Senior Solutions Architect

PURPOSE OF DEPARTMENT

The purpose of the Solution Architecture team is to support sales and service delivery with all technical advice and assistance they may need to process orders, win business and implement products and services sold.

PURPOSE OF ROLE

Provide technical assistance and guidance during the sales process by identifying customer requirements, consulting with technical colleagues about capabilities, and supporting new business salespeople, account managers and partners on proposal activities.

Principal Accountabilities:

1. Attend where and support salespeople in client meetings and help to assess the customers’ specific requirements, investigating the underlying causes to identify short and long-term solutions.
2. Help expand an opportunity by understanding and questioning the client on their existing and future application landscape
3. Understand how SME UK organisations application landscape can be mapped to Star’s product portfolio
4. Provide technical solutions in a professional manner and to agreed timeframes.
5. Write technical proposals to address customer requirements, including hardware, software and networking components, service planning and definition, diagrams and pricing suggestions as appropriate.
6. Create and deliver technical presentations internally and externally and internal/partner training (e.g. on new products) carrying self with confidence in front of a group.
7. Accurately maintain data entries in the relevant fields of the appropriate business systems i.e. E-Business.
8. Create and maintain internal design configuration documentation including network diagrams with technical explanations.
9. Provide technical support to Marketing to ensure the quality and accuracy of product information being passed to sales.
10. Is aware of internal & external business issues including profitability issues and best practice in own discipline, and applies them to own role.
11. Builds productive relationships internally and externally, fostering teamwork by keeping colleagues updated on activities and discouraging ‘we versus they’ thinking.
12. Undertakes special projects as required by management.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Ensure bid management process is followed
• Maintenance of own documentation and business systems’ data entries
• Performance against personal objectives including special projects

Profile Of Job Holder:

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of building and configuring server hardware, SAN’s, firewalls, routers, server operating systems and applications
• Understanding and or an appreciation of how software is developed, maintained and deployed
• Self motivated to keep up-to-date with technology trends through events, conferences, online feeds and publications
• A flexible and pro-active approach is key to this post.
• Able to communicate and present in a non-technical and technical way is crucial
• You must have excellent written and verbal skills.
• Degree level or equivalent, in an IT related subject.
• Experience in a technical support or engineering-related role
• In-depth technical understanding of the technologies behind Star’s products.
• Expert understanding of the following technologies:
  o Windows and Linux server families
  o VMware and Hyper-V
  o IIS/Apache
  o Exchange
  o SQL server, MySQL and Oracle
  o Connectivity (LL, Ethernet, xDSL, ISDN, Analogue), firewalls, TCPIP.
  • Self-motivated problem solver.
  • Work on own initiative and under pressure with a strong ability to prioritise.

Desirable

• Thought leadership
• Public speaking
• Experience of creating and recommending technical solutions including products akin to those in Star’s portfolio.
• Experience of working within a sales environment.
• Technical accreditations or part accreditations e.g. CSIMP, MCSE, CCNA, CCNP.
• Experience of writing technical documentation.
• Experience of creating & delivering training.