Solutions Architect, SAP Specialist
Tracking Code
198678-936
Job Description
Savvis Culture:
Savvis, which merged with CenturyLink in July 2011, is an outsourcing provider of managed computing and network infrastructure for IT applications. By outsourcing to Savvis, enterprises can focus on their core business while Savvis ensures the quality of their IT infrastructure. Leading IT organizations around the world have selected Savvis to help them improve their service levels, reduce capital expense and deal with the rising costs of bandwidth, energy, real estate, staff and expertise. As a pioneer in utility computing, Savvis understands and harnesses the latest advances in technology such as virtualization, cloud computing and support process automation.
The ideal candidate for this position must be experienced with SAP, including underlying infrastructure requirements, implementation and operations for traditional SAP, SAP HANA and mySAP.
The candidate must have in-depth knowledge and experience in working with technologies such as virtualization, grid or cloud computing, managed computing / storage / backup and relational databases.
The candidate must possess excellent spoken and written communication skills and presentation skills. The candidate should have superior presentation skills and be comfortable communicating with both technology and business leaders leaders about solution components, requirements, and benefits in the areas of business, technology, and finance.
The candidate must be comfortable with business travel (up to 75%), creating, reviewing, and delivering customer deliverables (technical architectures, presentations, best practices, etc.) for Savvis customers and should be able to quickly learn and integrate their solutions with Savvis product offerings.
Responsibilities include preparing customer presentations, architectural designs, and bid responses. The candidate should be familiar with sizing and performance tuning tools and methodologies used in SAP environments. Solutions Architects are also responsible for providing technical training for the sales force.
Position Objectives: The overall objectives of the position are:
* Provide technical support to help drive revenue through all sales channels
* Present Savvis SAP capabilities to customers & prospects
* Develop & present preliminary technical designs for customer solutions
* Perform accurate sizing for SAP application environment infrastructure
* Provide technical training to the sales and SE teams
* Work with Product Management to help drive appropriate product enhancements and develop roadmaps
* Engage and work with Solutions Consulting team to complement customer solutions
Essential duties:
* Perform consultative, solutions-based design and thought leadership for business clients who desire outsourced infrastructure options to enhance their own technical capabilities,
* Pre-sales design and implementation expertise in SAP architectures
* Field technical questions from prospects and clients
* Determine client requirements and provide internal and external insight in support of solutions deliverables
* Provide consultative services based on prospect’s requirements and available Savvis product offerings
* Represent Savvis technical capabilities to prospective customers and existing customer base, and influence customer expectations according to product, Consulting, and 3rdParty Partner capabilities and constraints
* Present Savvis proposed solutions in a professional business environment, demonstrating salesmanship
* Provide post-sale support to installation personnel as needed to clarify service expectations; including providing diagrams, verbal explanation, and written documentation
* Present technical training to new and existing Sales and Sales Support personnel
* Meet and exceed management targets for number of customer contacts, number and complexity of sales opportunities supported, and training completed
* Provide technology consulting for internal contacts in Product Management and Marketing, and translate prospective customer requirements into recommendations for new or enhanced products and features
* Ensure compliance with all Policies and Procedures
* Attend company and regional meetings as required, maintain peer relationships and understand and utilize company resources
* Development of SE colleagues. I.E. – deal coaching, training sessions, mentoring programs
* Drive and instill solution best practices
* Assist in Savvis efforts to build Industry Recognition by:
* Authoring White Papers
* Trade Show Representation
* Vendor Sponsored Speaking
* Provide Professional Services SOW for Non Standard Components
* Develop Solutions technically with mapping to:
* Business Objective
* Industry Competitiveness
* Transformation of Technology and Business
* Value Based Decision Support/TCO-ROI Analysis
* Core to SAVVIS and unique to customer
* Train and Lead the Solutions Engineers for:
* Products
* Technology and Industry Trends
* Process Optimization
Required skills:
* Complete understanding of the sales process and Savvis product portfolio
* Proficient with common office applications, including MS Outlook, MS Excel, and MS Visio
* Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills (oral, written and presentation)
* Experience performing needs assessments, and making recommendations based on the discovered needs
* Ability to document solution components in a timely manner while ensuring acceptable level of detail, data integrity, and accountability
* Ability and willingness to share knowledge and expertise among various organizations within the company
* Ability and willingness to take the initiative to facilitate teamwork within the various organizations of the company to serve the customer
* Ability to work in a team environment and demonstrate strong problem solving skills
* Capability to schedule time with flexibility to handle varying workload, and still meet tight deadlines
* Ability to multi-task and work multiple projects simultaneously
* Experience/In-depth knowledge in distributed systems running:
* SAP
* mySAP
* SAP HANA
* Associated relational databases, including storage and backup
* Knowledge and understanding of how Cloud architectures function for IaaS solutions
* Proficiency in infrastructure technology areas including server hardware, operating systems, networking, storage, virtualization, automation, and orchestration, and cloud architecture
* Strong teaming skills, with the ability to collaborate and perform well within a complex matrixed organization
* 10+ years experience working with one or more top consulting or industry firms in a consultative or architectural capacity
Desired skills:
* Knowledge and at least four year’s experience in Managed Hosting Services, Cloud, Virtualization, Outsourced infrastructure solutions (managed and un-managed), specialized Enterprise application suites
* Experience with disaster recovery solutions
* Knowledge and at least two year’s experience in design of distributed, high availability server-based network computing infrastructures. Storage network experience is desirable.
* Knowledge and at least two year’s experience in configuration and support of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, or Solaris operating systems, including remote management
* Knowledge of computer environmental facilities including power distribution, uninterruptible power switching systems, generators, air handling equipment, cabling and cable management systems, fire suppression, and security
* Web application design experience in Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS), Apache, and Netscape/iPlanet
* Preferred knowledge: Oracle, Sybase SQL, Cisco, Juniper, and Checkpoint
Competency Level:
Advanced level proficiency in the following Savvis Solutions Engineering competencies:
* Identify Customer Needs
* Problem Solving
* Delivers Added Value to Customers
* Build and Propose a Business Case
* Makes Persuasive Product/Solution Presentations
* Commits Time and Effort to Increase Professional Development
* Educates Customers through Structured Methodology
Education or Equivalent Experience:
* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/MIS/Computer Science/Telecom
* 10 + years of experience as a Sales Engineer, Hosting Support engineer for a Service Provider in the Enterprise Marketplace, or related operational engineering role
Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. No phone calls, please.
Job Location
Anywhere, , United States
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular