At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead pre-sales technical strategy and design innovative enterprise networking solutions.
- Company: Join Black Box, a leader in enterprise networking with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact by shaping cutting-edge networking solutions for high-value clients.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in enterprise networking with strong solution consulting skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to mentor and drive innovation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
The US-based Pre-Sales Solution Engineer is a highly experienced, customer-facing technical leader within the Enterprise Networking (EN) practice at Black Box. This role is responsible for owning the pre-sales technical strategy for high-value and complex opportunities across Core EN technologies including LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, SD-Branch, and Network Security. This seasoned engineer works closely with Vertical Sales teams, Offering Managers, Partner Alliance Managers, and customers to design scalable, competitive, and differentiated solutions. The engineer not only supports strategic pursuits but also contributes to the evolution of our go-to-market offerings and field readiness.
Core Responsibilities
- Client-Facing Pre-Sales Support
- Lead discovery sessions, technical workshops, and strategic client briefings.
- Translate customer business outcomes into technical architectures.
- Influence and shape customer roadmaps and architecture standards.
- Solution Architecture & Innovation
- Architect robust enterprise network solutions using vendor best practices.
- Design repeatable solution templates and vertical-specific architectures.
- Participate in cross-domain solutioning, integrating network with cloud, security, or collaboration stacks.
- Proposal Development & Deal Shaping
- Create high-impact technical proposals, diagrams, and cost models.
- Respond to complex RFPs / RFIs with accurate and compelling content.
- Collaborate with pricing and delivery to validate technical and operational scope.
- Technical Presentations & Demonstrations
- Deliver compelling solution presentations to technical and executive audiences.
- Lead or support technical demonstrations, whiteboarding sessions, and proof-of-concepts.
- Represent Black Box as a trusted advisor in customer briefings and strategy sessions.
- Strategic Alignment & Advisory
- Work with Offerings Managers to co-develop new offerings and enhance existing ones based on field feedback.
- Coordinate with Alliance Managers to understand OEM roadmap and incorporate innovation into proposals.
- Act as a technical advisor to Sales Leaders and Business Unit VPs.
- Internal Enablement & Evangelism
- Mentor junior SEs and support onboarding efforts.
- Conduct solution walkthroughs, internal webinars, and SE playbook development.
- Drive internal adoption of tools, templates, and best practices.
- Market Intelligence
- Track competitive trends and help refine win themes and technical differentiators.
- Represent Black Box in customer advisory councils and vendor working groups.
- Relationships & Dependencies
- Product / Offerings Manager - Align on solution components, pricing tools, documentation kits.
- Partner Alliance Manager - Sync on OEM design rules, roadmap support, enablement sessions.
- Account Manager / BDM - Support opportunity strategy, customer technical needs, proposal presentation.
- Project Manager - Scope validation, post-sale handoff planning.
- Vertical Sales Leader - Collaborate on pursuit strategies and vertical value propositions.
Required Skills & Experience
- 10+ years of experience in enterprise networking pre-sales or solution consulting.
- Proven experience leading $1M+ enterprise solution pursuits.
- Strong understanding of multi-vendor architectures including Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, Aruba, Palo Alto.
- Expertise in LAN / Wi-Fi / SD-WAN, NAC, segmentation, and hybrid cloud networking.
- Mastery of Visio, proposal writing, and pricing coordination.
- Executive presence with ability to present to CIO / CTO levels.
- Demonstrated ability to lead solution presentations and conduct live or virtual technical demos.
Preferred Certifications
- CCNP / CCIE, JNCIP / JNCIE, NSE 4 / 5 / 7, or equivalent.
- ITIL Foundation or PMP (for cross-functional coordination).
This role is mission-critical for scaling Black Box's Enterprise Networking business. It requires both deep technical skills and high business acumen to align cross-functional teams and deliver compelling solutions that win strategic business and drive innovation in the field.
Solution Architect – Enterprise Networking in London employer: Black Box
Contact Detail:
Black Box Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect – Enterprise Networking in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, webinars, and meetups to connect with folks in the Enterprise Networking space. You never know who might be looking for someone with your skills!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio showcasing your past projects and solutions you've architected. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for interviews by rehearsing common technical questions and scenarios related to enterprise networking. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative. Plus, it gives you a direct line to us, making it easier to showcase your passion for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect – Enterprise Networking in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Solution Architect role. Highlight your experience with enterprise networking and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Mention specific technologies like LAN, WAN, and SD-WAN that you’ve worked with. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their knowledge in a clear and compelling way.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Black Box
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the core technologies mentioned in the job description, like LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, and SD-Branch. Brush up on vendor best practices and be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in past roles.
✨Prepare for Client-Facing Scenarios
Since this role involves leading discovery sessions and technical workshops, practice articulating your approach to translating customer needs into technical solutions. Think of examples where you've successfully influenced client roadmaps or architecture standards.
✨Craft Compelling Proposals
Get familiar with creating high-impact technical proposals and diagrams. Have a few examples ready that showcase your ability to respond to complex RFPs and how you’ve collaborated with teams to validate technical scopes.
✨Showcase Your Presentation Skills
You’ll need to deliver presentations to both technical and executive audiences, so practice your delivery style. Prepare to discuss how you’ve led technical demonstrations or whiteboarding sessions, and be ready to engage your audience effectively.