Presales - Network and Security Architect

Presales Architect – Network and Security

About the role

Our client is hiring a Presales Architect to design and win secure network solutions for enterprise and government customers. You will own the technical side of the sales cycle, from first discovery through to a signed, deliverable solution.

The role spans the full network security stack: SD-WAN, SSE and SASE, cloud networking, IoT and the managed services that wrap around them. You will work alongside account managers, product teams and delivery to shape solutions customers trust and the business can profitably run.

Key responsibilities

• Lead technical discovery to understand customer networks, security posture, risk and business outcomes
• Design end-to-end architectures across WAN, edge, cloud and security, balancing performance, compliance and cost
• Produce high-level and detailed designs, bills of materials, network diagrams and migration approaches
• Build solutions that are deliverable and supportable, working with delivery and operations to validate assumptions
• Act as the technical lead on opportunities, partnering with account managers from qualification to close
• Write technical responses for RFPs, RFQs and tenders, including government panel submissions
• Build trusted-advisor relationships with CIOs, CISOs, network leads and architects
• Work closely with vendor partners on joint solutions, pricing support and enablement

Skills and experience

• 8+ years in networking and security, with at least 4 years in a presales, solutions architect or technical consulting role
• Deep hands-on knowledge of routing, switching and WAN, and how carriage choices affect security and performance
• Proven design experience with at least two leading SD-WAN or SASE platforms, such as Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks (Prisma), Cisco, Zscaler, Netskope, Cato Networks or VMware VeloCloud
• Strong understanding of zero trust principles and frameworks such as the Essential Eight, ISM and ISO 27001
• Experience designing cloud network and security architectures in AWS and/or Azure
• A track record of winning complex, multi-service deals with a service provider, carrier, MSP or systems integrator
• Clear, confident communication with both technical and executive audiences, in writing and in person
• Ability to turn customer requirements into commercially sound managed service solutions

Desirable

• Vendor certifications such as CCNP/CCIE, Fortinet NSE 7+, PCNSE, Zscaler, Netskope or Cato SASE Expert
• Security certifications such as CISSP or CCSP
• Cloud certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect or Azure Network Engineer
• Experience with NSW or federal government, healthcare, critical infrastructure or telecommunications customers
• Exposure to 5G, private LTE or industrial IoT environments