Azure Solutions Architect - Presales

As a Solution Principal - Azure Data you will play a key role in driving the sales process by designing and presenting Azure-based data analytics and infrastructure solutions. You will work closely with prospective customers to understand their technical requirements, develop tailored architectures, and demonstrate the value of leveraging Microsoft Azure services. You will also collaborate with internal teams to ensure that all proposed solutions align with customer objectives and leverage best practices in cloud architecture and data analytics

What you'll be doing:

• Partner with the sales team to understand customer requirements and propose Microsoft Azure-based data analytics and infrastructure solutions.
• Design, architect, and present tailored solutions using Microsoft Azure services such as Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Databricks.
• Lead client-facing technical discussions, demonstrations, and proof of concept (POC) sessions to showcase Azure’s capabilities in data analytics, AI, and cloud infrastructure.
• Provide expert advice on Azure architecture, scalability, security, data governance, and cost optimization.
• Respond to RFIs/RFPs by creating technical proposals that outline solutions built on the Azure platform.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to develop new offerings and refine existing ones to meet market demands.
• Conduct technical workshops, webinars, and presentations to educate clients and internal teams about Azure services and best practices.
• Stay current on Azure’s evolving technology stack, trends in data analytics, and industry best practices.
• Support the transition of projects from pre-sales to post-sales teams, ensuring the delivery of solutions meets client expectations.
• Work Directly with Azure Sales organization to grow Microsoft Field Sales relationships

What skills you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Data Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in cloud solution architecture, pre-sales engineering, or data analytics with a focus on Microsoft Azure.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering Microsoft Azure data and infrastructure solutions in a pre-sales environment.
• Previous Azure Delivery experience working with multi-disciplinary teams
• Expertise in Microsoft Azure services:
• Data and Analytics: Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake, Power BI.
• Infrastructure: Azure Application Delivery Services (VM, AKS, App Service etc.) Networking (Firewalling, WAF, Front Door and multi-tier application routing) Security/Monitoring (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, App Insights etc.)
• Proficiency in cloud architecture design and implementation, including high-availability, scalability, and disaster recovery in Azure.
• Strong understanding of data pipelines, ETL processes, and data warehousing principles on Azure.
• Familiarity with data governance, security, and compliance within cloud environments (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Experience in cloud cost management and optimization techniques.
• Hands-on knowledge of scripting and automation tools (Bicep, Terraform, Ansible, AzCLI).
• Data Warehouse Migration from On-Premises hardware and server based DW (Netezza, Exadata, SQL, Mongo etc.)
• Nice to have: Experience with AI and machine learning tools on Azure (e.g., Azure Machine Learning, Cognitive Services).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into business value for non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a customer-centric approach.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Preferred, not required

• Microsoft Azure Certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Data Engineer, Azure DevOps Engineer
• Experience integrating Azure solutions with ERP systems (e.g., Dynamics 365, SAP) or other third-party applications.
• Previous experience working with large enterprise customers and handling complex sales cycles.