Data Center Solution Architect - Seattle, Washington (Remote or Hybrid)

AFL; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

401K Company match

Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options

Job summary

AFL is seeking a qualified professional to manage customer technology roadmaps and maintain strong technical relationships with key influencers in the fiber optic industry. The role involves collaboration with technical stakeholders to ensure their needs are met and presents an opportunity to act as a technical lead for optical connectivity.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, over 5 years of experience in data center deployments, and a deep understanding of fiber optic connectivity. Flexible remote or hybrid working arrangements are available.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in large-scale data center deployments.
• Deep understanding of fiber optic connectivity and data center infrastructure.
• Ability to create technical drawings in Visio.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a customer technology roadmap based on market trends.
• Drive technical influence to ensure AFL is seen as a primary technology partner.
• Act as technical lead for all optical connectivity within assigned customer(s).
• Collaborate with Sales and Engineering teams to meet customer needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Technical drawing creation in Visio

Networking technologies

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field

Tools

Oracle

Visio

MS Office

Job description

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate in excess of $2B in revenue, and employ approximately 9,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our associates are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer

• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Opportunities for career advancement with an industry-leading company
• Remote Office Schedule or Hybrid schedule options
• Flexible time off policy
• 401K Company match
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a customer technology roadmap based on market trends.
• Drive technical influence to ensure AFL is seen as a primary technology partner.
• Fully understand customer’s data center architecture and maintain up to date drawings.
• Identification of customer road maps, specific pain points and potential paths to eliminate pain points.
• Influence major technical changes at the earliest stage, ensuring that AFL is the primary technology partner for assigned customer.
• Act as technical lead for all optical connectivity within assigned customer(s)
• Map and continuously update technical org structures of key accounts.
• Maintain strong technical relationships and trust with key influencers.
• Participate in regular stakeholder meetings, with minimum quarterly cadence.
• Maintain a customer-specific technology and business strategy overview.
• Coordinate technical content and presentations for customer sync meetings.
• Track and report monthly strategic activity and customer updates
• Collaborate with Sales, Product Management and Engineering teams to meet customer needs.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable tasks for AFL.
• Work with Product Line Managers and Engineering to develop innovative solutions.
• Define and document new product needs using the NPAF process.
• Manage pipeline of New Product developments and act as customer liaison through the development process
• Manage customer drawing creation and approvals within the required timeframes.
• Participate in technical testing, demos, and implementation of solutions.
• Represent AFL at industry-leading conferences and standards meetings.
• Align with Fujikura and Industry partners to drive future-focused product initiatives.
• Provide thought leadership through white papers, technical content, and external publications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Science, or a technical field preferred
• 5+ years of experience in large-scale data center deployments
• Deep understanding of fiber optic connectivity and data center infrastructure
• Ability to create technical drawings in Visio.
• Experience in both active and passive networking technologies
• Familiarity with tools such as Oracle, GP, SFDC, Visio, and MS Office

Personal Qualities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and documentation skills
• Resilient, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset
• Collaborative and confident in cross-functional teams
• Independent thinker with a global business perspective
• Detail-oriented, strategic, and customer-focused

Working Conditions

• Remote or hybrid working arrangement.
• Travel required: 25–50% (domestic with occasional international)
• Participation in technical and strategic meetings with customers
• Attendance at industry events and standards organizations