Partner Solutions Architect

Job Summary

The Partner Solutions Architect (PSA) at NetApp is a senior technical enablement resource aligned to a defined set of strategic Channel Partners within the UKI region. This role is focused on developing, enabling, and influencing partner technical communities, ensuring partners are equipped to lead with NetApp solutions independently. The PSA does not function as a direct sales engineer or primary customer-facing resource. Instead, the role partners closely with Partner Managers and partner technical leadership to build NetApp mindshare, technical competency, and long-term partner capability across the NetApp portfolio. Success in this role is driven by partner engagement, technical readiness, and alignment to partner goals, rather than direct sales execution.

Job Requirements

Partner Enablement & Technical Leadership:

• Serve as the primary technical enablement resource for assigned Channel partners within the UKI region.
• Build a solution/Bill of Materials to enable a Partner to quote our technology stack
• Develop partner technical capability so partners can independently conduct technical discovery, solution positioning, and sales activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior partner technical leaders, Pre-Sales Managers and partner-facing technical teams.
• Influence partner technical strategy by aligning NetApp solutions to partner offerings and go-to-market motions.

Partner Engagement & Programs:

• Work closely with Partner Managers to plan and deliver technical enablement activities, including partner-focused QBRs, lunch-and-learn sessions, and technical workshops.
• Design engagements that focus on educating and enabling partner technical teams, in addition to supporting individual deals from a technical lens.
• Assess partner technical maturity and tailor enablement plans to close capability gaps, and influence Partners’ GTM and portfolio.
• Provide ongoing compliance checks and where needed train technical Partner teams to ensure ongoing adherence with the Global NetApp Partner compliance program.

Portfolio & Technical Guidance:

• Educate partners on where and how NetApp fits within their portfolio and customer use cases.
• Guide partners on positioning NetApp solutions effectively within their own offerings.
• Support technical whiteboarding and solution discussions with partners when appropriate.
• Ensure partners understand the full NetApp portfolio and how to leverage it across infrastructure, data management, and cloud use cases.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of recent experience in enterprise infrastructure technologies, including storage, datacentre architecture, networking, and compute.
• 5+ years of experience working with and enabling channel partners in a technical capacity, such as Sales Engineer, Channel Sales Engineer, or Solutions Architect supporting the channel.
• Strong understanding of partner ecosystems and how partners position, sell, and support enterprise technology solutions.
• A thorough understanding of major Customer imperatives and the appropriate technology drivers and trends
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and build credibility with senior technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in a matrixed environment across partner and internal teams.