Principal Solution Architect

Description

At CDW, we make it happen, together. Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It's why we're coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we're headed. We're proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW.

Job Summary

The Principal Solution Architect (PSA) is a field-based technical pre-sales role that focuses on developing comprehensive IBM Software Solutions for CDW customers. This role involves providing consultative guidance, supporting partner product sales, scoping service offerings, and fostering strategic relationships to drive business growth. In this role you will be working with customers, delivery, and internal sales teams to develop and maintain strategic relationships and be a trusted advisor to grow our IBM business.

What you will do

• Develop appropriate assessment and service solutions for CDW customers, including architecture, optimizations, technology health checks, deployment services, and advisory services.
• Collaborate with customers, delivery teams, and internal sales to offer consultative guidance, plan sales strategy, and author statements of work (SOWs).
• Analyze technical and competitive considerations, defining actions to meet customer expectations in the sales cycle by uncovering customer long-term goals and requirements and crafting solutions that build towards the desired end goals.
• Maintain strategic relationships with Customers, Internal Sales & Delivery management, acting as a trusted advisor to drive business growth.
• Maintain relationships with Key strategic partners by maintaining at least 5 partner technical certifications.
• Grow influence in your assigned territory by high levels of engagement with vendors/partners/customers/Sales as a strategic advisor and being seen by teammates as an expert in the field.
• Act as a subject matter expert in multiple families of products and solutions, providing regular contributions to CDW marketing approved online activities, such as LinkedIn, blog posts, online magazine, etc.
• Drive outreach initiatives, technical enablement projects, coaching, and mentoring for other SAs, Solution Executives, and Field Sellers.
• Mentoring and coaching of solution architects around best practices to engage with coworkers and customers.

What we expect of you

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of eight years in technical, pre-sales, or post-sale delivery role.
• Motivated, self-starting, and able to independently perform high quality work with minimal guidance.
• Understand industry-specific challenges, regulations, and best practices.
• Deep understanding of the architecture, products, technologies, and solutions offered by the company.

Areas of Expertise specific to this role include, but not limited to:

• IBM Automation Software Portfolio (HashiCorp, Verify, Instana, Turbonomic, Appito Cloudability, Maximo Application Suite)
• IBM Data/AI Software Portfolio (watsonx Code Assistant, watsonx Orchestrate, , watsonx.governance, , Guardium Data Security Center)
• Familiarity with cloud-native platforms (AWS, Azure, IBM Cloud, Google Cloud Platform), and architectural practices like high-availability and recovery strategy.
• Hyper Converge Infrastructure (HCI)
• Datacenter Infrastructure
• Datacenter Networking
• IBM Power Systems and OS (AIX, IBM i, Linux)
• IBM Mainframe
• Enterprise Networking (Campus)
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including sales and delivery, is crucial in this role.
• A PSA should be able to work effectively in a team, lead technical discussions, and influence decision-making.
• They may also provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members.

Customer-focused approach:

• A PSA must have a customer-centric mindset and be able to understand and articulate customer needs effectively.
• They should possess excellent communication and presentation skills to engage with customers, gather requirements, and explain technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Building relationships, understanding customer pain points, and providing tailored solutions are key aspects of this role.

Solution design and problem-solving skills:

• The candidate should have the ability to design and communicate comprehensive solutions that address customer requirements, business challenges, and build consensus around the final solution.
• They should be skilled in analyzing complex problems, identifying appropriate solutions, and translating technical concepts into understandable terms for customers.
• Strong problem-solving skills are crucial for identifying and resolving technical issues or gaps in proposed solutions.

• Willingness to travel up to 25% or as needed.

• Pay range: $85,000 - $144,000.00, depending on experience and skill set

• Annual bonus target of $35,000 subject to terms and conditions of plan
• Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-
• Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials

We make technology work so people can do great things.

CDW is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW helps its customers to navigate an increasingly complex IT market and maximize return on their technology investments. Together, we unite. Together, we win. Together, we thrive.

CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.