Sr Solution Architect - Enterprise Networking Presales (Req# 1476)

eplusinc; Glen Allen (VA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ePlus seeks a Senior Solutions Architect to lead strategic planning, road mapping, and design of service-based technology solutions that improve business outcomes. The role bridges business stakeholders and technical teams, translating client needs into secure, scalable architectures.

You will support the regional sales team to identify opportunities and craft optimal solutions with engineers and consultants.

Qualifications

• College degree or equivalent applicable work experience.
• 5+ years designing or implementing complex network or systems/storage solutions.
• 3+ years providing pre-sales engineering support.
• Enterprise Network Architecture & Design across routing, switching, WAN, wireless, data center, security, and cloud connectivity.
• Multi-Vendor technical expertise with Cisco, Arista, Aruba, Fortinet, Juniper, Extreme or equivalents.
• Presales solution development including BOMs, RFP/RFI responses, and professional services.
• Commercial & services acumen in enterprise networking sales.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; relevant certifications preferred (CCNP/CCIE, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical lead for enterprise networking opportunities with account teams.
• Run discovery to capture business and technical requirements and propose the ePlus solution.
• Develop customer roadmaps aligning objectives to technical strategies.
• Design and document architectures, configurations, and BOMs.
• Create and present customer-facing proposals and reviews.
• Lead scoping sessions for SOWs on installation, configuration, and day-2/managed deals.
• Collaborate with delivery engineers to align customer, sales, and delivery teams.
• Contribute to RFP/RFI responses and technical sections.

Skills

Presales networking

Network sales engineering

Communication

Pre-sales support

Education

College degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Cisco

Arista Networks

Fortinet

Juniper

Extreme Networks

Job description

Overview

• Hybrid-remote opportunity for candidates geographically located within an hour commute to Glen Allen, Virginia Beach, or Roanoke, Virginia, with a willingness to work on-site 1 to 2 days per week.

As a Senior Solutions Architect at ePlus you'll be focusing on strategic planning, road mapping, and design of service-based technology solutions that measurably improve business outcomes. The role bridges business stakeholders and technical teams, translating client needs into secure, scalable, and cost-effective architectures. You will serve as a technical lead supporting the ePlus regional sales team to find and/or create opportunities within our customer base. You will have the opportunity to work with our experienced architects, engineers, and consultants, and under your guidance - bring together the right team to understand our customers' needs and craft the optimal solution.

Your Impact

Own the Technical Sale

Act as the technical enterprise networking lead and trusted advisor to ePlus account teams and customer stakeholders on your focus area.

Run discovery to capture business and technical requirements, then recommend the ePlus solution (hardware, software, and services).

Develop and maintain customer roadmaps aligning customer objectives to technical solutions and strategies.

Design and document solution architecture, detailed configurations, and bills of materials (BOMs).

Build and deliver customer-facing presentations, proposals, and recommended-solution reviews.

Lead technical scoping sessions for Statements of Work on simple and complex installation, configuration and day-2/managed deals.

Build and maintain relationships with ePlus internal delivery engineers to act as a liaison between customer, sales, and delivery teams.

Author the technical sections of RFP / RFI / RFQ responses.

Win With the Sales Team

Partner with AEs on account and opportunity planning - qualification, technical strategy, and competitive positioning.

Serve as SME for customer technical staff on network design, configuration, implementation, and test approach.

Work as ePlus's technical liaison with OEM field sales and in-house systems engineering teams (e.g., Security, Cloud, Data Center, etc.) in the region.

Support deal strategy when technical objections or customer-satisfaction issues threaten the recommended approach.

Stay Current and Raise the Bar

Keep OEM certifications current for your assigned practice areas and vendors, based on your stated interests and achievements.

Build and maintain relationships with key OEM partners.

Share product updates, design patterns, and lessons learned with other solutions architects and delivery teams.

Flag new products or services that ePlus should evaluate as practice investments.

Suggest process improvements that make regional presales faster and more consistent.

Keep the Engine Running

Maintain pipeline notes: forecast revenue, win probability, and expected close on a weekly cadence.

Join weekly presales engineering calls and complete expenses / time / CRM admin on time.

Run and participate in ePlus-branded lunch-and-learn type activities and events, and represent ePlus solutions while having fun with our customers!

Qualifications

College degree or equivalent applicable work experience.

5+ years of experience in designing or implementing complex network or systems/storage solutions.

3+ years of experience in providing pre-sales engineering support.

Enterprise Network Architecture & Design: Demonstrated expertise designing complex enterprise networking solutions across routing, switching, WAN, wireless, data center, network security, and cloud connectivity environments.

Multi-Vendor Technical Expertise: Advanced knowledge of enterprise networking technologies, with deep experience in Cisco solutions and the ability to design and integrate multi-vendor architectures across platforms such as Arista, Aruba, Fortinet, Juniper, Extreme Networks, or equivalent technologies.

Presales Solution Development: Proven ability to lead technical discovery and translate customer business and technical requirements into comprehensive solution architectures, bills of materials (BOMs), technical proposals, RFP/RFI responses, and professional services requirements.

Commercial & Services Acumen: Demonstrated success supporting and influencing the sale of enterprise networking solutions and services, with an understanding of opportunity qualification, pipeline development, sales performance, and revenue contribution.

Communication & Professional Credentials: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills. Relevant industry certifications are preferred, including Cisco CCNP/CCIE Enterprise, HPE/Juniper, Arista, Extreme Networks, or equivalent certifications.

Core Competencies & Keywords

• Presales Networking Solutions
• Network Sales Engineering
• Network Sales Engineer
• Enterprise Networking Solutions
• Network Solutioning
• Network Solutions Consulting
• Network Solutions Engineer