About the Role

This is a fulltime, hybrid role combining onsite and remote work. The Senior Solutions Architect serves as the technical leader within the presales organization, partnering with sales teams to architect and propose complex IT solutions across networking, security, and hybrid cloud technologies. This senior role requires deep technical expertise across multiple technology domains and the ability to lead solution design, build accurate Bills of Materials (BoMs), scope professional services engagements, and define managed services offerings. The Senior Solutions Engineer acts as a trusted technical advisor to both customers and internal teams, ensuring proposed solutions align with customer business objectives while maintaining profitability and technical feasibility. This role requires a consultative approach, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to influence both technical and business stakeholders. The Senior Solutions Engineer must balance technical excellence with commercial awareness, ensuring solutions are both innovative and practical.

Responsibilities

Solution Design & Architecture

• Lead the design of complex, multi-vendor IT solutions spanning network infrastructure, security, collaboration, and hybrid cloud technologies.
• Conduct comprehensive technical discovery sessions to understand customer business requirements, existing infrastructure, and future technology roadmap.
• Develop detailed solution architectures that address customer requirements while optimizing for performance, security, scalability, and cost.
• Perform technical assessments and audits of customer IT environments to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities.
• Create high-level and low-level design documentation, network diagrams, and technical proposals using industry-standard tools.

Presales Delivery

• Build accurate and detailed Bills of Materials (BoMs) for hardware, software, licensing, and support/maintenance.
• Scope professional services engagements including project planning, resource allocation, timelines, and deliverables.
• Define managed services offerings with detailed service descriptions, SLAs, pricing models, and operational requirements.
• Develop technical proposals, Statements of Work (SOWs), and response documents for RFPs/RFIs.
• Lead technical presentations, demonstrations, and proof-of-concept (POC) activities with customer stakeholders.

Customer Engagement

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact during the presales cycle, building strong relationships with customer technical decision-makers.
• Facilitate technical discussions with C-level executives, IT directors, network architects, and security teams.
• Conduct whiteboard sessions to collaboratively design solutions and address technical objections.
• Secure technical buy-in and commitment from all necessary stakeholders to achieve technical close on opportunities.

Collaboration & Teamwork

• Collaborate closely with account managers, sales executives, and business development teams to drive opportunity progression.
• Coordinate with engineering and project management teams to ensure seamless handoff and alignment between presales and delivery.
• Partner with vendor representatives from Cisco, Fortinet, Microsoft, and other technology partners to leverage their expertise and resources.
• Participate in solution review meetings to ensure technical accuracy and commercial viability of proposals.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in Network Infrastructure and/or Cybersecurity Engineering delivery or design.
• 5+ years of experience in technical presales, solution architecture, or network/security engineering roles.
• 3+ years working in a VAR, MSP, systems integrator, or technology consulting environment.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering complex, multi-vendor IT solutions.
• Demonstrated success in achieving presales revenue targets and driving technical close on opportunities.
• Solid understanding of VAR business models including professional services and managed services.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Required Skills

• Exceptional communication skills with ability to present complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong executive presence and ability to engage with C-level stakeholders.
• Advanced whiteboarding and technical presentation skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong commercial awareness with understanding of pricing, margins, and profitability.
• Ability to manage multiple complex opportunities simultaneously.
• Self-motivated with strong work ethic and sense of ownership.
• Adaptable and thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Detail-oriented while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) and technical design tools (Visio, Lucidchart, etc.).

Desired Technical Experience

• Microsoft Azure infrastructure and services (networking, identity, security).
• Hybrid cloud connectivity (ExpressRoute, VPN Gateway, virtual WAN).
• Cloud security architecture (Microsoft Defender, Azure Firewall, cloud-native security).
• Multi-cloud networking and security design patterns.
• Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 collaboration services.
• Cisco Webex, Webex Calling, unified communications (UC).
• Contact center solutions and CCaaS platforms.
• Data center switching and routing (Cisco Nexus, ACI).
• Virtualization platforms (VMware vSphere, Hyper-V).

Katalyst is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, or age.