Solutions Architect

SUMMARY:
Ready to architect the future of enterprise technology? We're partnering with a leading name in the automotive industry to find a Solutions Architect who’s not just technically sharp—but business-savvy, strategic, and vendor-savvy.

We are seeking an experienced candidate to design and implement technical solutions that align with business objectives while following established company governance and procedural processes. This role requires a blend of technical expertise in network infrastructure, security, and cloud technologies, combined with strong business acumen and the ability to work independently across multiple vendor relationships within our enterprise technology stack including PaloAlto firewalls, Mellanox core switches, Arista routers, Saisei internet shaping, Cisco Meraki switching and WiFi infrastructure, and VeloCloud SD-WAN solutions.

As a technical solution designer, you will be expected to translate business requirements into scalable technical architectures, evaluate emerging technologies, and serve as a technical liaison between stakeholders and vendors while ensuring all solutions comply with company policies and procedures.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities

• Solution Design & Architecture (25%) - Design comprehensive technical solutions that meet business requirements, create detailed technical documentation and architectural diagrams, evaluate and recommend technology solutions, and ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and cost-effective
• Projects & Implementation (20%) - Lead technical aspects of solution implementation projects, coordinate with project teams and stakeholders, oversee solution deployment activities, and ensure successful delivery of architectural designs from concept to production
• Research & Development (15%) - Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends, conduct proof-of-concept implementations, research new solutions for business challenges, assess technology viability and ROI, and maintain awareness of competitive landscape and innovation opportunities
• Network Infrastructure & Security (15%) - Design scalable network architectures with focus on performance, reliability, and security integration, architect firewall topologies including next-generation firewalls (NGFW), web application firewalls (WAF), and distributed security frameworks, conduct network fault finding and root cause analysis, design comprehensive network security architectures, zero-trust network architectures, network segmentation strategies, and secure cloud connectivity patterns, assess and recommend security technologies for network infrastructure, and evaluate emerging cybersecurity trends to inform architectural decisions.
• Business Collaboration (15%) - Translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language, adapt to industry-specific terminology, work with stakeholders to gather requirements, and present solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Vendor Management & Support (5%) - Coordinate with multiple technology vendors to evaluate products and services, manage vendor relationships and negotiate technical specifications, serve as primary technical contact for implementations, and evaluate vendor capabilities for technology partnerships
• Incident Response & Support (5%) - Provide technical expertise during security incidents and network outages, collaborate with security teams to investigate and resolve incidents, participate in post-incident reviews, and develop technical documentation for preventive measures

• Certifications & Experience: CCNA certification or equivalent, and 3+ years in technical architecture or related roles
• Technical Skills: Strong understanding of network infrastructure concepts and protocols, firewall technologies and configuration (PaloAlto preferred), security protocols and best practices, enterprise architecture principles, and multi-vendor network troubleshooting
• Professional Skills: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, excellent communication and documentation skills, and ability to integrate OEM design requirements with business needs
• Cloud Skills: Understanding of cloud platforms (Azure, AWS), hybrid infrastructure design, and cloud networking concepts

• CCNP or equivalent networking certification
• Cloud certifications (AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect)
• PaloAlto PCNSA certification
• CompTIA Security+ or equivalent security certifications

• Experience with cloud platforms and hybrid infrastructure design
• SD-WAN technologies experience (VeloCloud preferred)
• VOIP systems experience (SIP, RTP, QoS implementation)
• Cloud networking experience (Azure Virtual Networks, AWS VPC)
• Network automation and scripting knowledge (Python, PowerShell)
• Enterprise monitoring and management tools experience

• Background in cybersecurity or information security
• Previous experience in vendor management or procurement
• Experience supporting security incident response activities
• Project management experience with technology implementations
• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman)

• Position requires ability to work independently and make autonomous technical decisions
• Occasional after-hours support during incidents or maintenance windows required
• Regular interaction with external vendors, internal stakeholders, and executive leadership
• Some travel may be required for vendor meetings, site visits, or solution implementations
• Adherence to company governance, change management, and procedural processes