Solutions Architect

6-12+ Month Contract Position

Location - Remote w/25% travel

Our client is looking to add a Solution Architect to their team that works alongside and supports the Sales, Consulting, Operations and Service Management organizations to service largest and most strategic clients. They work with the clients’ business and technical teams to create reference architecture frameworks and templates. They lead the effort to execute multi-year transformation initiatives in the clients’ environments. SAs also help the account teams identify, pursue, and close strategic business development opportunities while driving add-on business within existing accounts. As part of this, SAs must be effective in fostering executive level relationships with an emphasis on client satisfaction. Throughout the engagement process, from discovery to solution implementation, an SA must work with and often lead.

Responsibilities:

• Inform client about emerging technologies pertinent to their infrastructure needs
• Interpret business opportunities, changes, and challenges within our clients’ environments and work across organizational boundaries to drive short and long-term technology roadmaps which will create value for their clients
• Enable alignment of business objectives with IT roadmaps using analysis of the technology landscape to identify gaps, potential impact, technical debt, etc. and recommend solutions to support business objectives (cost optimization, improved operations, sustainability, etc.)
• Advocate for - and drive adoption of – standard reference architectures, good technology design patterns, and solution principles that align with the client’s business objectives.
• Work closely with client IT staff and their business leaders to promote end-to-end solutions using design patterns for mainframe, open systems, and cloud, across vendors and providers such as AWS/Azure/GCP, IBM, Dell, etc.
• Collaborate with the Sales and Consulting organizations to create Pursuit, Solution, and Sales strategies for existing clients
• Conduct discovery and assessment workshops (often in collaboration with resources from consulting, operations, and product teams) to help drive further penetration of the client account
• Develop and document solutions that meet client's (technical and business) requirements and allow them to adapt to changing industry needs with a focus on transformation and re-platform efforts
• Conduct solution development sessions and present technical solutions and business cases to a wide variety of audience
• Gain executive buy in for complex solutions by engaging in executive and senior-level technology discussions
• Gain clients' confidence as a trusted advisor by offering consultation and recommendations drawn from insights, technology know-how, and past experiences
• Align and partner with Product Management to help drive appropriate product enhancements and changes to technology roadmap
• Aid in driving stability and innovation within the client's current and future state and create solutions based on client requirements and available product offerings

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or computer sciences
• Major Industry accreditations / certifications
• 15+ years of experience as an architect or equivalent in the hosting and network space (preferably with a service provider)
• Proven experience in managing projects through the entire project lifecycle. This includes managing multi-phase/multi-dimensional/multi-resource projects to conclusion while maintaining high client satisfaction
• Understanding of (and experience with) public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and hybrid solutions preferred
• Well versed in the hosting technology landscape including compute, storage, backup, network, security, DR, DevOps, and IT governance including ITSM, TOGAF 9, ITIL 4, etc.
• Good understanding of the sales process for large and complex opportunities including ITO
• Resourceful and confident in Crisis and Expectation management and confident under pressure
• Has experience in technical documentation to capture solution components in a timely manner while ensuring acceptable level of detail, data integrity, and accountability
• Ability to share knowledge and expertise among various organizations within the company and to facilitate teamwork among those organizations to better serve our clients
• Ability to work in a team environment and demonstrate strong problem-solving skills
• Proficient with common office applications such as MS Outlook, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Visio
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills (oral, written and presentation)

The anticipated hourly rate range for this position is ($80/hr). Actual hourly rate will be based on a variety of factors including relevant experience, knowledge, skills and other factors permitted by law. A range of medical, dental, retirement and/or other benefits are available after a waiting period.