Solution Architect - Digital Manufacturing and Digital Quality - Freelance

Daily rate: Open

Project context

Project Details

• Work Mode: Full-Remote

• Time Zone Requirement: CET (Central European Time)

• Start Date: 15 March 2026

• End Date: 31 December 2026

• Estimated Duration: 8 months

• Extension Possibility: Yes – first semester 2027

• People Management: No

• Languages: English (Spanish and/or French beneficial)

 

Project Summary

We are seeking an external Solution Architect Manufacturing and Quality to support and govern the architecture of multiple Digital Manufacturing and Digital Quality initiatives across several sites.

The role is mutualized across two streams (Digital Manufacturing and Digital Quality) to optimize cost and ensure architectural consistency across projects. Responsibilities include:

• End-to-end solution architecture definition

• Integration design

• Security and infrastructure considerations

• Delivery of formal architecture documentation

Goals and deliverables

Main Responsibilities & Key Activities

1. Architecture Design & Delivery

• Define end-to-end solution architectures for all projects in scope

• Produce architecture deliverables using C4 methodology:

  • C1 – System Context

  • C2 – Container

  • C3 – Component

  • IAS – Infrastructure Architecture Specification

• Design and document:

  • Application architecture

  • Integration and data flows

  • Infrastructure architecture (on-prem / cloud where applicable)

  • Cyber discussions

• Address replatforming scenarios, including lift-and-shift constraints, legacy dependencies, and target-state alignment (notably Caducee CDS)

• Ensure architectures are scalable, interoperable, secure, and aligned with our target state

• Define and document transitional / intermediate architecture states when required

 

2. Integration Architecture & Governance

• Design interfaces compliant with our Integration Core Team (ICT) standards

• Select and justify integration patterns using our integration decision tree

• Ensure adherence to:

  • our E2E Integration Governance Process

  • Jira-based governance workflow

• Contribute to:

  • Interface Catalog enrichment

  • Interface documentation and observability requirements

• Coordinate with Integration teams and SPOCs

 

3. Security, Infrastructure & Non-Functional Requirements

• Ensure compliance with our cybersecurity, infrastructure, and network standards

• Position applications, components, integrations, and data flows into predefined security and network layers

• Validate and document:

  • Correct component placement

  • Compliance with segmentation and access rules

  • Alignment with our infrastructure models

• Ensure NFR coverage:

  • Availability

  • Performance

  • Scalability

  • Resilience

  • Backup and restore

  • High availability and disaster recovery

• Secure formal sign-off from Cyber, Infrastructure, and Enterprise Architecture stakeholders where required

 

4. Governance, Decision-Making & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with our Enterprise Architecture Governance

• Produce and maintain Architecture Decision Records (ADR)

• Secure approvals via:

  • Domain Design Authorities

  • Enterprise Design Authority (when required)

• Participate in:

  • Weekly Domain / Enterprise Design Authority meetings (when required)

  • Monthly Architecture Council (as required)

• Ensure 100% architecture documentation is completed and approved before build starts

 

5. Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Produce deliverables using existing templates

• Store documentation in:

  • Confluence

  • SharePoint / Enterprise Architecture repositories

• Ensure versioning, traceability, and milestone-based knowledge transfer

• Escalate high-impact risks within 24 hours

 

Experience Required

• Minimum 10 years of experience

• Proven experience as Solution Architect in manufacturing and quality digital environments

• Strong background in:

  • Manufacturing systems

  • Quality and laboratory systems

  • Shopfloor and lab environments

• Experience with system replatforming / lift-and-shift initiatives (strong asset)

• Strong experience with C4 architecture methodology

• Experience within enterprise architecture governance frameworks