Principal Solutions Architect - Data & APIs

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. NIQ Media is building a config-driven, reproducible media measurement platform spanning audience weighting, cross-media reach & frequency, sales-lift/MME modelling and brand-lift analysis, delivered on a modern cloud-native stack (Angular, Java Spring Boot microservices, AWS/Azure, Kubernetes, Python/PySpark data and AI/ML engines). The Technical Solution Architect owns the end-to-end technical architecture of the platform: the domain/data-contract model, service and API design, cloud infrastructure, and the boundary between the product/ops shell and the underlying data-science engines. This person is the final technical authority on build-vs-buy and platform decisions, sets engineering standards across all pods, and ensures the architecture scales from a single reference study to multi-tenant, multi-market operation without core code changes. This is a hands-on architecture role: the person is expected to prototype, review code, and pair with engineering leads, not just produce diagrams. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES : Architecture & Design Define and own the overall solution architecture across the Angular UI, Java Spring Boot / microservices backend, and Python/PySpark data & AI engines running on AWS and Azure. Design the canonical domain and data-contract model (identity, study, media, exposure, outcome, governance/lineage) and the versioning/compatibility policy for it. Define the plugin/extension SDK so new markets, channels and analysis modules can be added by configuration, not core code changes. Own key technical decision gates (e.g. orchestration engine choice, build-vs-buy for core algorithmic components, deployment topology) and document them as accepted architecture decisions. Platform, Cloud & Delivery Design the Kubernetes-based deployment topology across AWS and Azure, including environment strategy, secrets management, scaling and multi-tenant isolation. Define the CI/CD architecture (GitHub / GitHub Actions) and the code-quality and security gates (e.g. SonarQube, Cycode) enforced across all repositories. Guide integration of AI-assisted development practices and AI/ML capabilities into the platform and into the engineering team's day-to-day workflow. Review designs and code from backend, frontend, data engineering and DevOps pods; act as final escalation point on cross-cutting technical issues. Leadership & Stakeholder Management Translate business and analytics requirements from the SME/Business Analyst into technical designs and work-package breakdowns. Partner with the Technology/Delivery Manager on estimation, sequencing and dependency management across the backlog. Communicate architectural trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership and external partners. Mentor engineers across disciplines and raise the technical bar of the team. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 9+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in a solution/technical architect role for cloud-native, data-intensive platforms. Proven hands-on experience designing microservice architectures with Java / Spring Boot, and modern SPA frontends (Angular preferred). Strong working knowledge of AWS and/or Azure, containerisation and orchestration with Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions or equivalent). Practical experience with Python-based data engineering and/or data science pipelines (e.g. PySpark, big-data processing) and how they integrate with service-based platforms. Experience designing multi-tenant, config-driven platforms (as opposed to per-customer custom builds). Demonstrated experience embedding code quality and security tooling (e.g. SonarQube, Cycode or equivalents) into engineering workflows. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting architecture decisions to executive and non-technical stakeholders. PREFERRED / NICE-TO-HAVE Experience in media measurement, market research, advertising analytics, or adtech domains. Familiarity with statistical/ML modelling concepts (e.g. regression-based lift models, weighting/raking methods) even if not personally building them. Experience integrating AI copilots / AI-assisted development tooling into a professional engineering practice. Prior experience leading offshore/distributed engineering teams through onboarding and ramp-up. Relevant certifications (AWS/Azure Solutions Architect, CKA, TOGAF or similar). CORE SKILLS Solution & enterprise architecture, API and microservices design, event-driven and batch data architectures. Java / Spring Boot, Angular/TypeScript, Python (working proficiency, not necessarily daily coding). AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Infrastructure-as-Code. GitHub, GitHub Actions, SonarQube, Cycode (or comparable code quality/security tooling). Strong systems thinking, documentation discipline, and stakeholder communication. Our Benefits Flexible working environment Volunteer time off LinkedIn Learning Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP) NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/info/niqs-ai-safety-policies/ About NIQ NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit NIQ.com Want to keep up with our latest updates? Follow us on: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence. All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion