Sr. Solutions Engineer

Northwestern Mutual; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual is seeking a Senior Solutions Engineer to design and develop data-connected solutions using the Microsoft Power Platform, APIs, and enterprise data assets. You will partner with stakeholders to translate operational challenges into analytics, automation, and modernization projects, delivering secure, scalable integrations and ongoing support.

The role requires a consultative, collaborative problem-solver who guides partners toward impactful, sustainable solutions in a

Qualifications

• Experience designing and developing solutions using Microsoft Power Platform technologies (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Dataverse) and related services.
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions and communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong consulting, communication, and relationship management skills to lead discovery conversations and influence decisions.
• Proven ability to connect technology solutions to business objectives, measurable value, and long-term sustainability.
• Ability to challenge assumptions and guide stakeholders toward balanced, maintainable solutions.
• Experience integrating enterprise systems through APIs, Microsoft Graph, SharePoint, and SQL-based data sources.
• Experience implementing lifecycle management, governance standards, and CI/CD methodologies.
• Ability to own solutions through full lifecycle including discovery, design, build, testing, deployment, and support.
• Collaborative mindset to share knowledge and contribute to common standards and reusable patterns.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery discussions, process assessments, and solution design conversations to understand business needs.
• Translate complex operational challenges into high-value analytics, automation, and modernization solutions.
• Influence stakeholders to think beyond current-state processes and identify scalable opportunities.
• Communicate options, trade-offs, risks, dependencies, and recommended approaches across teams.
• Design, develop, and support solutions using Microsoft Power Platform technologies.
• Build secure, scalable integrations between enterprise systems via APIs, Graph, SharePoint, and SQL sources.
• Own solutions through full lifecycle: discovery, design, build, testing, deployment, support, and knowledge transfer.
• Develop reusable solution patterns, components, and best practices for faster delivery.

Skills

Consulting & stakeholder management

Communication

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Process orientation

Learning agility

Governance awareness

Tools

Power Platform

APIs

Microsoft Graph

SharePoint

SQL data sources

Dataverse

CI/CD

Databricks

Python

Job description

About the Job

Our team bridges business needs and technology solutions by delivering analytics, automation, process improvement, and modernization capabilities that help NM’s field and home office partners work more efficiently and make better decisions. As a Senior Solutions Engineer, you will design and develop data-connected solutions using the Microsoft Power Platform, enterprise data assets, APIs, and modern integration technologies to solve complex business challenges.

The ideal candidate is a curious, collaborative, and consultative problem solver who enjoys partnering with stakeholders to understand operational challenges, uncover root causes, and influence effective solutions. They are comfortable facilitating discussions across technical and non-technical audiences, respectfully challenging the status quo, and balancing stakeholder needs with long-term sustainability, scalability, risk management, and business value.

This role requires comfort moving between stakeholder conversations, process discovery, technical design, hands‑on development, troubleshooting, documentation, release planning, and ongoing support. Success requires the ability to build trusted relationships, ask thoughtful questions, communicate clearly, and guide partners toward solutions that address the right problem, not simply automate current‑state work.

What You’ll Do

• Lead discovery discussions, process assessments, and solution design conversations to understand business needs, identify root causes, evaluate opportunities, and define practical approaches that improve how work gets done.
• Partner with business stakeholders as a trusted advisor to translate complex operational challenges into high‑value analytics, automation, and modernization solutions.
• Influence stakeholders to think beyond current‑state processes by challenging assumptions, identifying improvement opportunities, and recommending scalable solutions aligned with strategic and operational objectives.
• Facilitate alignment across business partners, technical teams, and team members by clearly communicating options, trade‑offs, risks, dependencies, and recommended approaches.
• Design, develop, and support business solutions using Microsoft Power Platform technologies, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Dataverse, and related services.
• Build secure, scalable integrations between enterprise systems by leveraging APIs, Microsoft Graph, SharePoint, SQL‑based data sources, and other internal and external platforms.
• Own solutions beyond initial delivery, including monitoring, troubleshooting, feature enhancements, release planning, operational continuity, and stakeholder communication.
• Develop and promote reusable solution patterns, components, and best practices that improve delivery speed, maintainability, scalability, quality, and long‑term sustainability.
• Actively contribute to a highly collaborative team environment by sharing knowledge, providing constructive feedback, partnering across disciplines, and helping establish consistent delivery approaches and best practices.
• Align solutions with enterprise architecture, data strategy, security, privacy, governance, and compliance standards while identifying opportunities for modernization and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, platforms, and development approaches, and recommend how they can be applied to improve business outcomes and technical capabilities.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues across multiple technologies and domains while enabling teammates through mentoring, knowledge sharing, and technical leadership.
• Support the sustainability, resiliency, and operational effectiveness of Analytics & Innovation solutions through documentation, monitoring, support processes, and knowledge transfer.
• Contribute to the evolution of Analytics & Innovation’s analytics, automation, and modernization capabilities through the adoption of enterprise data platforms, integration technologies, and modern development practices.

What You’ll Bring

Must‑Have Qualifications

• Experience designing and developing solutions using Microsoft Power Platform technologies, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Dataverse, and related services.
• Experience translating business requirements into scalable technical solutions and communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong consulting, communication, and relationship management skills with the ability to build trust, lead discovery conversations, influence decision‑making, and facilitate alignment among diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to connect technology solutions to business objectives, operational outcomes, measurable value creation, and long‑term sustainability.
• Ability to respectfully challenge assumptions, recommend better approaches, and guide stakeholders toward solutions that balance business needs, technical feasibility, governance, and operational maintainability.
• Experience integrating enterprise systems through APIs, Microsoft Graph, SharePoint, SQL‑based data sources, and other modern integration technologies.
• Experience implementing application lifecycle management practices, development standards, governance standards, and CI/CD methodologies.
• Ability to own solutions through the full lifecycle, including discovery, design, build, testing, deployment, support, documentation, enhancement, and knowledge transfer.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively in a tightly integrated team, share knowledge, mentor others, and contribute to common standards and reusable patterns.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with modern data platforms and programming languages such as Databricks, SQL, Spark SQL, Python, SAS, or VBA.
• Familiarity with enterprise data strategy, analytics engineering, cloud‑based data solutions, and modern integration patterns.
• Experience supporting low‑code, automation, AI‑assisted, or citizen development initiatives in a governed enterprise environment.
• Experience developing intake, prioritization, governance, support, or operational processes for analytics, automation, or process improvement solutions.
• Experience facilitating workshops, process mapping sessions, root‑cause discussions, or solution design reviews with business and technical stakeholders.

Compensation Range

Pay Range - Start:$108,160.00 Pay Range - End:$162,240.00

Geographic Specific Pay Structure:Structure 110:Structure 115:

We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable.

Grow your career with a best‑in‑class company that puts our clients’ interests at the center of all we do.

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.