Solutions Architect

The Vacancy

We’re building an inclusive work environment

Here at Zen your gender, race, ethnicity, neurodiversity, sexuality, sub culture, size, introversion, extraversion, family background and everything else that shapes you does matter to us. Because they matter to you and are part of who you are.

We’re interested in you as an individual and here you’ll find opportunities to develop, be recognised and hopefully enjoy yourself along the way. So don’t hold back, there is a warm welcome for everyone at Zen and we look forward to meeting you.

FAO Recruitment agencies & organisations:  Please note that we do not need agency support to fill this role. We have a small, but great, pool of agencies on our PSL and will contact one of those if we need to.

The Customer Solutions Architecture team is responsible for designing, proposing and delivering technical solutions to new and existing clients based on Zen’s portfolio of technologies.

This is a high-profile role in which you will interact closely with our clients to understand their business and technology requirements, create high level designs based on Zen’s product portfolio and work with our Sales teams to create and present compelling proposals, as well as collaborating with engineering and operations teams to deliver solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Work with clients to understand their requirements and design and document suitable solutions. Manage client engagements including interviews, conferences and workshops. Work with Sales teams to articulate key benefits of technology to clients. Build relationships with key clients and partners, becoming a trusted advisor. Structure and produce compelling sales proposals, commercial and technical documentation. Collaborate with the project engineering teams, articulating customer requirements, to ensure smooth transition from Sale to Delivery. Regularly engage with key customers to build relationships, gain insight into their business operational needs. and challenges and identify opportunities to enhance customer experience. Identify opportunities for new service development and Professional Services based on customer feedback/ engagement. Be actively involved and informed about new service developments.

Candidate Profile

Significant previous experience of requirements gathering and solution design in a commercial setting. Able to show and discuss a range of previous customer solution designs and approaches. Possess excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Confident presenting in a formal setting and be able to chair and take the lead in customer meetings when required. Driven to “do the right thing” by the customer. Able to build strong relationships with engineers, sales teams and clients from a range of professional backgrounds. Working knowledge and experience in IPVPN, WAN (Ethernet, FTTx) technologies and a genuine interest to learn and develop knowledge of this part of the market. Familiarity and / or experience with Cisco SD-WAN is desirable. Excited by technology, with the ability to get ‘hands-on’ when required. Full UK drivers’ licence and willingness to travel through sales territory. Takes control of own learning journey, making sure to stay relevant with the needs of our business and our customers. Document and share knowledge and best practice with colleagues.

Technical skillset

As a Solutions Architect, you should have experience with at least one of the technologies described below. Where you have experience, you should be able to demonstrate professional level skills to specify and implement solutions using these technologies, drawing on practical experience from previous work. Professional level certifications in these areas are also an advantage.

IP Networks.

A good understanding of IP networking in the WAN and LAN is essential, the Architect should be able to articulate networking requirements to network specialists and engineers in a solutions design. Topics you should be comfortable with include IP concepts (addressing, forwarding) in v4 and v6, Ethernet and broadband services, IP routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF and LAN technologies in the wired domain. Knowledge of Wi-Fi technology would be a plus.

MPLS based private networks.

You should have familiarity with private networks based on MPLS technology, either from an architecture or engineering perspective.

SD-WAN

Previous experience of high-level design utilising SD-WAN technologies is a requirement. Experience with Cisco (Viptela / Catalyst) is preferred, Meraki would be a “nice to have”

Security.

A general appreciation of the importance of security and its application in private networks is required, from simple ACLs to next generation firewalls and the SASE security stack. Knowledge of authentication methods such as 802.1x and SSO using LDAP / SAML would be an advantage.

Associated or dependant technologies.

Experience in working with technologies which are dependent on network design for their function and performance, for instance VoIP, would be desirable.

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