Solutions Architect at MainOne

Department: Technical
Reporting Line: Lead, FSI, Non-Core & Managed Network Services

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and business consultative leadership throughout the technical life cycle of technical solutions.
• Will be involved from pre-sales solution formulation through system deployment; including bid preparation and customer interface resulting in solutions architecture proposals.
• The Solutions Architect will develop and articulate solutions based on a customer's strategic business or technical requirements ascertained from working with multiple business units across the customer's organization.
• Coordinate with the sales team in formulating and building up proposal knowledge, including making technical demos and presentations to Main One customers.
• Assist in the translation of customer needs/technical requirements to appropriate solutions by liaising with customers to understand, anticipate and meet their specific needs.
• Design service solutions for Manages Network Service customers in line with ITIL and/or industry best practice
• Proven business development experience and familiarity with SME markets
• Demonstrate ability, determination and tenacity to move major initiatives forward and drive focus while consistently thinking of the bottom-line impact of the efforts
• Contribute proactively to new service development.
• Manage and develop strategic partnerships with third party suppliers and other internal stakeholders for Managed Network Services.
• Ensure quality, up-to-date documentation exists for all service arrangements

Supervisor:

• To work directly under the supervision  of the Lead, FSI, Non-Core & Managed Network Services

Contact:    

• The Solutions Architect report directly to the Technical Sales Manager.
• The Solutions Architect work closely with members of the Managed Network Service Team, Sales, Vendor Management, External Vendors, Project Management, Service delivery and members of other teams as required from time to time.

The Solutions Architect has regular contact with a number of internal and external stakeholders, these include but are not limited to:

• Abuja Sales Managers
• Project Manager
• Managed Services
• Service Delivery
• Legal
• CTO
• Product Development
• Team members
• Customers
• Technical Operations (TX, IP, OSP, DC and GNOC).

Competencies Required:    

• Experience with Cisco equipment essential. In-depth level knowledge of networking technologies including but not  limited to: TCP/IP (e.g. interpreting a packet trace file), WAN technologies,
• VPN (Layer 2 & 3) , QoS, firewalls, routers, switches, DNS, Metro Ethernet, SDH, EoSDH, DWDM, VOIP and Data Centre Designs
• Experience in designing and deploying standardized Voip technologies; SIP and H.323
• In-Depth knowledge of Radio/Microwave and terrestrial transmission systems.
• Experience in telecom architecture.
• Experience in WLAN technologies (Controllers, WAPs, and 802.11 fundamentals)
• Familiarity with 802.11g/n/ac/ax standards
• Experience relating business requirements to system and infrastructure components and designing the bill of materials for a project.
• Creative and innovative approach.
• Proactive with a positive 'can do' approach.
• Sound commercial business understanding and risk aware
• Knowledge of Radio/Microwave and terrestrial transmission systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation and leadership skills
• Experience in telecom architecture.
• Experience relating business requirements to system and infrastructure components and designing the bill of materials for a project.
• Creative and innovative approach.
• Proactive with a positive 'can do' approach.
• Sound commercial business understanding and risk aware.
• Set up and maintain a best practice library of company proposals and architectural designs proposed to customers with success and conversion rate indicators.
• Team player / Ability to work independently / Ability to work without supervision

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Information Communication Technology or E Engineering
• Cisco CCNA/CCDA/CCIP/CCNP/CCDP/CWNA
• Certifications in Cloud Technologies is considered a plus for this position.
• At least two (3) years of experience in proposal development, designing architecture, and implementing enterprise applications and systems.
• At least five (5) years industry experience.

Demands of the Job:

• Strong background in solution design with focus on IP/MPLS/WLAN/IPLC/VOIP/Metro Ethernet/Data Centre Collocation/Cloud technologies
• Background in Telecom and/or satellite industry.
• Problem solving
• Prioritising workload of self and others
• Written and verbal communications
• Contract negotiation and influencing skills.
• Relationship Management and Analytical Skills.