Brief Description
The Senior Solution Engineer role is a consulting position and requires a minimum of 10 years experience working within a Managed Service Provider delivering strong Pre-Sales or Solution Architect activities/designs. The role is focused on Networking and Security infrastructure to provide Telecommunication services delivering connectivity and other overlay services within the DDaT Engineering and Design team to customers across the UK Rail industry for Rail infrastructure and Mobile Signalling, Systems, Telephony (TDM and IP), WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi, Datacentre and Cloud. Design activities start with requirements capture followed by stakeholder engagement, high level diagrams and document development to create a final costed and approved Solution Proposal to support customer requests for new Project implementations, Enhancements to live projects and Technology refresh/renewals.
Senior Solution Engineer proposals deliver end to end designs that are repeatable solutions using defined Solution and Architectural Building Blocks. Additionally identification of undefined Architectural/Solution Building Blocks within the DDaT portfolio is required to engage multiple stakeholders across the business with the objective of creating cost efficient repeatable solutions.
About the role (External)
The Senior Solution Engineer role is a consulting position and requires a minimum of 10 years’ of experience working within a Managed Service Provider delivering strong Pre-Sales or Solution Architect activities/designs focused on Networking and Security infrastructure supporting overlay services such as IP telephony. The Senior Solutions Engineer role is responsible for the pre-sales and post-sales technical consultancy to existing and prospect customers, producing solutions based on DDaT’s product portfolio, with an input into pricing model and quote/order processing. The role is technical in nature and customer focused, but it is expected that the individual is able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the bid cycle. Solutions Engineers works closely with Demand and Forecast Heads of Business Partnering, Customer Service Managers, Lead Delivery Managers, Service Owners, as well as Technology & Engineering groups to ensure the solutions are aligned with customers’ requirements, which are viable and suitable focussing on whole life costs to operate.What will you be doing?
1. Engaging with DDaT customers/clients to understand the business requirements / problem statements and translate to standard products & services.
2. To design solutions directly for DDaT customers and check that the solutions proposed align with the as-is and to-be network architecture & strategy, liaising with NRT Net Architecture if the solution is non-standard.
3. Manage stakeholder understanding and expectation regarding the solution; confirming functionality meets business needs in line with the business plan and whole life cost model.
4. Provide technical solutions consultancy to Telecoms related projects as required, preparing tenders, proposals and quotations.
5. Identify opportunities for the implementation of technical improvements that add value to the business through achievement of 'better, faster, cheaper' services.
6. Working with Product Management, Technology & Innovation to enhance the product portfolio based on industry understanding and the needs of the customer base.
7. Work in conjunction with approved suppliers to understand product road mapping and impact of end-of-life products to provide seamless integration into the environment.
8. Support the quote and order processing by providing clarity on the customer requirements in line with the “right first time” Service Delivery approach. Includes technical coaching and mentoring where required.
Meet the essential criteria? Apply today to join our team!Essential
9. Telecommunications services experience, pre/post-sales and network/service design within a service provider/integrator environment in a customer facing role.
10. Excellent technical skills to effectively liaise with new and existing customers to understand their requirements and suggest solutions based on the products and service portfolios, as well as network capabilities.
11. A demonstrable and practical understanding of both wholesale & enterprise telecoms services, in particular DWDM, Ethernet, MPLS VPNs, Security, VoIP, SDH, LAN/WAN environment, hosting, CCTV
12. Strong negotiation skills derived from working within a corporate and /or utilities governance environment.
13. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to explain, both in presentation form and verbally, complex technical solutions, to all levels within internal & external organisations.
14. Sufficient seniority and credibility to advise senior management in relation to the solutions.
15. Self-starter, able to drive initiatives with minimal direction.
16. Resilient and able to work under pressure of tight timescales if required.
17. Flexible and open-minded to different approaches to solution design and deployment
18. Clear understanding of the bid cycle.
19. Educated to degree level or equivalent.
Desirable
20. Cisco certs, CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCIE
21. Knowledge of telecoms within the rail or transport industry sector
22. Understanding of a number of the following: Excellent Business Acumen with strong commercial focus (P&L) and financially astute
23. Recognition of the dynamics and characteristics of the telecom market products, services and suppliers.