Solution Architect - Data Center Solutions
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Toronto
Experience: 10+ years
Job Description
Solution Architects at FlexITy provide business appropriate technology solutions to clients in a pre-sales capacity working with the FlexITy Sales team. This position involves the development and positioning of infrastructure solutions for FlexITy clients, focusing on delivering solutions that provide the customer with true business value.
Areas of expertise required for this position include Data Centre technologies and operations focusing on server virtualization and platforms, systems management, networked storage, storage resource management, data protection and archiving as well as challenges facing core infrastructure applications including databases, email, file share and 3 tier computing for application designs. In addition, the position requires strong written and verbal skills with an ability to create professional written proposals, statements of work and effective presentations on solutions to a wide range of audiences that are both technically and business focused.
Requirements:
- Previous Pre-Sales experience from either a vendor or VAR perspective is highly desirable and preferred.
- Experience in positioning against competitor offerings in a consultative manner Vendor Certifications are highly desirable and preferred – ability to obtain and maintain
- Ability to multi-task between multiple clients, opportunities and deliverables in a fast paced environment
- Provide creative thinking and positioning
- Have passion and drive in daily activities
- Team player in sharing of ideas with an ability to work without supervision
- Post-secondary education
- 10+ years of experience in systems and storage environments including – Unix (Solaris, AIX & HP-UX), Windows, VMware. Linux, Exchange, Notes, Oracle, SQL and DB2 as well as IBM, HP, SUN, EMC, HDS, NetApp, Symantec, Microsoft, Oracle and other systems and storage technologies.
- Understanding of operational issues and concerns in Data Centre environments in Finance, Telco/Service Provider, Healthcare, Retail and/or Manufacturing industries for large and enterprise organizations (1000+ users)
Experience:
- Architecture skills in at least one area of specialization – systems and/or storage.
- In-depth knowledge and strong operating experience in at least several of the following solution areas: Server Virtualization, HA Clustering, Systems Design, Unix/Windows/Linux, Networked Storage, Data Protection, Data Archiving, Storage Virtualization or Systems Management.
- In-depth industry knowledge in the appropriate market segment(s).
- Knowledge of relevant solutions sets, product line specifications, performance criteria and applications.
- Competitive knowledge (in their area of specialization) including solution, technology and product offerings.
- Understanding and conversant about company, competitors, technologies, solutions, product strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Responsibilities:
- Provide systems/server and/or storage solution/technology/product consulting, technical and sales support for major account opportunities including ILM storage stategies, Server consolidation/virtualization strategies, DR planning, ITIL process assessments and tool mapping, data migration planning and security audits etc.
- Provide effective written and verbal communications to clients, sales, partners, other team members and management.
- Understand business requirements for customer base and be able to translate them into technical requirements.
- Understand and Articulate Vendor's Architectures and Services.
- Facilitate better communications and understanding of customer requirements between customers, corporate and the field.
- Create, present and document technical solutions.
- Perform in-depth and high-level technical presentations for customers, partners and prospects.
- Drive identified major account opportunities (i.e. technical consulting, upper level management presentations, and technology solutions) while allowing local account team to maintain long-term ownership.
- Provide consultative support in assigned major account opportunities.
- Major account focus may require increased travel responsibilities.
- Actively participate as a specialist on assigned Virtual Team.
- Obtain and maintain vendor certifications
- Create clear Statements of Work and size Levels of Effort with proper approvals, incorporating changes and obtaining client signatures.
Skills:
- Excellent written and verbal communication, listening, negotiation and presentation skills.
- Ability to work effectively, add value as a team member and assume a leadership role for the team.
- Demonstrated technical knowledge and consultative skills.
- Ability to train and disseminate information within an Area or Operation.
- Technical knowledge and consultative skills in delivering assessments.
- Ability to understand complex technical and selling situations with the ability to solve the problem or solicit the required resources.
