CoE Software Lead Architect

CoE Software Lead Architect at Vanderlande

About Vanderlande

Vanderlande is a global leader in logistics automation, empowering the world’s biggest retailers, airports and e-commerce giants. With more than 9,000 employees worldwide, we drive innovation across three domains:

• Airports: delivering market-leading baggage handling systems and passenger solutions, active in more than 600 airports worldwide
• Warehouse: supporting major global e-commerce players and retailers in food, fashion, and general merchandise by dispatching billions of products daily
• Distribution: powering the logistics behind the world’s biggest retailers, sorting over 52 million parcels every day through advanced automation solutions

Working at Vanderlande offers a unique opportunity to make a global impact, collaborating with world-leading retailers, airports, and e-commerce giants to drive innovation in logistics automation. As part of an innovative environment, you will be at the forefront of cutting-edge automation technology, helping to shape the future of supply chain solutions. Additionally, you will be part of a collaborative culture, working alongside a passionate and dynamic team dedicated to driving excellence and transforming the logistics industry.

Your Position

The Technology BU is a global organization with discipline-based governance and priority setting, supported by Agile ways of working. It is organized across the three domains, with each housing equipment, software, and architecture & integration engineers, ensuring cohesive development. This approach will offer our customers shorter lead times, as well as more cost-effective and reliable solutions. Next to the three domains there will be an Innovation and Enabling Technology department, which will focus on driving adjacent and disruptive innovation, advancing digital transformation, and ensuring that Vanderlande remains at the forefront of logistics automation technology.

As a CoE SW Lead Architect, you will be responsible for capability building and continuous improvement in the software development domain within BU Tech. These capabilities are strategic for the future of Vanderlande to become a software-driven, platform-based solution provider. In close co-operation with business stakeholders, subject-matter experts, and the wider communities of practice, you will make sure that the strategic capabilities in your scope remain fit for future and in line with the strategic direction of the company. This role requires a strategic mindset, technical expertise, and influencing skills to drive capability transformations while ensuring scalability, security, and performance across global logistics platforms.

Your Department

The CoE & Techplatform organisation will report into the department of Innovation and Enabling Technology. This department is responsible for leading the research, development, and implementation of next-generation automation technologies, software solutions, and enabling systems that support all Vanderlande domains. This department focuses on driving adjacent and disruptive innovation, advancing digital transformation, and ensuring that Vanderlande remains at the forefront of logistics automation technology. It also oversees technology scouting, AI and IoT integration, and the development of scalable platforms that enhance system intelligence, operational efficiency, and automation capabilities across Vanderlande’s global portfolio.

The CoE & TechPlatform department consists of experts in the field of Equipment, Software Development, and Solution and Integration. Within this team of experts, we will drive the capability, processes and tools which will standardize the development methodology, and assure we work with the highest standards and capability to ensure scalability, security, and performance of our solution platforms.

Your Responsibilities

• Strengthen the Center of Excellence - Innovation and Enabling Technologies focusing on the platform and software development within Vanderlande to build robust, high-performance solutions.
• Collaboratively mature the software development capabilities in line with the strategic needs and ambitions of the company.
• Govern, manage, and implement an aligned set of standards and best practices including frameworks, methods, processes, and tools that can be applied across domains for the software capabilities.
• Establish clear success metrics to measure the maturity of the software development practices across domains and continuously improve and adapt these capabilities accordingly in our development streams.
• Jointly define software lifecycle standards, from development to deployment, ensuring continuous improvement whilst deploying best practices for DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and cloud deployment in CoE setup.
• Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends to drive continuous improvement and innovation in the field of software development, e.g. AI developments for productivity gains.
• Encourage and facilitate communities of practice for knowledge sharing and development of the software development capabilities and topics of interest.
• Push forward software craftmanship topics of test automation, coding standards, security, privacy and culture of continuous improvement.
• Inspire and engage software engineers using hackathons, code kata, tech days and deep dives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of new methodologies and technologies.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to software engineers and architects.
• Lead large-scale digital transformation initiatives, enabling Vanderlande to stay ahead of technological advancements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and departments to translate business requirements into scalable (software) solutions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and industry standards, including cybersecurity and data privacy requirements.
• Partner with strategic vision and mission (leadership) to identify and tackle strategic questions, driving innovation within the organization.

What do we ask from you?

• Extensive experience in software development and architecture, with a minimum of 10+ years in the field.
• Collaborate across the Distribution, Airports and Warehousing domain to formulate joint vision for Software COE.
• At least 5 years in a senior architectural role, preferably within a Center of Excellence or similar innovation-focused environment.
• Proven track record in establishing and leading global innovation labs, aimed at strategic solutions delivery, as well as future proof technology advancements.
• Strong technical expertise in software development practices and methodologies.
• Proven track record of designing and developing scalable, secure software systems.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and trends.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the team.
• Experience in evaluating and recommending technology choices to ensure scalability, security, and alignment with business goals.
• Preferred to have hands-on experience with modern software development tools, frameworks, and cloud platforms.
• Excellent stakeholder, leadership management and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value.
• Strong background in managing global engineering teams and distributed development environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AWS, Azure, or other cloud platforms.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and tools.
• Certification in ITIL, PMP, or similar frameworks.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor a team of software engineers and architects.
• Experience in managing complex technical projects and driving innovation.

What we offer

In this challenging and responsible position, you will have the chance to make a significant contribution to industry-leading projects and be connected to our dedicated people and customers. We offer a position in an informal, international and professional working environment with a lot of scope for personal development. By joining our profitable and growing company you will be able to reach your goals and focus on your future.

This position offers a competitive salary range of € 6281 to € 8525 gross per month (excluding 8% holiday allowance). Through exceeding performance expectations, you even have the possibility to grow outside this scale.

On top of your fixed salary you’ll receive the following secondary benefits:

• 40 vacation days (20 statutory days and a flexible budget worth 20 days).
• Flexible working hours.
• Leased car (electric) or in lieu compensation.
• A hybrid workplace (40% working from home and 60% in the office).
• A Health & Wellbeing budget worth €300 per calendar year.
• Commuting allowance, including full reimbursement of travel by public transport.
• Working from home allowance.
• Collective pension scheme and discount on additional health insurance.
• On-site company health centres with a gym, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• Vanderlande Academy and training facilities to boost your skills.
• A variety in Vanderlande Network communities and initiatives.
• And a great company restaurant and coffee bar with barista.

Diversity & Inclusion

Vanderlande is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regards to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.