Solutions Architect - Data and Analytics - Digital Velocity

Bring your IT career and talents to CDW, where you can have a greater impact, be inspired by our mission and excited about your career and future. A Fortune 200 leader, we’re the driven professionals and technology experts companies turn to most to solve their IT challenges.

Position Summary 

The Microsoft Solutions Architect is client facing, pre-sales technologist that works with designated accounts and acts as a value- added technical advocate for CDW clients. A Microsoft Solutions Architect is responsible for understanding clients’ business requirements as they pertain to Data & Analytics solutions, qualifying opportunities and creating proposals that match the requirements with appropriate products, managed and professional services. 

This role builds the required presales collateral to represent the solution including, but not limited to, LOUs (Letters of Understanding), documents, HLDs (High Level Design), BOMs (Bill of Materials), Product Quotes (with pricing), LOEs (Level of Efforts), Client Proposals and SOWs (Statement of Work). This role entails the following responsibilities; collaborating with other Line of Business (LOB) experts as required to address client needs, presenting the proposed solution to the client, ensuring the sale is made and overseeing the delivery of these solutions all while maximizing profit to CDW. Lastly, the solution architect role requires the person builds and maintains a healthy relationship with key business partners (OEMs, subcontractors, service providers) in the assigned districts and regions they support. 

The Microsoft Solutions Architect has subject matter expertise of solutions in Microsoft Data and Analytics solutions and has a basic awareness of technology solutions in adjacent LOBs. In addition, a Solutions Architect is competent at positioning professional services within their LOB. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities 

Client Facing Sales Support – Works with sales account team, interfacing directly with CDW clients. Builds 

Trusted advisor relationships, understanding client’s business challenges and proposing solutions 

Develops High Level Designs and Architectures – Creates and documents architectures that address client business problems which can be used to ensure a smooth transition from presales to delivery 

Create Proposals – RFP (Request for Proposals) responses, SOWs (Statements Of Work), LOUs (Letters of Understanding), Develop BOMs (Bill of Materials) and Product Quotes 

Sales Planning – Work with management and sales teams to develop account prioritization and support strategies that will ensure a long term trusted relationship status 

Partner Relationship Management – Develop healthy and trusted relationships with key partners in the geography 

Billable Consulting – Provide services as part of client projects that are billable. Usually in a project oversight mode  

Intellectual Property Development – Contribute to the development of CDW intellectual property and industry recognition (case studies, white papers, speaking engagements etc.) 

Administrative Overhead – Respond to email, phone calls, complete time cards in a timely manner, expense reports and status reports as required Administrative Overhead – Respond to email, phone calls, complete time cards in a timely manner, expense reports and status reports as require 

Training – Develop and execute a professional plan that will enhance skills 

Basic Qualifications 

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or a related field 

At least five (5) years of related work experience in a Digital and/or Data solutions focused role 

Other Position Requirements 

• Solid understanding of Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse, ADF, general knowledge of SQL  Server 

• Solid understanding of Data Modernization architectures and solutions  

• Solid understanding of Data Governance program concepts 

• Demonstrated ability to write SOWs and respond to RFPs 

• Demonstrated ability to apply technical background and knowledge to business direction by developing service offerings, go-to-market strategies, business planning, and other activities important to building business 

• Demonstrated ability to drive sales, sequencing activities and deliverables to the client to value sell, earn trust and enhance margin 

• Proven experience articulating technical viewpoints to diverse audiences, including technical and business decision makers 

• Proven ability to evaluate information and make sound technical risk judgements 

• Demonstrated ability to multitask and to prioritize workload under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment 

• Demonstrated ability to perform technical skills/knowledge transfer to client 

• Demonstrated attention to detail and follow-up skills 

• Demonstrated leadership, delegation, and personnel management skills 

• Demonstrated communication and presentation skills, including formal and informal presentations to large and small audiences 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction 

• Technical writing experience 

Preferred Qualifications 

• At least three (3) years of experience in pre-sales solution architecture and/or sales in a Systems Integrator, OEM, or similar environment 

• Relevant certifications in area of specialty: Specifically, Microsoft Data, AI and Cloud solutions 

• Two (2) years of experience with Client, OEM or VAR based partner management 

• One (1) years billable consulting experience  

• Demonstrated experience in the selling and delivery of multi-million dollar enterprise-size, complex projects 

• Experience within SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, and other cloud environments 

Essential Functions 

• The position exists to provide presales technical consulting solutions to customers and as such requires the ability to travel to and from customer sites and interact with customers on an ongoing and regular basis 

• The above primary duties, responsibilities, and position requirements are not all inclusive. 

Competencies 

• Demonstrates competencies defined for the Technical Architect level, plus the following: 

• Action Oriented - Readily takes on challenges, without unnecessary planning. Identifies and seizes new opportunities. Displays a can-do attitude in good and bad times. Steps up to handle tough issues. 

• Business Insight – Knows how businesses work and how organizations make money. Keeps up with current and possible future policies, practices, and trends in the organization, with the competition and in the marketplace. Uses knowledge of business drivers and how strategies and tactics play out in the market to guide actions. 

• Collaborates - Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get work done. Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments. Gains trust and support of others. 

• Financial Acumen - Understands the meaning and implications of key financial indicators. Uses financial analysis to generate, evaluate and act on strategic options and opportunities. Integrates quantitative and qualitative information to draw accurate conclusions. 

• Resourcefulness – Orchestrates multiple activities simultaneously to accomplish a goal. Marshalls resources (people, funding, materials, support) to get things done. Gets the most out of limited resources. Applies knowledge of internal structures, processes and culture to resourcing efforts 

• Drives Results - Has a strong bottom-line orientation. Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks. Has a track record of exceeding goals successfully. Pushes self and helps others achieve goals. 

Who we are:
CDW is a leading technology solutions provider to business, government, education and healthcare organizations across the globe. Our fingerprints can be found on technology in workplaces of more than 250,000 companies; from fresh-faced start-ups to international conglomerates. With the breadth of products and services we offer, there is no request too big or too small. 

What you can expect from us: Culture, coworkers, careers. 
CDW is not only the People Who Get IT but the People who get People. Our relationships are fueled by our deep expertise and grounded in the CDW Way. Our empowering leadership makes things happen and inspires their teams to do the same. From the teammates beside us to the leaders who guide us, we move forward together. At CDW, you’ll work with people who inspire you. People with positive, success-driven attitudes who you will learn from and forge strong relationships with. Bring your best true self—and your best ideas—to CDW. Because diverse perspectives bring forth better problem solving—and better solutions for our customers on a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
 

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status

Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/