Job Description
Are you an experienced development architect with deep knowledge of warehouse management systems and a passion for designing solutions that keep complex operations running smoothly?
We have an exciting opportunity for a Development Architect to join our Warehouse and Distribution Services team in Frating, Colchester on a permanent basis.
Reporting to the WMS Technical Architect, you’ll play a key role in the design, development, implementation and ongoing support of our Blue Yonder Warehouse Management System. This is a hands on technical and architectural role, working closely with the WMS Technical Architect, developers and stakeholders across the business to make sure our warehouse and distribution systems continue to meet evolving operational needs. You’ll bring in depth subject matter expertise across relevant technologies, with a particular focus on Blue Yonder, while helping to shape high quality, consistent development practices and solution architecture across the wider systems landscape.
As part of a collaborative Warehouse and Distribution team, you’ll contribute to business critical solutions across Blue Yonder WMS and the wider warehouse and distribution systems landscape, including data warehousing, operational data stores, data marts and visualisation solutions. You’ll support releases and upgrades, help to resolve issues when they arise, and provide technical leadership and mentoring to colleagues and project teams. There may occasionally be a need to work outside normal hours to support key releases, upgrades or critical incidents.
The team
The Technology team provides expertise and effective solutions to Penguin Random House. We integrate flexibility and agility which supports our consistent way of working. We set ourselves up for success by holding ourselves accountable and welcoming change. Each member of the Technology team brings skill and initiative to their role; we take personal ownership within a one team culture, working collaboratively to meet expectations from our stakeholders who trust us to deliver.
Key responsibilities
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Develop, configure and deploy Blue Yonder WMS customisations and integrations in line with business requirements and best practices.
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Code quality, documentation, and solution design.
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Perform enhancements, upgrades, and system configuration within the Blue Yonder MOCA architecture.
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Design and implement WMS reports, interfaces and data extracts using SQL and related tools.
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Conduct thorough unit testing to ensure solution quality and performance.
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Participate in system upgrades, patches and version migrations, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
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Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including functional specifications, configuration records and operational procedures.
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Provide second and third line support for Blue Yonder WMS incidents and change requests.
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Liaise with internal infrastructure to ensure reliability, scalability, and performance
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Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, helping to optimise warehouse automation and logistics processes through system enhancements.
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Use Git for version control, code management and collaboration across multiple developers and environments.
What you’ll bring
Essential criteria:
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Proven experience of developing and supporting Blue Yonder (JDA) WMS, ideally within a large scale distribution environment.
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Strong proficiency in MOCA and SQL development within the Blue Yonder ecosystem.
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Hands on experience with Blue Yonder Integrator, including design, configuration and management of integrations.
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Strong working knowledge of Blue Yonder Page Builder, including the creation and maintenance of actions, lists and batch processing.
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Solid understanding of database architecture and design, including experience with Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server.
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Good working knowledge of Linux operating systems, including navigation, file management and basic scripting.
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Experience with integration and communication methods, such as SFTP, APIs, web services and message based interfaces.
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Strong understanding of system design and data integration principles, including performance, scalability and data integrity considerations.
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Experience of working in a structured software development team environment.
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Proficiency with Git for source control and collaborative development.
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Experience providing technical leadership and mentoring to development teams or project resources.
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Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to partner with team and project leadership and developers to ensure the right architecture is implemented.
Desirable criteria
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Working knowledge of Microsoft .NET and C#.
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Experience integrating or working with Centiro or other Carrier Management Systems (CMS)
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Working knowledge and capability with Java and the BY WMS MTF framework, specifically building custom RF forms.
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Experience with ServiceNow or similar IT service management tools.
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Understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including Agile and DevOps methodologies.
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Experience with planning, estimation and dependency management.
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Awareness of ITIL processes and change management practices.
How you’ll work
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Communicate and collaborate confidently with both technical and non technical stakeholders.
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Bring strong analytical and problem solving skills, with a calm and methodical approach under pressure.
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Take ownership of deliverables, with strong organisation and effective time management.
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Work as a supportive team player who shares knowledge and contributes to continuous improvement.
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Be comfortable providing informal mentoring and technical leadership to peers.
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV by 23:59 on Wednesday 9th September 2026.
AI
Here at Penguin, we believe in the power of authenticity and human creativity. When you apply for a position, we want to encourage you to showcase your unique voice. Throughout our recruitment process, please share your own thoughts, experiences, and skills. This helps us get a true sense of who you are and what you might bring to our team.
We celebrate creativity and diverse perspectives, so please be yourself! While we recognise AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responses reflect you.
Disability Confident
As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section.
There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview. We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing [email protected]. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable with, for us to support your request.
Salary
The salary for this opportunity is up to £70,000, depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus a generous bonus scheme and benefits.
Hybrid working
While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work from our office in Frating, Colchester 2-3 days per week. You will be required to be flexible on other days as required by the business.
Additional Information
Disclosure requirements pertaining to the collection of your personal data:
Responsible for processing the information provided in your application is the company specified in the job advertisement, with its registered office as indicated. The company processes your data for the purpose of establishing an employment relationship on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b GDPR / Section 26 (1) sentence 1 BDSG.
The retention period for your data is determined by the statutory time limits applicable in the respective country, beginning upon completion of the recruitment process. You can find these here.
You can contact the company’s Data Protection Officer at the above-mentioned postal address.
Further information on data protection and your rights can be found here.
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