Principal Solution Architect - NetApp

CDW; Vernon Hills (IL); On-site; USD 151,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

CDW is seeking a Principal Solution Architect - NetApp to act as a national technical authority for NetApp opportunities. You will shape architectural direction across storage, hybrid cloud, and modern data center platforms while partnering with sales, services, and partners to advance complex opportunities.

You will lead executive-level discussions, create reusable assets, and drive go-to-market with strategic customers. This role requires travel up to 25% and a proactive, mentoring mindset.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical pre-sales or architecture experience, or 11+ years in related roles.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise storage, data management, and cyber resiliency.
• Practical understanding of NetApp ONTAP and related data services.
• Ability to lead cross-functional technical discussions and mentor peers.
• Customer-focused with excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Business acumen to tie technical recommendations to outcomes.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% and collaborate with partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as national technical authority for NetApp opportunities across CDW.
• Define architectural direction for storage, compute, and hybrid cloud solutions.
• Lead strategy for complex pursuits, including discovery and framing.
• Design end-to-end solutions addressing requirements and roadmaps.
• Lead executive briefings and architecture reviews with stakeholders.
• Develop repeatable solution plays and reference architectures.

Skills

NetApp architecture

Enterprise storage

Hybrid cloud

Hyperconverged infra

Pre-sales leadership

Executive communication

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

VMware Cloud Foundation

Red Hat OpenShift

Kubernetes

Microsoft Azure

AWS

Google Cloud

Job description

Description

The Principal Solution Architect - NetApp is a nationally aligned, senior individual contributor technical pre-sales leadership role within CDW's National Specialized Presales team. The role serves as a national technical authority for NetApp solutions and provides strategic architectural direction across enterprise compute, storage, converged and hyperconverged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, high-performance computing, AI-ready infrastructure, edge, and modern data center platforms.

The Principal Solution Architect works with internal and external sales teams to plan and organize sales strategies, analyze customer expectations and competitive and technical environments, and define actions within the sales cycle. The role partners with strategic customers, CDW leadership, sellers, field and consulting architects, services teams, and NetApp to shape technical strategy and support complex and transformational opportunities.

The Principal Solution Architect develops and maintains strategic relationships, serves as a trusted advisor, and leads through influence, innovation, thought leadership, coaching, and reusable practice assets. The role helps establish technical direction for the Lenovo ISG business while supporting cross-practice collaboration and consistent delivery quality.

What you will do:

• Serve as a national technical authority and escalation resource for complex, strategic, and transformational NetApp opportunities across CDW.
• Define architectural direction for enterprise compute, storage, converged and hyperconverged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, HPC, AI-ready infrastructure, edge, and modern data center solutions.
• Lead technical strategy for complex pursuits, including discovery, solution framing, architecture validation, competitive positioning, executive presentations, and cross-practice alignment.
• Design solutions addressing infrastructure requirements, business constraints, operational considerations, financial objectives, and long-term roadmaps.
• Serve as an executive-level trusted advisor and lead briefings, innovation workshops, architecture reviews, and business outcome discussions.
• Review peer designs for quality, accuracy, scalability, supportability, and alignment to requirements.
• Define complementary services and collaborate with services teams on scope and effort estimates.
• Lead technical go-to-market execution and develop repeatable solution plays.
• Develop standardized deliverables, reference architectures, design templates, SOW frameworks, demonstration guidance, assessment methods, and reusable intellectual property.
• Maintain strategic relationships with Lenovo and ecosystem partners and execute joint strategies.
• Lead national enablement and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Coach and mentor architects, engineers, specialists other technical professionals.
• Communicate CDW's technology and services value proposition and support NetApp growth.

What we expect of you:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 7 years of technical pre-sales or technical architecture experience OR 11 years of experience.
• Industry knowledge and domain expertise: Possess strong knowledge of enterprise storage, data management, data protection, cyber resiliency, hybrid cloud, and adjacent data center technologies.
• Demonstrate practical understanding of NetApp architecture, products, technologies, and solutions, including ONTAP and related data services.
• Team collaboration and leadership: Work effectively with cross-functional sales, services, delivery, partner, and technical teams; lead technical discussions; influence decisions; and provide guidance and mentorship to peers and developing architects.
• Customer-focused approach: Demonstrate a customer-centric mindset with strong communication, presentation, discovery, and facilitation skills. Build trusted relationships, understand customer needs, and communicate technical concepts and business value to diverse audiences.
• Solution design and problem-solving skills: Design and communicate comprehensive solutions that address customer requirements and business challenges. Analyze complex problems, identify appropriate options, build consensus, and resolve technical gaps.
• Business and commercial awareness: Connect technical recommendations to business outcomes, support opportunity strategy, and contribute to product, software, subscription, and services growth.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% or as needed.
• Current NetApp technical certifications aligned to the role and CDW partner requirements, a plus.
• Experience architecting NetApp solutions in enterprise, hybrid cloud, virtualization, container, data protection, cyber resiliency, or AI infrastructure environments, a plus.
• Experience supporting enterprise customers and complex, multi-practice, or strategic infrastructure opportunities, a plus.
• Experience with VMware Cloud Foundation, Red Hat OpenShift, Kubernetes, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, or adjacent technologies, a plus.
• Experience delivering technical enablement, mentoring peers, or developing reusable solution assets and go-to-market content, a plus.

Pay range: $151,350 - $211,870 depending on experience and skill set
Annual bonus target of 25% subject to terms and conditions of plan
Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/
Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials

CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization

We're looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner's mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances-not replaces-human creativity and decision-making. You don't need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work. Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that's curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what's possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.

About Us

CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what's possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn't just what we do-it's how we do it. At CDW we act as one-building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win-focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward-staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That's why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees-working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.

As a fullstack, fulllifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what's next.

Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.

CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.