Presales Network Solution Architect - DC/VA/DE/MDDepartment: Blue Mantis
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Remote
Compensation: $160,000 - $185,000 / year
DescriptionThe Senior Network Solution Architect (SA) serves as a critical link between sales and delivery, translating client needs into actionable, scalable network and network security solutions. Operating at the intersection of business and technology, the Senior SA leads discovery, develops solution designs, validates feasibility, and presents architectures that balance technical depth with business value.
At the senior level, this role owns complex, multi-domain pursuits and acts as a trusted advisor in high-value client engagements. The Senior SA brings deep hands-on expertise across Cisco, Juniper, HPE (Aruba), and Fortinet platforms, along with stronger architectural judgment, commercial depth, and cross-functional influence to shape solutions that improve competitiveness and delivery confidence. The role is highly client-facing, requiring strong communication skills to engage both executives and technical teams.
Key ResponsibilitiesClient Engagement and Solution Design:- Work alongside sales teams to understand customer business goals, challenges, and buying drivers.
- Lead client discovery sessions to identify business challenges, technical requirements, and constraints across campus, data center, WAN, wireless, and security domains.
- Develop network and cross-practice solution architectures that are secure, scalable, and aligned to delivery objectives.
- Perform technical qualification and assessment of client network environments to validate solution fit and identify modernization opportunities.
- Present solution architectures in a way that aligns technical depth with business outcomes, risk, and investment value.
- Collaborate with clients and internal teams to refine scope, goals, and deliverables for proposed solutions.
Technical Leadership and Advisory:- Serve as the senior subject matter expert (SME) for enterprise networking and network security across the company's portfolio.
- Lead architecture and design across routing and switching, SD-WAN, SASE/SSE, enterprise wireless, data center and campus fabric, network segmentation, NAC, and next-generation firewall platforms.
- Maintain deep, current expertise across the primary vendor stack Cisco, Juniper, HPE (Aruba), and Fortinet - including competitive positioning, licensing models, and roadmap direction.
- Advise on adjacent domains including cloud connectivity, data center infrastructure, cybersecurity, unified communications, and endpoints where they intersect the network.
- Act as an escalation point for complex network design decisions and resolve solution tradeoffs with limited oversight.
Proposal Development:- Develop cost modeling and LOE estimates, including hardware, licensing and subscription models, partner solutions, and PS/Delivery requirements.
- Estimate required resources, costs, and timelines for proposed solutions.
- Lead development of solution narratives, assumptions, estimates, and scope framing for larger pursuits.
- Prepare and deliver technical pitches, proposals, and Statements of Work (SOWs).
- Support RFP responses by designing solutions, answering technical questions, and aligning delivery resources.
- Document solution architectures and ensure consistency across proposals and implementations.
- Support account executives in technical presentations and demonstrations.
Collaboration and Delivery Alignment- Partner with delivery and engineering teams to validate scope, resource requirements, and feasibility.
- Lead internal alignment across sales, delivery, and specialty teams for complex pursuits.
- Conduct internal handoffs to delivery, clarifying assumptions and ensuring continuity.
- Collaborate with vendor and distribution partners on solution positioning, deal registration, and specialized pricing
Continuous Improvement and Knowledge Sharing:- Contribute reusable assets, reference designs, and solution blueprints to the presales function.
- Actively mentor Solution Architects and help raise standards for discovery, design quality, and client engagement.
- Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices, sharing insights with colleagues and customers.
- Participate in internal review meetings, debriefings, and retrospectives to improve presales processes and solution delivery.
Skills, Knowledge and ExpertiseTechnical Skills:- In-depth understanding of enterprise networking and network security technologies, including routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), switching, VLANs/VXLAN, QoS, multicast, and network automation.
- Demonstrated design experience across the primary vendor stack: Cisco (Catalyst, Nexus, ACI, Catalyst SD-WAN/Viptela, Meraki, ISE), Juniper (MX/EX/QFX/SRX, Mist, Apstra), HPE Aruba (CX switching, wireless, ClearPass, EdgeConnect), and Fortinet (FortiGate, FortiSwitch, FortiAP, FortiManager/FortiAnalyzer, Secure SD-WAN).
- Experience designing SD-WAN, SASE/SSE, Zero Trust network access, and segmentation architectures.
- Strong background in enterprise IT architecture across adjacent disciplines such as cloud, storage, virtualization, cybersecurity, unified communications, and data management.
- Proficiency designing multi-practice solutions spanning multiple technology domains.
- Familiarity with cost modeling, licensing and subscription structures, and delivery resource planning.
- In-depth understanding of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS models, including multi-cloud and hybrid cloud connectivity (Direct Connect, ExpressRoute, Cloud Interconnect).
- Familiarity with automation and Infrastructure-as-Code tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible) and network observability platforms.
- Familiarity with regulatory and compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2).
- Experience with solution architectures for verticals such as financial services, healthcare, retail, education, and public sector.
Business and Soft Skills:- Strong client-facing presentation and communication skills, including with senior technical and business decision-makers.
- Ability to align technical solutions with business challenges and value drivers.
- Proven experience supporting presales engagements and proposal development.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and creative solution design.
- Ability to manage multiple pursuits and priorities simultaneously.
- Experience with pipeline management and CRM tools.
- Capable of working independently and as part of cross-functional teams.
- Cultivates and nurtures strong relationships with key client stakeholders to foster trust.
Education and Certifications:- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- Expert-level network certification strongly preferred - Cisco CCNP/CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure or Security, Juniper JNCIP/JNCIE, HPE Aruba ACSP/ACMX, or Fortinet NSE 6-8 / FCSS.
- Additional relevant certifications a plus (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, VMware VCP, TOGAF).
- ITIL or other service management framework certifications are a plus.
Experience:- 8-12+ years in IT solution design, network architecture, or technical presales roles, including ownership of complex, multi-workstream pursuits.
- Previous experience with a managed services provider (MSP), VAR, or systems integrator (SI) is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated success influencing senior client stakeholders and mentoring less experienced architects.
Base Salary Range: $165,000.00 - $195,000.00
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed by employees in this role. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.
