: Software Architect

·        Job Description Summary

Provides primarily pre-sales technical support for the development and implementation of complex products/applications/solutions. Uses in-depth product knowledge to provide technical expertise to sales staff and the customer through sales presentations and product demonstrations. Assists the sales staff in assessing potential application of company products to meet customer needs and may prepare detailed product specifications for the development and implementation of customer products/applications/solutions. May create detailed design and implementation specifications for complex products/applications/solutions. May build a mini-application based on customer requirements to demonstrate feasibility of the application, often requiring rapid prototyping and/or product demo for client. May provide consultation to prospective users and/or product capability assessment and validation.

·        Job Description

Software Solution Architects has cross domain level knowledge and is accountable for creating integrated infrastructure software solutions and will collaborate and support the architectural consulting function in architecting client infrastructure software solutions. Their primary objective 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.

Software Solution Architect support, manage, and administer contracts for software and hardware services and infrastructure software products features across their assigned area of responsibility.

They also define and facilitate communication between the business and its providers/vendors to deliver infrastructure software and OEM technology features according to plan and within budget, and to ensure licensing compliance.

Key role and responsibilities:

·        Provide expert multi-technology advice to internal clients, analysing and providing strategies and solutions on all aspects of infrastructure software, hardware features and related technology components.

·        Advise and execute on the best design for information technology architectures.

·        Designs and communicates high level structure to enable and guide the design and development of integrated solutions that meet current and future business needs.

·        Use client business requirements to advise on the design, deployment and operation of infrastructures software.

·        Create 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.

·        Contribute advice on improving methodology frameworks.

·        Manage the proof of concept (POC) initiatives.

·        Researches and investigates emerging infrastructure technologies, particularly on software defined infrastructure features and the best practices associated with these trends.

·        Contribute to the improvement of internal effectiveness by contributing to improving current methodologies, processes and tools.

·        Shares responsibility for win strategy with sales. Will lead the client discovery with relevant insights and articulate how our proven solution & services deliver tangible results.

·        Shall be responsible for the Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) KPI.

·        Responsible for 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.

·        Work with Client facing teams to influence subscription license sales, provide educational inputs and act as SPOC for all licensing-related technical queries.

·        Coordinate with the product management team to maintain knowledge on all licensing changes.

·        Manage and evaluate all regulations and legislation for licensing activities and ensure appropriate implementation and provide input into strategies.

·        Maintain knowledge of all compliance trends and recommend changes for operational processes.

·        Understand Software Asset Management and Software Licensing policies and standards to ensure legal, security, contractual, and regulatory compliance and advise accordingly for service offer development

·        Provide support to the license renewals team and undertake a quality review of renewal request proposals prior to being issued to the relevant stakeholders.

·        Support projects and provide expertise for the Licensing aspects of service transition.

·        Research software licensing models, product use rights and license metrics/entitlements as needed

·        Remain 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

·        Analyse client software purchases to identify suitable bundles for effective commercial license proposal

·        Evaluate and recommend options to reduce licensing costs

·        Create process/procedures around licensing controls and management

·        Maintain software licensing knowledge and familiarity with product use rights

·        Ensure and maintain expertise and advise stakeholders on license management methods, processes, best practices, technologies and tools

·        Maintain familiarity with software licensing in the vendor’s environment.

·        Perform cost benefit analysis on the proposed licensing bundles to support the design of competitive pricing proposition of specific client deals.

·        Review the financial returns delivered by engagements to ensure the learning is captured as engagements deliver.

·        Lead transformation deals on the conversion of current software licenses into Enterprise Agreements, change to optimal license structure etc

·        Own documentations and deliver trainings to cross functional / internal teams

·        Work with senior leadership team.

·        Develop, implement and review operational policies and procedures

·        Solid grasp of Cisco Smart accounts and Smart licensing

·        Be available for internal stakeholders and client discussions on escalation and/or consumption report in detail

Knowledge, skills and attributes:

·        Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain solid stakeholder relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders

·        Ability to share and communicate ideas clearly, both orally and in writing, to executive staff, business sponsors, and technical resources in clear concise language

·        An influencer and ability to communicate at all levels within the stakeholder community

·        Strong organizers who can maintain focus on assigned tasking to completion

·        Ability to work under pressure and meet all given service management targets

·        Detailed understanding of a broad range of Hardware, Software, and Configuration operating models

·        Knowledge of different licensing models – Perpetual, Right To Use, End-User, Subscription, Enterprise Agreements, etc.

·        Sound knowledge of relevant supply chain management methodologies and toolsets

·        Engineering industry background in IT service provision

·        Ability to think strategically and tactically

·        Takes 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

·        Expert knowledge on multi-technology infrastructure software, technology features and infrastructure solution design best practices in a variety of architecture domain including Networking, Data Center, Collaboration and/or Security.

·        Deep knowledge of reference architectures

·        Good knowledge of project management principles

·        Knowledge of vendor roadmaps, new developments, and new product offerings

·        Analytical in their approach

Additional Skill:

·        Mandatory knowledge of key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto license structure, license tools and license commercial model.

·        Strong analytical and research skills

·        Excellent verbal and written communication skills

·        Good negotiations and problem-solving skills

·        Effective reporting and presentation skills

·        Excellent commercial acumen

·        High level of drive and ability to work under pressure

·        Superior awareness and understanding of relevant industry trends and issues, as well as vendor organizations and business practices within the field of software license management and compliance

·        Expertise in software license management, especially in interpreting contract language and compliance

·        Expertise in contract management, especially in contract negotiations

·        Proficient understanding of financial concepts and practices as they relate to software license and contract management

·        Certified Software related certification is desired