Solution Architect (Network Infrastructure)

About the role

Manage opportunities and assist sales teams in the preparation, delivery, presentation and negotiation of multi-site rollout and managed services proposals, contracts and pricing.

Responsibilities

• Respond to RFPs, RFQs and proactive bids while working closely with all teams to develop the win strategy, competitor evaluation and creating differentiated value propositions.
• Develop a deep understanding of Blackbox services capabilities.
• Lead the design and partner with delivery to develop execution strategy for multi-site rollout services and managed services, ensuring seamless deployment and standardized configurations across diverse geographic locations.
• Lead collaboration with SMEs from other pre-sales engineering groups to provide technical input where needed.
• Engineer deployment solutions for network refresh projects, working closely with clients to modernize legacy infrastructure, while minimizing downtime and business disruption.
• Drive infrastructure refresh initiatives, including server, storage, and network hardware upgrades, aligned with evolving business and technology requirements.
• Define support models and resource planning for Smart Hands services, enabling on-site technical assistance across various customer environments.
• Design scalable and flexible frameworks for on-demand support, including SLA-based engagements to handle ad-hoc technical requirements across IT infrastructure domains.
• Collaborate with Structured Cabling SMEs to engineer solutions that are compliant with standards and optimal network performance.
• Coordinate and deliver detailed Wi-Fi site surveys, including predictive and physical surveys, to ensure optimal coverage, capacity, and performance for enterprise wireless networks.
• Plan and manage deployment solutions for Wireless Access Point replacement and refresh projects, ensuring minimal user impact and improved wireless experience across all business-critical areas.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science and Engineering or equivalent role relevant experience.
• 4+ years in a customer/client facing technical role (Pre/Post Sales, Sales Engineering, Consulting, Solutions Architecture, Service Delivery, etc.) with a strong knowledge of various network architectures, virtualization, Cloud, Unified Communications and mobility solutions.
• 4+ years of pre-sale experience developing multi-site rollout solutions and/or managed services solutions.
• Extensive consulting experience, providing large, global customers with strategic and tactical planning for technology solutions.
• Demonstrated and verifiable track record of prior successful customer engagements (examples of solution designs, statements of work and/or technical project plans are required).
• Experience with enterprise OEMs with a specific emphasis on Cisco.

Skills

• Strong business acumen and understanding of clients' IT related business goals and challenges to ensure proper translation of the client's needs into solutions.
• Experience of solutioning on deals involving multi-site rollouts, managed services, network refresh projects, Smart Hands services, on-demand support, structured cabling projects (both copper and fiber), Wi-Fi site surveys and Access Point (AP) replacement and refresh projects.
• Understanding various managed services pricing models such as per port, resource based, ticket based, onsite, remote or hybrid.
• Strong understanding of Pre-sales/Solutions process and activities with hands-on experience, good bid/project management skills, ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously.
• Ability to develop and deliver technical presentations with customers and tailor content to audience as appropriate.
• Display sustained energy and determination to meet challenging deliverables within stringent timelines.
• Ability to work independently with diverse & global teams and interact confidently with customers and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Fluent English written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office skillset with specific emphasis on Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Certifications

• ITSM training and certifications (ITIL, COBIT, etc.) is a plus.
• Industry certifications on technology partners, processes in one or more of the following preferred: ITIL

Key Technologies

• Structured Cabling
• Wireless Networking
• Enterprise Networking
• Unified Communications