellectual property and points of view on architecture, core banking modernization, and emerging technologies. Help advance Bain’s reputation in the market as a leader in enterprise and financial services architecture. Support business development by bringing architecture expertise into proposals, pursuits, and client discussions. Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, sponsors, and architecture communities. About You 15 years of experience in architecture and technology leadership, with proven ability to shape enterprise, solution, and data architecture strategies. Deep expertise in Retail and Consumer Goods, especially in supply chain, inventory, warehouse management, and POS solutions. Exceptional candidates with fewer years of experience but outstanding impact in modern architecture and transformation will also be considered. Demonstrated track record advising senior business and technology leaders on complex, large-scale transformation programs. Strong technical depth in domains such as cloud, data, AI, security, operational resilience, APIs, and event-driven design. Exceptional communication and influencing skills; able to bridge business strategy and technology execution with clarity. Recognized as a contributor within the architecture or technology community, with experience sharing expertise and perspectives. High emotional intelligence with proven experience leading, mentoring, and inspiring diverse, cross-functional teams. This role requires a minimum of three days per week working together in person, either at a client location or at your Bain home office. Travel is required. This position requires regional travel away from your home office/primary working location. Travel frequency and destinations will vary based on project needs. U.S. Compensation Information Compensation for this role includes base salary, annual discretionary performance bonus, 401(k) plan with an annual employer contribution based on years of service and Bain’s best in class benefits package (details listed below). Some local governments in the United States require a good-faith, reasonable salary range be included in job postings for open roles. The estimated annualized compensation for this role is as follows: In the states of Illinois, Georgia, and Texas, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $168,500 - $206,000. Placement within these ranges will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to experience, education, licensure/certifications, training and skill level For all other locations, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is commensurate with competitive geographic market rates for this role and will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to experience, education, licensure/certifications, training and skill level. Annual discretionary performance bonus This role may also be eligible for other elements of discretionary compensation 4.5% 401(k) company contribution, which increases after 3 years of service and is 100% vested upon start date Bain & Companys comprehensive benefits and wellness program is designed to help employees achieve personal independence, protection and stability in the areas most important to you and your family. Bain pays 100% individual employee premiums for medical, dental and vision programs, offering one of the most comprehensive medical plans for employees without impacting your paycheck Generous paid time off, including parental leave, sick leave and paid holidays Fully vested 401(k) company contribution Paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance Annual fitness reimbursements

Keywords: Bain & Company, Elkhart , Principal Solution Architect, Retail, IT / Software / Systems , Schiller Park, Indiana