Senior Solutions Architect at Vodacom

Role Purpose

The Senior Specialist : Solutions Architect role based within Vodacom Business.

• The Senior Solutions Architect role is based within the Enterprise Business Unit The role of the Senior Solutions Architect is to interact with customers to gather technical requirements, architect customer IT Infrastructure and compile solution proposal documentation in the Cloud and Hosting Services space as part of the Sales process
   

Your responsibilities will include:

• Perform role of interface between customer, commercial and technical entities by translating between business requirements and technical specifications. 
• Provide a solution focused consultancy service to clients e.g. property developers, SMEs, business partners and retail customers. 
• This will be in support of sales and presales colleagues, which will entail the analysing of complex customer requirements 
• Provide high level assistance and support prior to solution implementation, during solution implementation and post solution implementation. 
• Build and maintain productive relationships with key clients, internal groups within the company, suppliers and partners. 
• Deliver presentations to customers on existing and emerging technologies as well as the benefits or impact of these on customers. Identify opportunities within client environments for solutions or new product development. 
• Respond to business and wholesale customer queries as per request for information (RFI) and request for proposal (RFP) documents. 
• Conduct research on and keep abreast of ICT trends to identify new product opportunities. Utilise solution design experience and expertise to provide input into and create architecture for new product development. 
• Regularly meet with the internal parties; e.g. Products and Engineering teams; as well as external parties; e.g. suppliers and partners; in order to understand internal and external roadmaps, technology strategies and product strategies. 
• Review and assess all existing products and services or those being considered by Vodacom in terms of its applicability and impact on business customers.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

Knowledge: 

• Knowledge of converged solutions, Vodacom Business Product portfolio and technical design, Vodacom Consumer fixed offering and technical design, Infrastructure design, and development e.g. Software, Infrastructure and Platform services, and unified communications.   
• Cross-Domain Technology Architecture knowledge coupled with implementation experience including a combination 
• In-depth knowledge of various technology architecture domains and convergence (preferred).

Must have technical / professional qualifications and experience: 

• 5 - 8 Years relevant experience in IT or Engineering (essential).   
• 3 year Degree in IT or Engineering related field (essential).
• Industry certification e.g. Cisco (CCNA/CCDA and above), Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (preferred).