Solution Architect

Company Overview :

Established in 2006, FluidOne is an award-winning provider of Connected Cloud Solutions with a £113m turnover and focus on customer service, consistently achieving one of the highest Net Promoter Scores (NPS) in the industry, securing 83 for July 2024. Underlying its services is FluidOne’s national fibre network, Platform One, which is the most connected network in the UK. FluidOne has a strong company culture enjoyed by 540 staff and was ranked in the top 50 Best Companies to work for in the UK awards 2023 and in the top 25 Technology companies to work for in the UK.

FluidOne supports the needs of 2400 customers, including 200 channel resellers, with services covering connectivity, SD-WAN, cyber security, IT managed services, mobile, IoT, UCaaS and CCaaS. Addressing the needs of SME, mid-market and Enterprise, FluidOne consults with its customers to design solutions that complement their in-house IT structures. FluidOne takes complex hybrid multi-site environments and makes them simple and secure, so end-users can access their business applications wherever they are.

Led by CEO Russell Horton, co-founder Chris Rogers (who started the business in 2006), CFO Roy Hastings and CRO Simon Ward, the management team is backed by Livingbridge to support their ambitious long-term strategy.

Role Overview

The Solution Architect is a pivotal role within our organisation, responsible for leading technical engagements with both new and existing clients. This role demands a detail-oriented professional with a proven track record of designing profitable and suitable solutions tailored to meet customer needs. The Solution Architect will be responsible for the design and oversight of complex customer solutions, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives and delivery capabilities.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Architecture Design: Lead client engagements, translating business requirements into robust technology architectures. Act as the design authority, proposing solutions that align with commercial targets and organisational processes.

Solution Design & Documentation: Create and present detailed technical documentation, ensuring that both functional and non-functional requirements are fully addressed in the design.

Balancing Requirements & Capabilities: Balance client needs, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), critical success factors, and delivery capabilities to provide optimal solutions.

Technical Leadership & Implementation Oversight: Provide technical leadership throughout customer projects, overseeing solution implementation and ensuring alignment with the architectural vision.

Proactive Solution Review & Strategic Direction: Continuously review customer solutions and contribute to roadmap sessions, proposing improvements and strategic directions to meet evolving client goals.

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, commercial, and sales management teams to ensure seamless integration of solutions across various business units.

Vendor & Supplier Management: Manage relationships with vendors and suppliers, leveraging strategic partnerships to enhance customer solutions. Understand vendor product roadmaps and co-develop solutions when appropriate.

Industry Standards & Compliance: Ensure solutions comply with relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards, such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001.

Sales Enablement: Support the sales team by providing technical expertise in developing sales collateral, participating in customer pitches, responding to technical objections, and ensuring alignment with market trends and customer demands.

Contribution to RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs: Provide technical input and expertise into Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), and Requests for Quotation (RFQs) to support the commercial team in winning new business.

Note: This job specification does not list all duties and is not limited to the above list of responsibilities

Experience / Qualifications

Essential:

• Technical Expertise:
  • Proficient in LAN, WAN, and Data Centre infrastructure, including technologies such as Switching, Routing, SD-WAN, SASE, WLAN, and SDN.
  • Strong experience with edge security appliances (Firewalls, IDS/IPS, DDoS), web application gateways, and load balancers.

• Architecture Frameworks:
  • Ideally experienced with structured architecture approaches, such as TOGAF.

• Client-Facing Experience:
  • Proven experience in architecting technical solutions for enterprise-sized customers.

• Security Knowledge:
  • Solid understanding of modern security protocols and procedures, with exposure to cybersecurity fundamentals.

• IT Best Practices & Governance:
  • Key understanding of IT best practices and governance frameworks.

• Communication & Presentation Skills:
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Comfortable presenting to audiences of varying sizes.

Desirable:

• Additional Technical Experience:
  • Experience with a wide range of technologies, including:
    • Network Access Controls
    • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
    • Endpoint Protection (Advanced malware protection, content filtering)
    • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions
    • Cloud Services
    • Systems and Mobile Management Software (e.g., Intune, MobileIron)
    • Enterprise UC Platforms (e.g. Teams Online, Mitel MI Voice, BroadWorks, 8x8)

Location: London or Colgate

How to apply:

Send CV with covering letter to recruitment@fluidone.com with the job title as the subject field.

FluidOne is an equal opportunities provider and welcomes applications regardless of sex, marital status, ethnic origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age.