Techncial Solution Architect / Principal Sales Engineer

ECS; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS is seeking a Principal Sales Engineer in Arlington, VA, to enhance customer engagement through hands-on technical expertise. The position combines pre-sales strategy with solution delivery, demanding strong software development skills, cloud architecture knowledge, and a background in AI/ML. Candidates should have over 12 years of experience in sales engineering and demonstrate exceptional communication abilities. ECS is committed to equal opportunity employment.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in sales engineering or solutions architecture.
• Strong software development skills in Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, or Java.
• Ability to design and deliver technical solutions under tight timelines.
• Hands-on expertise in cloud architecture for major platforms.
• Knowledge of AI/ML concepts and their applications.

Responsibilities

• Engage with prospects and customers to understand technical challenges.
• Design and develop solutions that win deals and deepen relationships.
• Lead whiteboard sessions and produce prototype code.
• Support complex enterprise engagements with clients.
• Communicate effectively with technical and executive audiences.

Skills

Sales engineering

Software development

Cloud architecture

AI/ML concepts

Exceptional communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

ECS is seeking a Principal Sales Engineer to work in our Arlington, VA office.

We are looking for a Principal Sales Engineer who builds. This is a hands‑on, player‑coach role at the intersection of pre‑sales strategy and solution delivery. You will work directly with new prospects and existing customers to understand their technical challenges, plan engagement approaches, and then roll up your sleeves to design and develop the solutions that win deals and deepen relationships.

The right candidate is equally comfortable leading a whiteboard session with a CTO, writing production‑quality prototype code, and planning a multi‑phase technical engagement. You bring deep engineering fluency across cloud infrastructure, modern software development, and AI/ML—and you know how to translate that into outcomes that customers can see and touch. You are looking for a role where you are hands on; you want to be in the code, in the architecture, and in the room when it matters.

Required Skills

• 12+ years of progressive experience in sales engineering, solutions architecture, or a comparable customer‑facing technical role in enterprise software or cloud services.
• Strong, active software development skills with production experience in at least two of: Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, Java. You should be writing code regularly, not managing people who write code.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and deliver technical solutions—prototypes, POCs, and reference architectures—under real deal timelines.
• Hands‑on cloud architecture expertise in one or more major platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Working knowledge of AI/ML concepts including large language models, retrieval‑augmented generation, vector databases, and model deployment pipelines.
• Track record of supporting complex, six‑ and seven‑figure enterprise engagements across both new logo acquisition and existing customer expansion.
• Exceptional communication skills with proven ability to present to and influence technical and executive audiences alike.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Desired Skills

• Experience working across the full customer lifecycle—from initial pitch through post‑sale technical enablement and expansion.
• Familiarity with modern data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake, Elastic) and their role in AI/ML workflows.
• Relevant certifications preferred (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect Professional, GCP Professional Cloud Architect).

ECS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis any characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local jurisdiction law.