Sr. Solutions Architect, Cisco (Chicago)

Softchoice • Chicago, IL

7d

About The Position

Why you’ll love Softchoice:We are a software-focused IT solutions and services provider that equips organizations to be agile and innovative, and for their people to be engaged, connected, and creative at work. That means moving them to the cloud, helping them build the workplace of tomorrow, and enabling them to make smarter decisions about their technology. By doing these things we help them create success for their customers and their people. We stand proudly for our people and support their success through career development and advancement. We are recognized and respected for our culture of inclusion and belonging, continuously striving to do what’s good for our people and communities.

The impact you will have:

Position Overview: Cisco Solution Architect
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Cisco Solution Architect to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing advanced and complex Cisco-based solutions tailored to meet customer requirements. You will collaborate with customers to understand their business needs and technical requirements, creating detailed technical documentation and solution blueprints. Additionally, you will scope and define the services required for architecting and deploying Cisco solutions, providing technical leadership and guidance during the sales cycle including transition of solution design and knowledge of the customer’s needs to the engineering team for implementation.

In this role you will:

Bring people together by acting as a bridge between our sales team and our customers. Share up-to-date insights on the latest Cisco solutions, formulate creative approaches to address business and technical challenges, present and host workshops with business leaders from the C-Level down, and translate technical jargon into layman's language and vice versa. Challenge customers by using your skills, insight, and experience to help our customers see what it takes to do the right things versus simply doing things right. Confidently challenge their beliefs with well-researched, tailored insights to spotlight your innovative ways of generating solutions that maximize outcomes. As a Cisco Solution Architect, your impact will increase Cisco revenue and gross profit, with specific emphasis on Cisco products and Managed and Professional services, provide Cisco program, pricing, product, and promotion expertise in support of our sales organization. In addition, you will mentor and encourage your peers with less experience or specialized Cisco solution knowledge.

Who you will be working with:

All Softchoice customers from small to large
Sales team members that directly own accountability to manage the relationship with the customer
Modern Infrastructure Sales Executives who have full accountability to drive sales around Infrastructure, Public Cloud and Cisco technologies.

Requirements

• 3+ year’s experience with Cisco technologies, in directly selling or supporting as a presales resource, selling technology and or services in business to business scenarios.
• Extensive experience with Cisco networking, security and or collaboration technologies and solutions.
• Strong understanding of network design, application platform and infrastructure architectures principles and best practices.
• You are a learner and a quick study, always curious about new technologies and how they impact our customers' businesses.
• Proven track record of designing and implementing Cisco-based solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Active Cisco certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP, CCIE) are required
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• You may or may not have a bachelor’s degree but you have the equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with Sales Account Executives and Modern Infrastructure Sales Executives to engage with customers directly, early in the sales cycle, where customers have a need to modernize their infrastructure in datacenter, public cloud and with use of Cisco technologies.
• Collaborate with customers to understand their business needs and technical requirements.
• Design and develop Cisco-based solutions tailored to meet customer requirements.
• Create detailed technical documentation and solution blueprints.
• Scope and define the services required for deploying Cisco solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance during the pre-implementation phase ensuring that the services delivery team is fully briefed on the expected project outcomes.
• Participate in assessments and audits of existing network infrastructures to ensure solutions you design meet the needs of the customer.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned with industry best practices.
• Stay updated with the latest Cisco technologies and industry trends.
• Maintain relevant Cisco technical certifications in your focused specialization areas.
• Participate in collaboration with Cisco’s field sales and solution architecture teams when in co-selling motions with Cisco.

Benefits

• Health and Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, and Vision Care, Flexible Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program
• Financial Benefits: 401k Plan with Company Matching, Life and Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off: PTO and Sick Leave (starting at 20 days per year), Holidays, Parental Leave, Volunteer Days, Bereavement Leave
• Additional Perks: Employee Discount Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees