IT Systems Architect

About Us

KnitWell Group, a specialty retail operating company, comprises some of the most iconic brands in America – Ann Taylor, Chico's, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, White House Black Market. Individually, our brands are unique and strong. Together, we are powerful.

Our common thread is our commitment to create exceptional products, provide memorable experiences, and achieve superior results. Our associates are innovators who thrive through collaboration and are dedicated to excellence. At the heart of it all are the customers we serve. We are dedicated to creating fashion that not only looks good but also makes our customers feel good.

IT Systems Architect

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced IT Systems Architect to play a critical role in transforming and scaling our technology platform across our eight distinctive brands. This position will be instrumental in architecting unified yet flexible architecture that honor each brand's unique identity while leveraging shared infrastructure and capabilities to drive operational excellence and customer experience innovation.

As a key member of our technology architecture team, you will architect platforms & systems that serve millions of customers across multiple touchpoints—physical stores, e-commerce, mobile apps, and emerging channels. You'll work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where your expertise will directly impact the growth trajectory of America's most beloved women's fashion brands.

The impact you can have

• Lead architecture governance, design reviews, and technical standards across the organization, Evaluate and recommend platforms, technologies, and vendor partnerships
• Develop and maintain technology roadmaps that align with business strategy and industry best practices
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that enhance operational efficiency and competitive advantage
• Create architectural standards, guidelines, and frameworks for system development and integration
• Develop architectural frameworks that balance centralized efficiency with decentralized brand autonomy, allowing each brand (Ann Taylor, Chico's, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, White House Black Market, Haven Well Within) to maintain its unique identity and customer relationship
• Design efficient architecture standards and best practices that can operate independently per brand or leverage cross-brand opportunities
• Develop API-first, microservices-based architectures that enable agility and scalability, Implement disaster recovery, business continuity, and high-availability architectures
• Partner with fellow architects across security, database, networking and cloud/infra cross functional work streams, brand leaders, and executive team on technology roadmap and strategic initiatives
• Lead proof-of-concept initiatives to validate architectural decisions

You’ll bring to the role

• Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience in IT Systems architecture and implementation
• Education & Certifications: bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related technical field
• MANDATORY: Multi-brand systems architecture — proven track record designing and implementing technical solutions & systems across multiple brands, business units within a single organization
• Women's specialty apparel retail experience strongly preferred — understanding of women's fashion retail dynamics, sizing complexities, seasonal merchandising, and customer engagement strategies
• Full lifecycle implementation experience with at least 2-3 major enterprise platforms. Proven success delivering large-scale, mission-critical systems architecture and solutions serving millions of customers
• Experience with high-transaction-volume retail environments (peak traffic handling, seasonal demand)
• Technical Systems architecture including expertise in platforms, multi-brand architecture, and cloud platforms
• Leadership & Collaboration skills: Collaborative mindset with ability to work across brands, functions, and geographies, Strategic thinking balanced with hands-on technical problem-solving, Comfortable working in fast-paced, agile environments with evolving priorities and Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence technical and business stakeholders

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.
• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities. *
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K). *
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time off – paid time off & holidays.

*Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills.

Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.

This position works in a hybrid model, with required days worked in the KnitWell Group office location in Etna, OH (SE Columbus/Pataskala suburb) as defined by business needs.

Applicants to this position must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position.

Location:

Ascena Corp ETNA-ascena-Pataskala, OH 43062

Position Type

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact myHRSupport@knitwellgroup.com. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.