Solutions Architect (Mumbai or Bengaluru)

F5 Networks, Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

F5 Networks, Inc. in Bengaluru seeks a Principal Solution Engineer with deep F5 expertise to design scalable, secure application delivery and security solutions. You will leverage BIG-IP, NGINX, and Distributed Cloud, while guiding AI and cloud-native deployments.

You will lead client discussions, develop solution designs, support pre-sales with demos, and collaborate with engineering to ensure architecture alignment. Strong communication and mentoring skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in CS/engineering.
• 15+ years of experience in designing and implementing network or application delivery solutions, with F5 focus preferred.
• Deep technical expertise in F5 BIG-IP (LTM/GTM/APM/AWAF) and familiarity with F5 Distributed Cloud.
• Experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and Kubernetes.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Ansible) for automation.
• Certifications like F5 Technology Specialist are advantageous.
• Experience deploying AI/ML apps and working with AI infrastructures is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME for F5 solutions including BIG-IP, NGINX, and Distributed Cloud.
• Design end-to-end application delivery and security solutions with AI workloads and containerized environments.
• Lead client discussions to translate requirements into technical architecture and value.
• Develop detailed solution designs, diagrams, specs, and implementation plans.
• Support sales with presentations, demos, and proposals highlighting F5 Distributed Cloud for AI apps.
• Collaborate with engineering during deployment to ensure adherence to architecture.
• Stay current with F5 product updates, AI trends, and cloud-native practices.
• Contribute to internal knowledge base and best practices for F5 solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex F5 deployments, including Kubernetes-based AI workloads.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to thought leadership through white papers and talks.

Skills

Strong networking

AI/ML familiarity

Scripting: Python

Cloud and Kubernetes

Excellent communication

Pre-sales support

F5 BIG-IP expertise

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Terraform

Kubernetes

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Solution Engineer with deep expertise in F5 Inc. technologies and a forward-thinking understanding of emerging technologies like AI and containerization to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for designing and implementing robust, scalable, and secure application delivery and security solutions, leveraging the full capabilities of the F5 product suite, including F5 Distributed Cloud, while also considering the architectural implications of modern AI and cloud-native deployments. You will act as a trusted advisor and contribute to thought leadership, collaborating with sales, engineering, and client stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical architecture and drive successful project outcomes. You will also play a key role in supporting the Product and Engineering teams with the adoption and go-to-market strategy of new F5 products and features and potentially presenting at significant industry events.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the subject matter expert for F5 Inc. solutions, including BIG-IP (LTM, GTM, APM, AWAF), NGINX, and F5 Distributed Cloud Services.
• Design and architect comprehensive application delivery and security solutions that meet client requirements for performance, scalability, security, and high availability, with consideration for AI workloads and containerized environments, potentially leveraging F5 Distributed Cloud.
• Lead technical discussions with clients to understand their business needs, technical constraints, and articulate the value proposition of F5 Inc. solutions, including F5 Distributed Cloud, in the context of their overall IT landscape, including AI initiatives.
• Develop detailed solution designs, including diagrams, specifications, and implementation plans, potentially incorporating F5 (including Distributed Cloud) in support of AI Factories, RAG implementations, and AI Gateways.
• Provide technical guidance and support to sales teams during the pre-sales process, including presentations, demonstrations, and proposal development, highlighting how F5 Inc. solutions, including F5 Distributed Cloud, can enhance the delivery and security of AI-powered applications.
• Collaborate with engineering teams during the implementation and deployment phases, ensuring adherence to the defined architecture.
• Stay up to date with the latest F5 Inc. product updates, industry trends, and best practices, including developments in AI infrastructure, cloud-native technologies, and F5 Distributed Cloud.
• Contribute to the development of internal knowledge base, methodologies, and best practices related to F5 Inc. solutions (including Distributed Cloud) in modern application architectures.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues related to F5 deployments, potentially within Kubernetes environments, those supporting AI workloads, or utilizing F5 Distributed Cloud.
• Potentially mentor and guide junior team members.
• Contribute to thought leadership activities such as white papers, blog posts, presentations, and participation in industry forums, potentially including Mainstage Keynotes.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to provide field feedback and support the introduction of new F5 products and features to the market.
• Lead and track Proof of Concepts (PoCs) with customers, ensuring successful technical validation and alignment with business requirements.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or a related field, or equivalent level of experience
• Minimum of 15+ years of experience in designing and implementing network or application delivery solutions, with a strong focus on F5 Inc. is preferred.
• Deep technical expertise in F5 BIG‑IP platform (LTM, GTM, APM, AWAF), ideally NGINX, and familiarity with F5 Distributed Cloud Services is a plus.
• Strong understanding of networking protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, etc.) and security principles.
• Experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and Kubernetes is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with concepts related to AI, including AI Factories, Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI Gateways.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Ansible) for automation.
• Experience with Application‑to‑Application (A2A) concepts and familiarity with Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a plus.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including experience with Mainstage Keynotes.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Relevant F5 certifications (e.g., F5 Certified! Technology Specialist) are highly advantageous.
• Direct experience deploying or securing AI/ML applications is a bonus.
• Experience with F5 Distributed Cloud in customer deployments is a plus.
• Experience with infrastructure‑as‑code (IaC) tools like Terraform is preferred.
• Knowledge of other applications, delivery and security technologies.
• Experience in a consulting or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated contributions to thought leadership in the application delivery or security space, including Mainstage Keynotes.
• Experience providing feedback to Product and Engineering teams on product direction.

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting [e-mail].

Hybrid: Employees within 30 commutable miles of an F5 office are required to work from the office a minimum of 30 business days per quarter.

Remote: Primarily work from designated home location but can come into an F5 office to work or travel to an offsite location as needed.

Founded in 1996, F5 is a global leader in application delivery and security. Our premier platform helps customers secure and deliver every app, API, and piece of infrastructure across all environments. Backed by over three decades of expertise and 553 patents, our solutions protect against threats while ensuring fast, reliable digital experiences. With over 6,400 employees, we serve more than 23,000 customers in over 170 countries. To continue this work, we need people like you—the best minds in the industry. We're committed to a unique, human-first culture that encourages authenticity, prioritizes diversity and inclusion, and fosters the growth and success of our employees.