Solutions Architect - Hybrid Networking (WAN)

Dimension Data; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in technology solutions seeks a Senior Solution Architect to drive technical design and client engagement. The role involves creating solutions aligned with client needs, providing pre-sales support, and managing project transitions. Ideal candidates will possess strong analytical skills, technical expertise, and experience in pre-sales environments.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with TOGAF and/or Zachman Frameworks.
• Experience with ITIL and SAFe methodologies.
• Pre-Sales experience with Cisco, FortiGate, Velocloud.

Responsibilities

• Design technical solutions and manage stakeholder requirements.
• Provide pre-sales technical support and analyze client needs.
• Ensure solutions meet client requirements and adhere to standards.

Skills

Client Engagement

Technical Design

Analytical Skills

Presentation Skills

Consulting Capabilities

Job description

The Senior Solution Architect is an industry-respected pre-sales, technology, and solution-focused specialist who creates excellent client relationships through technical expertise and a consultative approach. The Senior Solutions Architect is viewed as a trusted technical advisor by clients and a mentor to junior staff. They demonstrate thought leadership, technical acumen, and lead in technical forums.

The primary responsibility is the technical design of business solutions with a focus on demand generation. They assist with project transitions from presales to delivery and ensure the profitability of their account base. They provide pre-sales technical support, analyze client requirements, and develop solutions aligned with the client’s architecture and system capabilities to meet business objectives.

PROPOSAL WRITING AND TEAM DYNAMIC

The Senior Solutions Architect demonstrates strong client engagement skills, especially within Partner and Key client segments. They act as a Trusted Technical Advisor, participate in scope determination, product pricing, and respond to RFPs/RFIs.

They work closely with the Client Manager and assist in deal decisions, outsourcing, and solution development in collaboration with Professional Services.

1.3. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1.3.1 TECHNICAL: SOLUTION DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, AND MANAGEMENT

• Capture and define requirements, manage stakeholders, and design technical solutions.
• Interpret business and technical requirements to develop appropriate solutions.
• Provide advice across technology domains within Hybrid Networking, coordinating with infrastructure experts, professional services, and project teams to create end-to-end Managed Solutions.
• Define, document, and ensure solutions meet client requirements, adhering to architectural standards.
• Manage opportunities to ensure timely, within-budget, and scope-compliant completion.
• Complete RFP and RFI responses related to Dimension Data’s product stack.
• Stay current with technological developments and foster vendor relationships.
• Define and monitor technical work performance, vendor, and stakeholder management, and program effectiveness.
• Contribute to product development and industry demand insights.
• Ensure technical solutions are stable and meet customer requirements through quality control processes.

1.4 BEHAVIOURAL SKILLS

The Solution Architect should be a good team player with management skills appropriate for middle-level managers. They practice effective two-way communication and active listening.

They possess exceptional analytical and consulting capabilities, collaborate effectively, and have well-developed presentation skills with a strong client orientation. Confidence and experience in public speaking are essential, especially for product launches and technical events. The individual must articulate technical expertise clearly, instill trust, and demonstrate leadership in architectural frameworks, including artifacts related to technologies, information, applications, policies, procedures, standards, principles, and objectives.

They provide guidance on projects of moderate complexity, may consult with domain architects, and contribute to the implementation of architectural frameworks at the sub-project level.

Requirements

• Advantages include familiarity with:
• TOGAF and/or Zachman Frameworks
• ITIL
• SAFe
• Architecting across Cisco Domains (DC, Collaboration, Networking, Security)
• Pre-Sales experience with Cisco, FortiGate, Velocloud
• Unified Communications (Avaya and Cisco IPT)
• SD-WAN, SD-Access, and MPLS architectures