About Us
At Polaris, we're on a mission to create a safer and fairer world. We provide software solutions that empower police forces and local authorities to enforce and track traffic and parking offences, manage permits and licenses, and control high-risk assets like firearms and tasers.
Since securing support from August Equity in May 2023, we've been on an exciting growth trajectory. We've expanded our reach both in the UK and internationally, acquired key companies like Farthest Gate, Clarity and JML Software Solutions, and invested heavily in our operations.
Our goal is to build a data-driven, professionally managed organisation with robust systems and processes, poised for consistent growth and ready to seize new opportunities. We've united our legacy brands under the Polaris name, creating a dynamic new identity that reflects our vision for the future.
This is an exciting time to join Polaris. We're seeking ambitious, forward-thinking individuals who are eager to make a real impact and grow their careers in a rapidly evolving industry. If you're ready to be part of a team that's shaping the future of public safety and compliance technology, we want to hear from you.
Solutions Architect
Based in Banbury
Hybrid model of 3 days per week in office
Full time
Reports to Head of Professional Services
The Solutions Architect is the technical and solution- design lead within the customer delivery lifecycle. Working closely with Customer Success Managers, Product and Engineering teams, Support, Account Managers and customer stakeholders, the role translates business and operational requirements into practical, scalable solutions across Polaris applications.
The role owns the design and advanced configuration of customer solutions from discovery and scoping through build, testing, deployment and handover. It combines consultative customer engagement, strong product knowledge and technical judgement to ensure solutions are supportable, well documented and deliver measurable customer outcomes with minimal post-go-live rework. Regular travel to customer sites will be required.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Discovery and requirements analysis: Lead customer discovery sessions, workshops and process reviews to understand current ways of working, business outcomes, technical constraints, data requirements, integrations and operational risks. Challenge assumptions and convert requirements into clear, prioritised and testable solution needs.
2. Solution design and workflow optimisation: Design end-to-end workflows and solution configurations that align Polaris products with the customer’s operational processes. Produce clear solution designs covering users, roles, permissions, data flows, integrations, automation, reporting and exception handling.
3. Technical scoping and estimation: Support CSMs, Account Managers and Professional Services colleagues during onboarding, change requests and expansion opportunities by assessing feasibility, identifying dependencies and risks, defining deliverables and contributing to implementation estimates and Statements of Work.
4. Advanced configuration and implementation: Build and validate complex configurations, workflows, automation and data mappings within Polaris applications. Coordinate with development or platform teams where product changes, integrations or bespoke technical work are required.
5. Testing, deployment and handover: Define configuration acceptance criteria and support internal testing, customer UAT, issue remediation, deployment readiness and go-live. Ensure each solution is stable, supportable and formally handed over to Customer Success and Support with the appropriate documentation and knowledge transfer.
6. Customer and internal enablement: Deliver customer workshops, administrator training and technical knowledge transfer. Coach colleagues on product capabilities, implementation approaches and configuration standards to reduce dependency on individual specialists.
7. Documentation and governance: Create and maintain accurate solution designs, configuration records, workflow diagrams, decision logs, technical assumptions, deployment notes and handover documentation. Follow the Project Delivery Framework, change control and agreed quality standards.
8. Continuous improvement and product feedback: Capture lessons from implementations, recurring customer needs and product constraints. Recommend improvements to delivery methods, reusable configuration patterns, documentation and product capability, working constructively with Product and Engineering.
9. Customer Software Upgrades: Lead the technical delivery of customer software upgrades by assessing upgrade readiness, planning the implementation approach and managing configuration changes. Support customers through deployment and go-live, resolve technical issues, and ensure a seamless transition into business-as-usual.
Requirements
Your Experience
- Experience in a Solutions Architect, Implementation Consultant, Technical Consultant, Business Systems Analyst or comparable customer-facing software delivery role.
- Proven ability to run discovery workshops, analyse business processes and translate requirements into clear technical or configuration designs.
- Hands-on experience configuring enterprise software, workflow platforms or SaaS applications, including roles, permissions, data, automation and reporting.
- Experience supporting implementations through requirements, build, testing, UAT, deployment and handover.
- Ability to understand integrations, APIs, data imports/exports and system dependencies sufficiently to design solutions and work effectively with engineers.
- Strong documentation skills, with the ability to produce solution designs, process maps, configuration records and customer-facing guidance.
- Experience communicating complex technical topics clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, identify delivery risks early and work independently within agreed governance.
Benefits
What We Offer
- 25 days annual leave
- 2 Moment in Time Days
- Life Assurance 4 x base salary
- Private Pension with Scottish Widows
- Health Care Cash Plan
- Hybrid working model
- Long Service Award
Equal Opportunities
Our business is an equal opportunities employer. We make recruitment decisions based on qualifications, skill sets, and experiences. We consider all suitable candidates regardless of their age, sex, gender reassignment, race, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
Please note that we can currently only consider candidates with an existing right to work in the UK.
