Sr. Solutions Architect - Labs

Position: Sr. Solutions Architect - SHI Labs
** About Us*
* ** Since 1989, SHI International Corp. has helped organizations change the world through technology. We've grown every year since, and today we're proud to be a $16 billion global provider of IT solutions and services.*
* ** Over 17,000 organizations worldwide rely on SHI's concierge approach to help them solve what's next. But the heartbeat of SHI is our employees - all 7,000 of them. If you join our team, you'll enjoy:*
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** Our commitment to diversity, as the largest minority- and woman-owned enterprise in the U.S.*
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** Continuous professional growth and leadership opportunities.*
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** Health, wellness, and financial benefits to offer peace of mind to you and your family.*
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** World-class facilities and the technology you need to thrive - in our offices or yours.*
* ** Job Summary*
* We are seeking a highly experienced and customer-facing networking expert to serve as a senior technical leader within our organization. This role operates at the intersection of consulting, pre-sales, and engineering-partnering with customers, internal stakeholders, and vendors to design, validate, and deliver modern network solutions.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable advising executive stakeholders and executing hands-on technical work in complex lab environments. This individual will drive innovation, influence network strategy, and play a critical role in shaping both customer outcomes and internal technical capabilities.

** Role Description*
* ** Customer Engagement & Advisory*
* + Serve as the lead technical voice providing solution demonstrations to customers

+ Act as a trusted advisor to presales Field CIOs, CISOs, and engineering teams, influencing network strategy and technology decisions

+ Translate business and security requirements into structured use cases and test plans

+ Lead workshops, technical deep dives, and executive briefings

** Architecture, Design & Lab Execution*
* + Design and build complex lab environments simulating enterprise architectures

+ Develop and execute proof-of-concept (POC) and proof-of-value (POV) testing across multiple network solutions

+ Validate vendor capabilities, integration points, and real-world operational impact

+ Produce reference architectures, design documentation, and validation reports

** Pre-Sales & Post-Sales Leadership*
* + Partner with account teams and presales engineering to develop new network solutions, evaluate partnerships, and guide overall network support strategy

+ Lead the development and validation of clearly defined use cases and test cases

+ Lead technical scoping, sizing, and delivery planning for pilot engagements

+ Ensure successful project execution, stepping in to resolve complex or at-risk deployments when needed

** Lab Innovation & Practice Leadership*
* + Drive innovation within the networking team by evaluating emerging technologies

+ Provide feedback to vendors on product gaps, limitations, and enhancement opportunities

+ Mentor and develop engineers across the practice, from junior to senior levels

+ Assist in talent identification and technical interviewing

** Behaviors and Competencies*
* + Problem-Solving:
Can proactively identify and take ownership of complex problem-solving initiatives, initiate preventative measures, collaborate with others to find solutions, and drive successful outcomes.

+ Communication:
Can effectively communicate complex ideas and information to diverse audiences, facilitate effective communication between others, and mentor others in effective communication.

+ Adaptability:
Can lead others through change, help teams adapt to new directions, and create a culture open to change.

+ Leadership:
Can take ownership of complex team initiatives, collaborate with others in decision-making processes, and drive team performance.

+ Teamwork:
Can build and lead multiple teams, fostering a cooperative environment and ensuring effective communication between team members.

+ Self-Motivation:
Can take ownership of complex personal or professional initiatives, collaborate with others when necessary, and drive results through self-motivation.

** Skill Level Requirements*
* ** Technical Expertise*
* + Strong expertise across multiple domains, including:

+ Secure Access & Network Security (ZTNA, SASE, VDI, browser isolation, remote access, NGFW, segmentation, SD-WAN, etc.)

+ Network Design and Routing (WAN/LAN, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS)

+ Cloud and Virtualization (VPCs, VPNs, hybrid data centers)

+ Automation and Scripting (Python, Terraform, Ansible)

+ Ability to design, build, and troubleshoot complex integrated environments (hands-on)

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Experience with multi-technology integrations and interoperability testing

** Other Requirements*
* + 8+ years of experience in network engineering, architecture, or consulting roles

+ Experience in a VAR, consulting firm, or systems integrator strongly preferred

+ Proven success operating in a hybrid pre-sales/post-sales capacity

+ Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, multi-vendor network engagements

**…