Product Architect

Location: This hybrid role requires 3 days on-site at our Burnaby office and 2 days remote per week.

Salary: $130,000 - $150,000
Actual compensation within the range will be based on experience We also offer quarterly variable compensation package (bonus) + benefits

About Specsavers

Welcome to Specsavers - where we're not just about eyewear and eyecare, we're a purpose-driven organization committed to changing lives through better sight. As a certified Great Place to Work®, we take pride in our optometrist-owned and -led business model, providing quality eyecare and affordable eyewear to Canadians across the country.

Our journey began 40 years ago in the UK, with visionary optometrists Doug and Mary Perkins. Today, we support over 2,700 healthcare businesses, passionately caring for more than 44 million patients and customers worldwide.

At Specsavers, we believe that access to quality eyecare should be a right, not a luxury. That's why we go above and beyond to transform the eyecare experience in Canada. With our advanced clinical equipment and an extensive range of affordable and high-quality eyewear, we're here to make a real difference in the lives of our customers.

But that’s not all - we're also dedicated to fostering a positive, inclusive and supportive work culture. We strive to create an environment where our partners thrive while benefiting from the collective support and resources of our dedicated teams.

If you're passionate about making a difference, providing incredible care, and being part of a values and purpose-driven organization, join us on our journey to revolutionize the way Canadians experience eyecare. Together, we can change lives through better sight.

Purpose of the role

 This is the our first Product Architect position here in Canada, and we’re looking for a true trailblazer to lead the way. As the first of its kind in the region, this role offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of Specsavers in Canada. You’ll have the freedom to innovate, the support to succeed, and the responsibility to influence how we scale our technology and services across the country.

You’ll be at the heart of our mission—delivering outstanding value, being loved by every customer, and creating a workplace where everyone is proud to belong. And you’ll do it by helping us build simple, scalable, secure, and business-relevant technology solutions that make a real difference.

What You’ll Do

The Product Architect is a crucial hands on role in designing and shaping our product's overall architecture and technology lifecycles, ensuring they meet both the current and future needs of the business. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineering, wider architecture team, and product management. The Product Architect ensures that product designs are fit for purpose, and sustainable, providing a solid technical foundation for our products. The role will directly impact how we deliver exceptional eye care and hearing services to our customers and colleagues. 

The Product Architect must have a broad understanding of architectural domains (business, information, application, technology) and apply these concepts to meet product-specific needs while adhering to enterprise architectural principles. Specifically for the Canadian market, the PA will have an excellent understanding of the local statutory and legislative regulations in the Canadian provinces and territories relevant to Healthcare Retail IT, across all domains (including Retail, Clinical, Data etc.).

Responsibilities

• Product Architecture Design
  Define and iterate high-level architecture across products, ensuring alignment with agile practices and enterprise standards.

• Technical Component Integration
  Include all necessary technical components and integrations in the architecture, ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.

• Engineering Support
  Collaborate with engineering teams to develop detailed designs and govern solution implementation.

• Technology Standards & Documentation
  Create and maintain architecture standards, patterns, and fit-for-purpose documentation.

• Enterprise Alignment
  Ensure product technology aligns with enterprise blueprints, principles, and incorporates lessons learned.

• Roadmap Development
  Shape and support global technology roadmaps and backlogs, recommending best-fit technologies.

• Lifecycle Management
  Understand the full technology lifecycle, identifying risks, opportunities, and impacts.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  Work with delivery, product, UX/UI, and engineering teams to translate business needs into technical decisions.

• Technical Leadership
  Provide direction, manage technical debt, and evaluate new tools and methodologies.

• Architecture Governance
  Own high-level architecture approvals, govern detailed design, and ensure compliance with global governance.

• Community Engagement & Development
  Actively contribute to the architecture community, mentor others, and pursue continuous professional development.

Essential skills

• Strong experience in solution or product architecture, with a focus on creating scalable, sustainable, and innovative solutions. 

• Deep understanding of technology lifecycle management and product roadmaps. 

• Ability to align product architecture with Specsavers' requirements, balancing short-term priorities with long-term needs. 

• Proven ability to navigate and collaborate effectively within a matrix organisation, working across global and regional teams. 

• Good understanding of product management, agile principles and development methodologies and capability of supporting agile teams by providing advice and guidance on opportunities, impact, and risks, taking account of technical and architectural debt. 

• Experience delivering presentations to non-technical audiences. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective engagement with stakeholders at all levels. 

• Analytical mindset to assess technology choices and their impacts on the lifecycle of Specsavers’ products. 

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and embrace change. 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities. 

• Highly self-motivated and capable of working with minimal support. 

• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to address challenges creatively and effectively in a practical and pragmatic way. 

Nice to have

• TOGAF or equivalent qualification 
• Azure Solutions Architect or equivalent qualification 
•  Familiarity with Canadian digital health standards, patient data interchange protocols (HL7, FIPPA FHIR), and regulatory compliance (PIPEDA and PHIPA) 

• Understanding of Canadian regulatory requirements in the medical and optometry sectors 

Our Fellow ‘Speccies’ Enjoy

• Generous vacation allotment and 1 paid volunteer day
• 1 extra paid day off around your birthday and an eyecare voucher every year
• RRSP matching
• Quarterly performance bonus
• Healthcare spending account
• Health and dental benefits effective on your first day
• Team and company social events

Behaviours We Value

• Collaborative: We work together as one Specsavers to deliver our purpose
• Curious: We question, explore, and seek out diverse perspectives to develop our knowledge and understanding
• Courageous: We challenge the status quo, we experiment with good ideas, and we are brave, bold, and fast in our decision making
• Compassionate: We care, support, and help each other
• Commercial: We treat money wisely and make decisions that are good for our customers, our partners, our people, and good for the long term

We hope that in applying with us, you value these things as well!

Our Hybrid Work Model

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in office, three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Specsavers, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that a diverse team enriches our work environment and enables us to achieve our goals. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. If you believe you can contribute to our mission and vision, we welcome your application, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We value the unique skills and perspectives each individual brings to our team.

Accessibility and Accommodations

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know. We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-KS1