Principal Solution Architect – Security

CDW

4d • $165,200 - $231,120

About The Position

The Principal Solution Architect – Security is a field-based technical pre-sales leader who designs complex security solutions for public-sector and commercial customers, with primary regional support for the Southeast. The position owns technical solution development from discovery through architecture, bills of materials, statements of work, estimation, pricing, and customer-facing pre-sales support. It partners closely with sales and the Security Solutions Executive while serving as the more technically focused resource.

The role translates customer requirements into technically sound and commercially viable architectures; leads discovery, workshops, reviews, and presentations; and develops assessments, advisory services, optimization plans, technology health checks, and deployment approaches. It reviews scope, assumptions, dependencies, and delivery risk before proposals are finalized, builds relationships with security partners, maintains broad expertise across the security stack, and mentors Solution Architects and sellers. Regional customer and vendor activity may require travel within the Southeast as needed.

The stated pay range is $165,200–$231,120, depending on experience and skill set. The position has an annual bonus target of 25%, subject to the plan’s terms and conditions. Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials. CDW provides a benefits overview at https://cdw.benefit-info.com/.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Senior- or principal-level experience in security solution architecture, technical pre-sales, consulting, or post-sale delivery.
• Demonstrated experience personally creating bills of materials, statements of work, estimates, pricing, and customer-ready solution designs.
• Broad security expertise across multiple domains rather than knowledge limited to one product or vendor.
• Ability to balance technical architecture with customer-facing pre-sales and commercial requirements.
• Strong written, presentation, facilitation, and relationship-building skills with technical and executive audiences.
• Ability to travel within the region as needed; exact travel expectations will be confirmed during the hiring process.

Nice To Haves

• Public-sector experience is helpful but not required; strong commercial security architecture backgrounds are also relevant.
• Relevant security and partner certifications are preferred.
• Residence east of the Mississippi is preferred to support the Southeast region; West Coast candidates are not targeted for this role.
• Curiosity, a learner’s mindset, willingness to engage with evolving technology and tools, openness to experimentation, and readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with AI.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex security solutions for public-sector and commercial customers, primarily supporting state and local government opportunities in the Southeast.
• Translate customer business, security, compliance, and technical requirements into sound, commercially viable solution architectures.
• Personally develop bills of materials, statements of work, estimates, pricing, and supporting technical documentation for pre-sales pursuits.
• Lead technical discovery, architecture workshops, solution reviews, and customer-facing presentations.
• Partner with the Security Solutions Executive, sales leaders, delivery teams, and security vendors to shape and advance opportunities.
• Develop security assessments, advisory services, optimization plans, technology health checks, and deployment approaches.
• Review solution scope, assumptions, dependencies, and delivery risk before proposals are finalized.
• Build strategic relationships with key security partners and maintain broad technical expertise across the security stack.
• Mentor Solution Architects and sellers on architecture quality, pre-sales execution, and customer engagement.
• Support regional customer and vendor activity and travel within the Southeast as needed.

Benefits

• Annual bonus target of 25%, subject to terms and conditions of plan.
• Benefits overview available at https://cdw.benefit-info.com/.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior