Principal Architect

NetApp, Inc.; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology solutions company is seeking a Principal Architect based in Dubai. In this role, you will drive customer engagement and strategy within the EMEA region, focusing on areas like Data Infrastructure Modernization and Cloud Transformation. Candidates should have over 12 years of IT project experience, sales acumen, and expertise in artificial intelligence. The position offers a hybrid working environment with comprehensive benefits, allowing you to combine innovation with your passion for customer engagement.

Benefits

Paid volunteer time off

Comprehensive medical and wellness plans

Educational assistance and discounts

Financial savings programs

Qualifications

• Over 12 years of experience in leading IT projects focused on Cloud and Infrastructure.
• 2+ years of sales experience or an influential role as a decision maker.
• Proven expertise in AI and modern Data Infrastructures.

Responsibilities

• Lead conversations with customers and prospects to establish NetApp's vision.
• Develop relationships with C-level executives to secure new business.
• Guide initial application and technology architecture concepts for clients.

Skills

Information Technology project leadership

Sales experience

DevOps

Customer engagement

Artificial Intelligence expertise

Education

Degree in Computer Science

Degree in Computer/Software Engineering

Degree in Management Information Systems

Tools

Cloud solutions

Storage architectures

Infrastructure management

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a dynamic Principal Architect based in the Middle East to join our EMEA team, as a thought leader and advisor for NetApp’s strategy, technology focus areas, and customer imperatives – both within NetApp and across our partner and customer ecosystems.

Principal Architects are experts at positioning NetApp’s Intelligent Data Infrastructure business technology strategy into each of the identified customer-driven imperatives where our portfolio is differentiated and solves their challenges with high residual value. They are focused on Data Infrastructure Modernization, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Transformation, and Cyber Resiliency.

In this role, you will act as the tip of the spear, focused on establishing NetApp’s relevance with new buying centers, establishing NetApp’s right to a seat at the table, and opening the door to NetApp sellers to cultivate the deal through to close. You will also work directly with the Product business unit and the rest of the field sales to develop best practices, and blueprints and motivate and justify product enhancements.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in sales, pre-sales, customer engagement, and product innovation, with experitse to drive cross-functional initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead initial conversation with customers & prospects at EBCs, Sales Meetings, QBRs, and more as required to establish NetApp’s vision and relevance in each of the target workload/solution pillars via relatable customer value and mapped to their imperatives, with account teams.
• Develop and maintain relationships with C-suite executives and decision‑makers to expand our footprint and secure new business.
• Operates early in the sales cycle, and works closely with customer domain architects, executives, and business stakeholders to develop initial application & technology architecture concepts to guide investments.
• Develops the technical win plan for each opportunity that they generate, setting out a clear and recommended path for the account team to follow to develop the deal through to close. Applies local area/region/district knowledge to customize target workload sales approaches and accelerates local adoption of time‑sensitive corporate‑identified sales strategies aligned with customer imperatives.
• Create solution strategies, roadmaps, and reference architectures focused on long‑term business goals. Collaborates with NetApp account or service managers early in the sales cycle on the implications of respective architectures on the broader customer environment.
• Works at the area, region, or district level (as appropriate) to capture Win/Loss information related to each of the four customer imperatives to identify key learnings for continuous improvement.
• Consolidates Product Feature Enhancement requests aligned with customer imperatives into Solutions Management.

Job Requirements

• Minimum 12+ years leading or developing Information Technology projects with a concentration on Application, Cloud, Infrastructure or Storage Architectures.
• 2+ years of sales experience, or experience as the primary decision maker as a customer for infrastructure and/or cloud solutions.
• Degree in Computer Science, Computer/Software Eng., or MIS preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrable expertise in Artificial Intelligence and one or more of the following: Modern Data Infrastructures, Cyber Resiliency, Public cloud at hyperscale or regional government level.
• 5+ years of DevOps, systems integration and/or implementation experience.
• Experience in a broad range of Infrastructure (Storage, Compute and Network) as well as cloud.

At NetApp, we embrace a hybrid working environment designed to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture for all employees. This means that most roles will have some level of in‑office and/or in‑person expectations, which will be shared during the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

NetApp is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information, pregnancy, and any protected classification.

Why NetApp?

We are all about helping customers turn challenges into business opportunity. It starts with bringing new thinking to age‑old problems, like how to use data most effectively to run better – but also to innovate. We tailor our approach to the customer’s unique needs with a combination of fresh thinking and proven approaches.

We enable a healthy work‑life balance. Our volunteer time off program is best in class, offering employees 40 hours of paid time per year to volunteer with their favourite organisations. We provide comprehensive medical, dental, wellness, and vision plans for you and your family. We offer educational assistance, legal services, and access to discounts. Finally, we provide financial savings programmes to help you plan for your future.

If you want to help us build knowledge and solve big problems, let’s talk.