Solution Architect Senior Director

Acxiom; Richmond (VA); Remote; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Acxiom is seeking a Principal Solution Architect to lead strategic technical solutions for major clients. You will drive pre-sales scoping, design, and cost modeling while ensuring enterprise alignment and standards.

You will mentor architects, oversee transitions from presales to implementation, and maintain expert knowledge of cloud platforms, Snowflake, Databricks, and AI/ML analytics to deliver high-value outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of combined experience in technical presales and implementation roles.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with database marketing, direct marketing, or interactive marketing environments.
• Minimum 10 years of experience working in an external client-facing environment.
• Recent experience with: non-cloud to cloud migrations; cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure); Snowflake/Databricks; clean rooms; CDP / Customer 360; real-time architectures; AI/ML-enabled analytics.
• Not required but helpful: experience with automotive data and solutions.

Responsibilities

• Consult with clients at a strategic level on solution design and business requirements.
• Own the pre-sales process of scoping and estimation for new projects.
• Own implementation leadership, including client communication and transition from presales to implementation.
• Mentor other architects and provide technical leadership across engagements.
• Stay informed on industry trends and enterprise delivery methodologies.

Skills

Solution architecture

Pre-sales

Cloud platforms

Snowflake

Databricks

AI/ML concepts

Leadership

Communication

Enterprise delivery

Mentoring

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

The Principal Solution Architect is a role that combines accountability for the success of technical deliverables with executive-level strategy—ensuring solutions are scoped and priced according to expectations, well designed, successfully implemented, and operational in the client environment.

Job Summary

• Provides progressive leadership to assigned clients/industries by consulting and leading the overall technical solution for assigned clients/industries.

• Provide technical pre-sales support for their assigned areas.

• Qualifies and recommends solutions and strategies. Creates framing for proposals and business strategies. Verifies end solutions meet technical criteria.

• Directs and reviews technical proposal materials for technical integrity, quality, risk quantification, strategic direction, and consistency with standards.

• Owns solution cost modeling and optimization.

• Prepares and delivers technical presentations to clients at the appropriate (for audience) technical granularity.

• Develops, maintains, and shares technical best practices.

• Owns transitioning sold opportunities to implementation teams and provides leadership and oversight throughout.

• Acts as the technical escalation point/support for assigned clients.

• Ensures all solutions incorporate enterprise technical vision and standards.

• Enhances the contribution of others working on assigned client(s) and is known as a domain expert for their industry/client(s) and SME area.

• Stays informed on the latest industry news, trends, products, services, competitors, and relevant existing and emerging technologies.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Expected to consult with clients at a strategic level on solution design and business requirements. Ensures overall solution requirements and design incorporate Acxiom's and the client's overall solution vision.

• Responsible for the overall solution integrity of large and complex solutions across multiple clients, providing strategic direction to other solution architects on technology and design choices.

• Focus on client value and satisfaction while balancing corporate objectives, feasibility, and scalability of solutions.

• Utilize subject matter expertise on Acxiom and industry technologies, verticals, and lines of business to help consult on aligning client business needs to products, solutions, and services offered. Documents and shares best practices and case studies.

• Lead, define, and adhere to enterprise solution standards, estimates, processes, policies, and procedures. Utilizes standard methodologies to promote consistency and drives adherence to standards within designated teams. Familiar with other departments' methodologies, including project management and development methodologies.

• Proactively identifies areas of process improvement that drive profit enhancement and client value and instills that mindset while contributing through others.

• Consults / advises and educates management, affected teams, and clients through communications at the appropriate technical granularity.

• Proactively developing internal relationships and working with product teams to provide feedback to the appropriate lines of business or product team.

• Keeps informed and evaluates the latest Acxiom and industry news, trends, products, services, competitors, and relevant existing and emerging technologies.

• Mentors other less experienced architects on this practice.

• Owns the pre-sales process of scoping and estimation efforts for new projects as assigned.

• Owns Implementation Leadership, including client communication, transitioning from presales to implementation teams, and overall success (from a client perspective) of implementation.

