Associate Solution Architect

Aiven • Austin, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for a customer-centric Solutions Architect to promote the use of Aiven's managed open source services. An ideal candidate will be passionate about open-source technology and genuinely want to help customers in a pre-sales capacity. Suitable candidates must have proven experience in one of the following areas that will be required in their day-to-day job: Apache Kafka, PostgreSQL, or Opensearch. The position is full-time and permanent and will be located in Austin, TX.

Requirements

• Experience working in technology, software sales, pre-sales or consulting
• Fluency in one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, Go or Ruby
• Ability to translate complex technical jargon into clear, persuasive business value for non-technical buyers.
• Knowledgeable of public clouds (AWS, Google or Azure) and in the areas of compute, storage - block and object, networking, and security groups
• Linux operating system; demonstrable experience using various Linux utilities and tools (installation, securing system, storage, etc.) and a good grasp of networking basics like DNS
• Hands-on experience with search-engine ecosystems (OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, or Lucene).
• Understanding of streaming frameworks: Proficiency with tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Apache Spark Streaming, or AWS Kinesis.
• Understanding storage systems: Familiarity with distributed storage, NoSQL databases, and data lakes.
• Attention to detail and good problem solving and project management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work well with cross-functional teams
• Capability to build trust quickly and maintain strong relationships with both internal sales reps and external clients.

Nice To Haves

• Experience implementing proof of concepts as needed, to work with Aiven services in order to address business requirements a plus

Responsibilities

• Champion the customer journey, fostering trusted partnerships from pre-sales strategy through implementation and long-term adoption.
• Assess customer needs, pain points, and strategic goals to ensure the proposed product is a viable fit.
• Design and deliver customized, high-impact technical presentations and product demos for various stakeholders.
• Manage pilot programs or POC evaluations to prove the value and technical feasibility of the solution.
• Respond to the technical and functional sections of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and vendor assessments.
• Act as the voice of the customer by relaying market feedback and feature requests to the Product and Engineering teams.
• Be an ambassador for Aiven by various means such as writing technical blogs, conducting webinars, sponsor meetups, or technical talks at conferences
• Travel up to 10% of the time

Benefits

• Participate in Aiven’s equity plan
• Hybrid work policy
• Get the needed equipment to set yourself up for success
• Step up your career game with real employer support (use one of our learning platforms, annual learning budget, and more)
• Get holistic wellbeing support through our global Employee Assistance Program
• Contribute to open-source projects that you find meaningful outside of work - and get paid for it! Our Plankton program recognizes extra work to the open source ecosystem for developers and non-developers alike
• Use up to 5 days per year to volunteer for a good cause of your choice
• Join one of our team member resource groups - empower yourself and others in missions that resonate with you
• Comprehensive health insurance options including dental and vision benefits and Life and AD&D insurance
• Health savings account with Aiven contributions
• Short and long term disability plans
• 401(k) and roth 401(k) retirement plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed