Network Customer Solutions Architect

Softchoice; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 116,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading IT solutions provider in Ottawa seeks an experienced Network Customer Solutions Architect to design and develop network solutions for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. The successful candidate will have over 7 years of experience with Cisco technologies, strong problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills. This role offers a competitive salary range of $116,000 to $155,000 along with comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

Competitive benefits starting on day one

Flexibility in workdays

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience with Cisco technologies in public sector.
• Proven track record of designing and implementing network solutions.
• Experience aligning mandates with technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design network solutions tailored to meet DND/CAF mission requirements.
• Collaborate with key government personnel for their technical needs.
• Participate in assessments of existing network infrastructures.

Skills

Cisco technologies

Network design

Problem-solving

Strong communication

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Bilingualism (English and French)

Education

Relevant Cisco certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP, CCIE)

Tools

Cisco networking

Job description

Network Customer Solutions Architect- DND

Why you’ll love Softchoice: We are a software-focused IT solutions and services provider that equips organizations to be agile and innovative, and for their people to be engaged, connected, and creative at work. That means moving them to the cloud, helping them build the workplace of tomorrow, and enabling them to make smarter decisions about their technology. By doing these things we help them create success for their customers and their people.

We stand proudly for our people and support their success through career development and advancement. We are recognized and respected for our culture of inclusion and belonging, continuously striving to do what’s good for our people and communities.

The impact you will have:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Network Customer Solution Architect to join our high-performance team that has a specific focus on National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing network solutions tailored to meet DND/CAF requirements. You will collaborate with DND personnel and CAF service members to understand their operational needs and technical requirements, creating detailed technical proposals and solution blueprints. Additionally, you will help to define the services required for architecting and deploying network solutions, providing technical leadership and guidance during the sales cycle including transition of solution design and knowledge of the customer’s needs to the engineering team for implementation.

In this role you will:

• Bring a growth mindset and sense of urgency.
• Bring people together by acting as a bridge between our team and DND/CAF. Share up-to-date insights on the latest solutions, formulate creative approaches to address business and technical challenges, present and host workshops with senior leaders, and translate technical jargon into layman’s language and vice versa.
• Challenge conventional thought by using your skills, insight, and experience to help DND/CAF see what it takes to do the right things versus simply doing things right. Confidently challenge their beliefs with well-researched, tailored insights to spotlight your innovative ways of generating solutions that maximize outcomes.
• Your impact will increase our infrastructure revenue and gross profit, with specific emphasis on Cisco products and professional services, provide Cisco program, pricing, product, and promotion expertise in support of our sales organization.

Who you will be working with:

• Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, along with various defense contractors and adjacent organizations that help DND/CAF to achieve their mission
• High-performance DND/CAF team members, who focus on solutions across the workplace, datacentre and cloud.

What you will do:

• Work in partnership with Account Director and team members to engage with DND/CAF directly, early in the sales cycle, where customers have a need to modernize their infrastructure and approach to connectivity.
• Collaborate with key government personnel to understand their mandates, mission objectives and technical requirements.
• Design and develop network solutions tailored to meet mission requirements.
• Create detailed technical presentations and solution blueprints.
• Define the services required for deploying these solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance during the pre-implementation phase ensuring that the services delivery team is fully briefed on the expected project outcomes.
• Participate in assessments and audits of existing network infrastructures to ensure solutions you design meet the needs of DND/CAF.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned with industry best practices.
• Stay updated with the latest technologies and industry trends.
• Maintain relevant technical certifications in your focused specialization areas.
• Collaborate with our partner field sales and solution architecture teams.
• Build and maintain account and market penetration plans on assigned accounts
• Quarterback opportunities from the point of assessing customer needs through closing deals and driving diversification
• Engage pre-sales and internal support to provide outstanding, end-to-end service
• Nurture strategic relationships with key partners and vendors

What you bring to the table:

• 7+ year’s experience with Cisco technologies, in directly selling or supporting as a presales resource, selling technology and or services in the public sector.
• Extensive experience with Cisco networking, security and or collaboration technologies and solutions.
• Strong understanding of network design, application platform and infrastructure architectures principles and best practices.
• Comfortable having people-focused conversations around topics such as persona building, end user adoption, and change management
• Experience aligning departmental mandates and initiatives with technology requirements.
• An insatiable curiosity to learn more about new technologies and how they impact our customers' businesses
• Proven track record of designing and implementing network solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Relevant Cisco certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP, CCIE) are highly desirable and if not currently certified, are committed to achieving relevant Cisco certifications and maintaining them as they evolve.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of MEDDPICC is an asset
• Active security clearance (secret or higher) is an asset
• Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset
• CAF veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Pay Range:

The typical pay range for this role is $116,000 to $155,000.

Note: the pay range represents the full pay range for this position. Each individual offer will take into consideration a range of factors, including prior experience and geographic location.

In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for additional elements of compensation including (cell allowances, annual bonus, or commissions etc.), as well as a comprehensive benefits plan.

Not sure if you qualify? Think about applying anyway:

We understand that not everyone brings 100% of the skills and experience for the role.

At Softchoice, we offer opportunities to a diverse group including those with a variety of workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to corporate tech, returning to work after a gap in employment, or looking to transition and take the next step in your career, we are excited to learn more about you and encourage you to apply.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• The People: You’ll thrive in our collaborative environment, surrounded by incredible colleagues who foster support and innovation, driving our collective success
• High-Performing Culture: At Softchoice, we are dedicated to achieving our goals and committed to success for our customers and each other
• Flexibility: Plan your workdays in a way that suits you best
• Award-Winning Workplace: Proudly recognized as a Great Place to Work for 20 consecutive years
• Inclusive Culture: We are committed to an inclusive culture where every team member can be their authentic self
• Competitive Benefits: Benefit from competitive perks that start on day one

Inclusion & Equal opportunity employment:
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion & belonging. People seeking employment at Softchoice are considered without regard to any protected category including but not limited to, race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Require accommodation? We are ready to help:
We are proud to provide interview & employment accommodation during the recruitment and hiring process. If you require any accommodation to apply or interview for a position, please reach out directly to [e-mail]. We are committed to working with you to best meet your needs.

Our commitment to your experience:
We are committed to the safety of all applicants and team members. With that in mind, we have implemented digital interviewing for everyone. We understand that you may need to interview with distractions around you (such as children or furry friends) and we will be doing the same.

Before you start with us, we will conduct a criminal record check, verify your education, and check your references.

When you join Softchoice, we will onboard you remotely. Don’t worry. It’s quick, simple and you’ll be connected with your new team in no time.

Job Requisition ID: 7047
EoE/Vet/Disability