SENIOR PRE-SALES SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT
3 days ago
Swinton
Location: Lowry Mill, Lees Street, Manchester, M27 6DBWorking pattern: Hybrid 3 days per week in the officeSalary: £60,000£69,000Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per weekReporting to: Head of Technical ServicesABOUT DATASPIREDataspire partners with schools and multi-academy trusts to build dependable, high-performing technology environments. Our work helps schools operate securely and efficiently, while enabling teachers and students to make the most of technology.We are looking for a Senior Pre-Sales Solutions Architect to lead the discovery, architecture and presentation of complex, strategic and multi-site opportunities.You will be a senior technical voice in customer meetings, tenders, framework bids and internal solution reviews. You will shape solutions spanning infrastructure, cloud, identity, network, cyber security, safeguarding, endpoint management, backup and operational readiness.This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in education while working at the intersection of customer strategy, technical architecture, commercial shaping and operational delivery.THE ROLEAs Senior Pre-Sales Solutions Architect, you will own the technical direction of high-value and non-standard opportunities, ensuring solutions are compelling to customers, commercially balanced, deliverable by implementation teams and sustainable for systems operations.You will work closely with Sales, Implementation Services and Systems Operations, and will help improve Dataspires architecture standards, reference designs and reusable solution patterns.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESLead complex discovery across multiple schools, sites, stakeholder groups and technical domainsDesign end-to-end solutions spanning network, cloud, identity, endpoint, security, safeguarding, backup, compliance and operational monitoringApply Dataspire reference architectures and relevant DfE, NCSC and KCSIE guidance to solution designLead the technical contribution to strategic bids, tenders, framework opportunities and high-value projectsProduce high-quality solution documentation, including high-level designs, diagrams, scopes of work, assumptions, responsibilities, acceptance criteria and migration approachesPresent recommendations confidently to senior leadership teams, governors, trust leaders and technical steering groupsAdapt technical communication for non-technical decision-makers and technical specialistsWork with Sales and Finance to shape commercially viable and competitively positioned solutionsValidate delivery effort, dependencies, sequencing, migration plans and cutover feasibility with Implementation ServicesWork with Systems Operations to ensure every proposal is operationally ready, resilient, secure and supportableIdentify design, delivery, operational and commercial risks early, recommending practical mitigationsPeer-review solution designs, proposals, scopes and assumptions created by other members of the Solutions teamCoach and mentor Pre-Sales Solutions Architects in discovery, design quality, documentation and presentation skillsImprove reference architectures, solution standards, templates and the Dataspire solutions catalogueChallenge bespoke approaches where a repeatable, supportable standard solution would deliver a stronger customer outcomeTECHNOLOGIES YOU WILL DESIGN WITHNetwork and connectivity: HPE Aruba, Cisco Meraki and UbiquitiSecurity and edge services: Smoothwall, Securly, Barracuda and FortinetServers and virtualisation: Windows Server, Hyper-V, VMware ESXi, vCenter, Dell EMC and HPE ProLiantCollaboration and productivity: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for EducationIdentity and access: Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure AD and IAM CloudEndpoint and device management: Autopilot, SCCM, Intune, Google Endpoint Management, JAMF, Lightspeed and MDM platformsApple management: macOS, iPadOS, iOS and JAMFStorage and backup: SAN, NAS, Storage Spaces Direct and RedstorRemote access and communications: RDS, VPN, 3CX and Microsoft TeamsSecurity, filtering, safeguarding and compliance technology aligned with DfE, NCSC, Cyber Essentials and KCSIE expectationsWHAT WERE LOOKING FORSignificant consulting, pre-sales or architecture experience across infrastructure, cloud, network, security or education technologyStrong experience working in an MSP or similarly multi-customer technical environmentStrong architecture capability, including the ability to apply design principles and reference architectures to end-to-end solutionsBroad technical awareness across infrastructure and cloud, with particular depth in at least one key domain: network, cloud, identity, security or endpoint managementExperience leading complex discovery and translating ambiguous customer requirements into clear, practical solutionsExcellent presentation and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to influence senior decision-makersDemonstrable experience contributing to proposals, bids, tenders, RFPs or framework submissionsStrong commercial awareness, including solution shaping, risk management, pricing input and value articulationExcellent documentation skills, including solution designs, diagrams, scopes of work and proposalsConfidence to challenge designs, assumptions and approaches constructivelyA collaborative leadership style, with the ability to coach colleagues and work effectively as part of one teamDESIRABLE EXPERIENCEExperience working with schools or multi-academy trustsKnowledge of DfE standards, NCSC guidance, KCSIE, Cyber Essentials or education safeguarding requirementsExperience of design governance, reference architecture development or technical standards ownershipExperience supporting framework opportunities and strategic public-sector bidsEducation-sector experience is beneficial but not essential. We are equally interested in candidates who bring strong pre-sales architecture and stakeholder-management experience, with an interest in helping technology improve educational outcomes.WHAT WE OFFERSalary of £60,000£69,000Hybrid working, with 3 days per week in our Manchester office32 days annual leave, including bank holidaysAn additional paid Christmas shutdown dayYour birthday offOn-site parkingOptional branded workwearEmployee Assistance Programme, including wellbeing, mental health, legal, financial and personal supportPluralsight licence and protected learning timeVendor-led training where relevantMonthly one-to-ones and a structured continuing professional development frameworkClear progression towards Lead Solutions Architect, with responsibility for architecture standards, governance, reference designs and portfolio-level technical directionWHY THIS ROLE MATTERSThe solutions you shape will influence how schools and trusts invest in, deploy and operate technology. You will help teachers teach with confidence, protect staff and students, and give education leaders reliable technology foundations for the future.Dataspire is a Mental Health at Work Committed organisation and a Disability Confident employer. We are committed to creating a working environment where everyone feels supported, valued and able to perform at their best.TPBN1_UKTJ