KNOWLEDGE / COMPETENCIES

• Deep, hands-on experience at some point in career with modern cloud platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, or similar technologies

• Subject Matter Expert of overall business and technical solutions for assigned clients/industries.

• Subject Expert in Identity resolution (deterministic + probabilistic, offline/online stitching)

• Familiar with AI/ML concepts as applied to data processing

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of enterprise delivery methodology design, project management, and change management procedures.

• Can perform design creation, elicitation, and planning.

• Exhibits leadership both internally (stakeholders) and externally with clients.

• Exhibits excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Exhibits excellent relationship skills.

• The associate is expected to become fully functional and self-directed and lead presales and implementation efforts associated with complex solutions.

• Provide technical leadership and oversight to the team, including any role(s) required to deliver solution enhancement, modifications, issues management, or research for clients.

• Ability to effectively communicate the business benefits of a technical solution to non-technical stakeholders.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does not have direct reports but may mentor less experienced associates in the role.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 10 years of combined experience in technical presales and implementation roles

• Minimum 5 years of experience with database marketing, direct marketing, or interactive marketing environments.

• Minimum 10 years of experience working in an external client-facing environment.

• Recent experience with one or more of the following:

• Non-Cloud to Cloud Migrations

• Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)

• Snowflake / Databricks

• Clean rooms

• CDP / Customer 360

• Real-time architectures

• AI/ML-enabled analytics

• Not required but nice to have experience with automotive data and solutions.

Any reference to years of experience should be disregarded in the UK

Primary Location City/State

Homebased - Conway, Arkansas

Additional Locations (if applicable)

Acxiom is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status (EOE/Vet/Disabled) and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training, promotion or other employment of associates or the awarding of subcontracts because of a person's race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, protected veteran, military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics or other protected status.

Attention California Applicants: Please see our CCPA/CPRA Privacy Act notice here (https://www.acxiom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CCPA-CPRA-Notice-for-Employees-Eff-01012023.pdf) .

Attention Colorado, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Washington Applicants: This position is not located in the aforementioned locations but applications for remote work may be considered. For information about this role under state or local equal pay or pay transparency laws, please contact [e-mail] .

We are leaders in helping brands achieve the number one mantra for every business – know your customer. For fifty years, we’ve helped marketers deal with a fast-changing future of growing channels, data and technology. By understanding the customer, marketers can communicate with relevance everywhere and drive better customer experiences that build a better brand and, in turn, better business.

We’re one of the marketing industry’s most experienced, respected and forward-thinking leaders. For nearly fifty years, we’ve helped the world’s best marketers understand their customers so that they can reach people with relevance rather than randomness. Our products and solutions form the data foundation that make it possible for marketers to drive better customer experiences and meaningful interactions at scale across every channel.

Our job opportunities will give you the opportunity to showcase your talents, grow your skills, and expose you to cutting-edge technologies, whether you’re an engineer, developer, products guru, systems and security expert, sales and consulting executive, or an intern looking to gain real experience with a company that will make you stand out.

At Acxiom, our values begin with our associates, who are the single most important driver of our success. We’re looking to hire people who share our core values: collaboration, excellence, innovation, a focus on outcomes, and being empowered to make and own decisions that benefit our clients and our company. Our values represent our brand promise – to our clients and to our associates – and define our company culture.

If you are interested in applying for employment with Acxiom and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our recruiting department at 1-877-314-2049.

Internal applicants need to apply for open positions through their Workday account. Please log into Workday and use the Find Jobs report to search for and apply for positions posted internally. For questions, please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.

Attention California Applicants: Please see our CCPA/CPRA Privacy Act notice here (https://interpublic.sharepoint.com/sites/HRConnection/HR%20Documents/CCPA%20CPRA%20Notice%20for%20Employees%20Eff%2001012023.docx) .

Attention Colorado, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington Applicants: This position is not located in the aforementioned locations but applications for remote work may be considered. For information about this role under state or local equal pay or pay transparency laws, please contact [e-mail] .

Attention Mexico Applicants: Please see our Privacy Policy notice here .