Solutions Architect

The Solution Architects at Zones play an extremely crucial role in converting opportunities brought by the sales teams into world class solution proposals that differentiates Zones from its competition. There is only one simple metric for success - Winning. Solution Architects Win by out-solutioning, out-thinking and out-smarting competition and creating a wow factor for our clients.

**Responsibilities**:
The Solution Architects in Zones’ Global Solution and Delivery Center, India will interact with the in-country Sales and Solution Architects in various countries as well as with clients to carry out the following responsibilities
- Qualify incoming opportunities based on capabilities, risk, timelines
- Understand all dimensions of scope of the opportunity in its minutest detail - hardware, software, services, geography, time
- Clearly identify variables that impact the solution and elicit all required clarifications from the client
- Participate in client interaction thru the lifecycle of the opportunity - bidder’s conference, Q&A sessions, oral presentations
- Create the hardware and software architecture for the solution. Estimate effort, skills and timeline required for implementation
- Convert hardware and software bill of material and effort estimate into a competitive commercial proposal
- Work with the proposal team to ensure that the solution that has been architected and priced is articulated in a compelling manner in the appropriate submission / presentation format
- Engage directly and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to positively influence the solutioning strategy and deliver market competitive winning proposals that are world class in terms of quality
- Participate remotely or in-person in solution presentations / walk throughs with clients
- Develop / improve processes, tools, metrics that enhance the quality, speed and productivity of the solutioning processes

**Required Skills and credentials**:

- Experience in one or more of the following solution environments:

- Data Center & Cloud: Compute, Storage, Virtualization, Backup, BCDR, Cloud Analytics, Containerization, DevOps
- Network Optimization: LAN, WAN, SD-WAN
- Security: Security Assessment, End Point Security, Authentication and Data Security
- Workplace Modernization: M365, MDM, Collaboration, Store and Branch Modernization
- Eye for detail and competitive intelligence in ensuring that effort estimation, pricing, scope, assumptions strike the right balance between ability to win it as well as ability to deliver it
- Ability to create competitive proposals that reflect thought leadership and alternate creative options (when required)
- Strong presentation, public-speaking and written articulation skills

**Required Experience**:

- 10+ years of professional experience in information technology pre-sales and/or delivery with leading Technology Consulting firms
- Experience should span Hardware, Software, and Services - Professional Services and Managed Services ranging from small quick turnaround proposals to those that can span a few hundred million dollars
- Technology experience should cover the four Solution Environments that are the focus for Zones - Data Center and Cloud Transformation, Network Optimization, Workplace Modernization and Security Fortification
- Ability to articulate the solution in a compelling manner in written responses, solution presentations and when necessary presenting the solution in an oral presentation to the client
- Deep understanding of cost and price benchmarks for products and services
- Ability to price proposals competitively thru global delivery coupled with a thorough understanding of cost to win and price to win benchmarks
- Strong knowledge of the product vendors and services providers in the IT space as well as strong knowledge of the competitive landscape.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills
- Experience working in a globally distributed team
- #LI-Hybrid

As a rapidly growing global provider of IT solutions, we’ve expanded from Seattle to Sydney, Dallas to New Delhi and beyond - with reach in over 80 countries around the world. Today’s top brands count on Zones and our world-class partners - Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Dell, Lenovo, and more - to transform their enterprises. Headquartered in New Delhi and backed by the Zones Global Team, Zones India offers customized IT solutions and professional services to multinational organizations conducting business in the country.

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At Zones, work is more than a job - it's an exciting career immersed in an inventive, collaborative culture. If you’re interested in working on the cutting edge of IT innovation, sales, engineering, operations, administration, and more, Zones is the place for you