Associate Network Solutions Architect

barcodesinc; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

barcodesinc is seeking a Solution Architect - Connectivity in Chicago, IL to bridge technology solutions with customer needs. Required qualifications include foundational networking knowledge and 1-3 years of IT experience. The role involves collaborating with teams to design solutions, create presales artefacts, and support customer engagement.

The ideal candidate should have excellent communication skills and a willingness to grow within the company while working partially on-site. Benefits include opportunities for training and certifications in various networking technologies.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in IT, networking, or technical support.
• Interest in presales or solutions architecture.
• Ability to build relationships with networking vendors.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Account Managers to assess opportunities.
• Design scalable and secure solutions.
• Create presales artefacts for opportunities.
• Participate in customer workshops to shape requirements.

Skills

Networking concepts

IT experience

Communication skills

Collaborative mindset

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CCNA or equivalent certification

Aruba solutions knowledge

Job description

Solution Architect - Connectivity

At Levata, we solve complex technology challenges by integrating the right hardware, software, and services, backed by expert insight. We connect people, data, and assets with actionable intelligence that drives improvement, sparks innovation, and helps customers achieve what’s next.

We simplify complexity and focus on what matters, providing clear options and delivering real outcomes. As we think big and enable what’s next, we’re committed to creating an environment where your journey is impactful, growth is continuous, and potential is realized.

Solutions Architects play a critical role in bridging customer ambition with actionable technology outcomes, combining technical insight, commercial awareness, and consultative influence to shape value‑led solutions.

In this role, you’ll be part of a collaborative presales team supporting sales opportunities across your one or more technologies within your solution domain. You’ll help qualify demand, design relevant and achievable solutions, and work alongside colleagues across Levata’s professional and managed services teams to propose and deliver a seamless customer experience.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with Account Managers and Solution Architects to assess inbound and outbound opportunities. Understand customer objectives, constraints, and success metrics to determine solution fit and viability.
• Contribute to the design of scalable, secure, and supportable solutions within your technology domain, collaborating with peers to ensure alignment with delivery capabilities and customer expectations.
• Create high-quality presales artefacts—including solution proposals, high-level designs (HLDs), and cost models—for low to mid-complexity opportunities within your domain, under guidance where required.
• Facilitate or participate in customer discovery workshops, whiteboarding engagements, and technology briefings to shape thinking and uncover deeper requirements.
• Work closely with peers across Solutions, Delivery, and Services teams to ensure solutions are deliverable, repeatable, and aligned with Levata’s go‑to‑market strategy.
• Stay current with relevant technologies, market trends, and partner solutions. Maintain and grow technical certifications and contribute to shared team knowledge through documentation, templates, or tooling.
• Contribute to the development of reusable offerings, reference architectures, and accelerators that reduce sales cycle time, lower delivery risk, and improve customer experience.
• Support customer decision‑making by aligning proposed solutions to business needs and helping articulate near‑ and mid‑term value.
• Support post‑sale reviews or account growth conversations where required.
• Build and maintain relationships with strategic partners and vendors to remain informed on roadmaps, competitive positioning, and joint propositions.

Who we are looking for

• Foundational knowledge of networking concepts (wireless, basic infrastructure, and network security fundamentals).
• 1–3 years of experience in IT, networking, or technical support/consulting roles (internships or entry‑level roles included).
• Associate’s degree (2-year trade/technical degree) or equivalent hands‑on experience preferred.
• Interest in building a career in presales, solutions architecture, or technical consulting.
• Ability to begin building relationships with prioritized Networking OEM(s) and grow partner knowledge over time.
• Exposure to or interest in learning how to balance technical requirements with commercial considerations (TCO, budgets, and service models).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex topics into clear and persuasive content.
• A collaborative mindset and a willingness to share knowledge, support peers, and contribute to the wider Solutions community at Levata.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, sales‑aligned environment.
• Willingness to work from the Chicago office 2–3 days per week and collaborate in person with the team.

Qualifications & Skills

• 1-3 years of experience in IT, networking, technical consultancy, or pre‑sales roles within a technology provider, systems integrator, or reseller environment.
• Familiarity with partner ecosystems and commercial programs.
• Exposure to both professional and managed services engagements.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to both technical and business stakeholders with guidance where needed.
• Entry‑level or foundational vendor or industry certifications (or willingness to pursue) relevant to your solution domain.

Technical Certifications

The ideal candidate may hold or be working toward one or more of the following industry‑recognized certifications, with a willingness to pursue further certifications as part of their career journey with Levata:

• Cisco: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or working toward certification.
• HPE Aruba: Exposure to Aruba networking solutions or entry‑level certifications Aruba Certified Mobility Associate (ACMA) or working toward or Aruba Certified Mobility Professional (ACMP).
• Extreme Networks: Exposure of Associate‑level certification preferred.
• Juniper: Entry‑level or Associate/Specialist‑level certification Juniper Network Certified Associate or working towards Juniper Networks Certified Specialist (JNCIS).
• Ruckus: Exposure to Ruckus wireless and switching solutions or entry‑level certification preferred.

Exposure to or interest in learning technologies such as Ubiquiti, Palo Alto, and/or Fortinet is a plus.

Travel

• As applicable, based on team, customer, or business needs.