Principal solution architect

The Principal Field Solution Architect Artificial Intelligence and High Performance Compute (FSA) role focuses on pre-sales solution design.

The Principal FSA is a field-based technical presales role. They are expected to spend the majority of their time onsite at CDW customer locations in their local markets.

The Principal FSA develops and maintains strategic relationships with Sales Management of the teams they support and seen as a trusted advisor to grow business.

The Principal FSA is expected to be subject matter expert in multiple families of solutions. The incumbent in this role operates independently using standard approaches, existing tools, templates, and resources;

shares knowledge and information that may benefit the team. Key Areas of Responsibility* Technology Leadership : Is a passionate learner who demonstrates continuous learning by proactively expanding technical depth in products, solutions, and services.

If pertinent, achieves certifications in advanced technologies for CDW's Partner Certification Requirements.* Design and deliver effective sales and technical enablement plans that equip CDW’s Integrated Technology Solutions organization and sales resources with solutions, training, process and sales support so that they can readily identify and qualify opportunities, deliver high level value propositions that generate interest in CDW’s defined AI solutions, and close AI solution sales.

• Demonstrate machine learning (ML) solutions with engaging storytelling and technical accuracy* Architect ML workflows and systems from data ingestion to model deployment* Define the data elements shared between this business unit and other units in the enterprise and the relationships between those data elements and processes, people, systems, and other data elements.


• Operates with the perspective and insight that business needs, not just technology, establish the limits on what can be achieved.


• Designs technical solutions using standard approaches, considering the customer’s infrastructure limitations and opportunities;

analyzes, interprets, and presents assessment results.* Determines and defines services that complement and / or round out proposed hardware and software engagements, estimates required engineer effort.

• Uses team tools, templates, resources, and processes for maximum efficiency, productivity, consistency, and high quality execution.


• Provides feedback to technology leaders where opportunities exist to improve offerings, design, and delivery execution.


• Conducts technology / solutions training for CDW audiences (e.g., Sales, Inside Solution Architects), using developed material.


• Contributes to the team’s knowledge base and readily shares knowledge with other FSAs, Inside Solution Architects, and Sales.


• Assists new team members by answering questions and sharing expertise on the tools of the job.* Assists new hires by answering questions and sharing information.


• Sales : Follows up on implemented solutions and identifies new opportunities that complement the work that was completed.


• Researches and reviews customer profile information; applies knowledge of the vertical to develop customer intimacy prior to sales calls and / or strategy sessions.


• Uses various tools to calculate the Total Cost of Ownership and / or Return on Investment and explains to customers and Sales the business value of a solution and its benefits.


• Articulates to customers the Practice’s value proposition; articulates audience-centric version of the value proposition to customers, account managers, and partners and uses it to generate additional revenue opportunities for CDW.


• Plans and executes events in territory by replicating plans from other successful events; secures funding to support CDW customer events;

drives attendance to sponsored events.* Leads business-focused technology solution presentations at CDW, Customer, and Partner events and meetings in your territory.

• Uses technology assessments and demos as a sales tool for furthering sales opportunities; identifies cross sell-and / or up-sell opportunities for an engagement, equips / assists FSAs and Sales to pursue it.


• Collaborates with Partners, Inside Solution Architects (ISA) and Account Executives (AE) to drive mapped opportunities;


• fine tunes strategies and approaches to achieve greater sales results.* Operates in a regular cadence with multiple partners to educate, plan, and execute on joint strategies in collaboration with multiple stakeholders (ISA, AE, Sales Managers, Field Sales);

understands partner alignment in geography and leads customer opportunity mapping exercises; coordinates on-site partner visits.

• Develops a detailed and ambitious Territory Plan in collaboration with Partners, AEs, and ISAs and uses it to manage their business.


• Understands profit margin and how to increase profitability; works cooperatively with field sales to ensure healthy profitability.


• Leverages and maximizes partner pricing, partner registration programs, incentive programs, and special pricing, to win business and ensure healthy profitability, provides input on pricing to Account Managers, Field Sales, FSAs, and Partners to increase margin and deal size and position CDW for future opportunities;

negotiates pricing with Partners.* Produces marketing-type documents and materials (e.g., presentation) to customer in territory.

• Sales Support : Responds to questions about partner registrations, associated registration issues, and customer engagement history.


• Prioritizes time spent on opportunities based on potential return on investment.* Produces Bills of Materials, including product maintenance;

writes Statements of Work (including work estimates), RFPs, RFIs, and proposal content.* Maintains pre-sales pipeline data, develops plans, and takes actions to move opportunities to closure.

• Create Solution Differentiation by distinguishing CDW AI solutions from our competition based on our breadth and depth of our services for both clients and strategic partners, helping to establish CDW as a leader and preferred provider in the AI solution space.


• Education and / or Experience Qualifications* Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience* Four-year minimum technical pre-sales or technical architecting experienceRequired Qualifications* Stay up to date on products, applications, technical service, market conditions, competitive activities, advertising, and promotional trends through the reading of pertinent literature, seminars, and online training* Thorough understanding of the AI market* Thorough understanding of technology and tools needed to design and build AL and ML solutions, including hardware and software components* Practical experience with HPC job schedulers (eg.

Slurm workload manager) and High Performance Filesystem (e.g. Lustre) * Proven project management skills* Proficient in Microsoft office applications* Proven success and experience selling technologies solutions and services* Knowledge and proven success of engaging and working with sales teams* Ability to execute on territory goals and metrics* Ability to adapt and change to the business needs of the practice and team coverage model* Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, including consulting skills* Strong oral and written communication skills* Strong passion for learning and teaching others* Motivated and self-starting* Ability to think creatively and come up with proactive ideas that will increase sales* Strong problem solving skills* Must be able to communicate effectively and in a constructive manner with management, peers and coworkers* Ability to understand, remember, and apply oral and / or written instructions or other information.

Ability to organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology. Ability to multi-task, organize and prioritize. Ability to apply common sense in performing job.

Ability to understand and follow basic instructions and guidelines. Ability to travel as needed.Preferred Qualifications* Obtain and maintain relevant industry standard certifications COVID-19 Update : CDW is committed to maintaining a workplace that is free of known hazards and to ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of coworkers and candidates for employment and their families, as well as the community.

CDW requires all coworkers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with the only exceptions being a documented, legally required medical or religious accommodation.

Prior to starting with CDW, successful candidates will be required to : (i) be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide CDW with proof of full vaccination;

or (ii) apply for and receive a medical or religious-based accommodation to be exempt from the mandatory vaccination policy.

Last updated : 2022-11-23