Senior Principal Solutions Architect

Make an impact with NTT DATA Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations, and for making a difference to our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion - it's a place where you can grow, belong and thrive. Your day at NTT DATA The Senior Principal Solutions Architect is a highly skilled and advanced subject matter expert. This role is required to have excellent cross domain level knowledge and is accountable for creating integrated infrastructure software solutions and collaborating with and supporting the architectural consulting function in architecting client infrastructure software solutions. The primary objective of this role is to ensure the optimal functioning of an entity's IT infrastructure software by outlining complex infrastructure software solution architecture descriptions across domains, functions and industries, then monitoring and governing the implementation. The Senior Principal Solution Architect supports, manages, and administers contracts for software and hardware services and infrastructure software products features across their assigned area of responsibility. This role also defines and facilitates communication between the business and its providers/vendors to deliver infrastructure software and OEM technology features according to plan and within budget and ensure licensing compliance. The Senior Principal Solution Architect will lead and develop NTT Data's Cisco architecture strategy and roadmap with our Technology Solutions Global Multinational Clients (GMNC). Solutions are the underpinnings of our customers' transformation. This role will have the opportunity to be on the bleeding edge of this transformation and to drive innovation with our emerging partners. The Senior Principal Solutions Architect will be working on strategic areas of Cisco's Networking, Data Center/Cloud, Cybersecurity and/or Workspace portfolio to drive growth in the business. This role will look to develop the technical relationship with their clients every single day. This role will be a Trusted Advisor that is a solution advocate for their customers. They will lead the charge for helping to drive software value realization with clients leveraging the power of lifecycle. What you'll be doing Provides expert multi-technology advice to internal clients, analyzing and providing strategies and solutions on all aspects of infrastructure software, hardware features and related technology components. Recommends, advises and executes on the best design for information technology architectures. Leads the design and communicates high level structure to enable and guide the design and development of integrated solutions that meet current and future business needs. Uses client business requirements to advise on the design, deployment and operation of infrastructures software. Creates designs that provide holistic views, but also contain the details of the components and interconnections between components. Involved with projects at the time of inception and is involved along with the project manager in the planning and governance of projects and the functional analysis (FA) of developing the initial requirements. Researches and investigates emerging infrastructure technologies, particularly on software defined infrastructure features and the best practices associated with these trends. Advises on the improvement of internal effectiveness by contributing to improving current methodologies, processes and tools. Shares responsibility for win strategy with sales and leads the client discovery with relevant insights and articulate how our proven solution and services deliver tangible results. Responsible for the Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) KPI and providing inputs on delivery, service offer design, of all aspects of Software Asset and License Management such as discovery, tracking, reporting, auditing, compliance, renewal, in line with the business objectives. Works with Client facing teams to influence subscription license sales, provide educational inputs and act as SPOC for all licensing-related technical queries. Manages and evaluates all regulations and legislation for licensing activities and ensure appropriate implementation and provide input into strategies. Understands Software Asset Management and Software Licensing policies and standards to ensure legal, security, contractual, and regulatory compliance and advise accordingly for service offer development. Provides support to the license renewals team and undertake a quality review of renewal request proposals prior to being issued to the relevant stakeholders. Remains current on software licensing rules and regulations in order to provide advice on queries related to license usage to ensure no non-conformance when proposing appropriate licenses to client's needs Analyses client software purchases to identify suitable bundles for effective commercial license proposal. Reviews the financial returns delivered by engagements to ensure the learning is captured as engagements deliver. Leads transformation deals on the conversion of current software licenses into Enterprise Agreements, change to optimal license structure etc. Knowledge and Attributes: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain solid stakeholder relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Significant grasp of Cisco Smart accounts and Smart licensing. Significant ability to share and communicate ideas clearly, both orally and in writing, to executive staff, business sponsors, and technical resources in clear concise language. Excellent organization skills with ability to maintain focus on assigned tasks. Significant understanding of a broad range of Hardware, Software, and Configuration operating models. Significant knowledge of different licensing models - Perpetual, Right To Use, End-User, Subscription, Enterprise Agreements, etc. Significant knowledge of relevant supply chain management methodologies and toolsets. Significant ability to think strategically and tactically. Ability to take data from multi sources and provide the reporting data for opportunity and Software Lifecycle Management (SLM). Ability to construct solutions using their expertise to drive more of the solution functions to align with the offerings. Significant knowledge on multi-technology infrastructure software, technology features and infrastructure solution design best practices in a variety of architecture domain including Networking, Data Centre, Collaboration and/or Security. Significant knowledge of project management principles. Significant knowledge of vendor roadmaps, new developments, and new product offerings. Significant knowledge of key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto license structure, license tools and license commercial model. Significant expertise in contract management, especially in contract negotiations. Significant proficiency in financial concepts and practices as they relate to software license and contract management. Academic Qualifications and Certifications: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Information Technology or related field. IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation qualification preferred. TOGAF / COBIT or related certification preferred. Certified Software related certification is desired. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification and/or competitor certifications strongly desired Required Experience: You have a minimum of 5 years of industry experience working with technical sales, direct/reseller channels driving business Deep knowledge across the Cisco portfolio and competitive offerings Significant demonstrated experience in digital infrastructure of the key vendor's software feature and technology capabilities. Significant demonstrated experience in providing an end-to-end design and solution in the aspect of the digital infrastructure. Significant prior experience in key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto license compliance. Significant engineering industry background in IT service provision preferred. Significant experience working as a software asset specialist/analyst, a software asset configuration specialist/manager, IT asset manager, or a licensing manager. Significant experience evaluating software asset agreements. Significant experience in license/software adoption strategies and frameworks. Significant experience auditing across an IT software portfolio. Significant experience in budgeting and forecasting. Significant experience in multiple industries and across several disciplines. Significant experience with projects through the sales engagement, pre-sales, and also architecture design validation, especially on the infrastructure software technology of key vendor, such as Cisco, VMWare, Microsoft and/or Palo Alto, as well as fully well-versed with the respective vendor's licensing model and structure. Significant experience working as a solution architect in a global IT services provider organization. Additional Career Level Description: Knowledge and application: Applies extensive knowledge of theories, practices, and design matters within and across functional areas. Leads the application of existing principles and guides development of new ideas. Problem solving: Works on issues that impact future success or addresses future concepts and products where solutions are devised based on limited information and requires judgment. Interaction: Creates formal networks with key decision makers and widely recognized as expert and thought leader by both internal and external community. Manages issues across significantly divergent audiences, reconciling multiple stakeholder views to resolve issues that have longer term impacts. Flexibility to work across multiple time zones and up to 30% Travel availability Impact: Translates organizational vision into functional plans, exercising wide latitude in determining objectives and approaches to critical assignments. Results impact the medium to long term goals of multiple functional areas. Accountability: Accountable for results which may impact the entire function. Financial impact can be broad and have far reaching impact on the organization but is not easily quantifiable. Workplace type: Hybrid Working About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a $30 billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. We invest over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have diverse experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure, and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group and headquartered in Tokyo. Equal Opportunity Employer NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Join our growing global team and accelerate your career with us. Apply today.