At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of secure network solutions for diverse clients.
- Company: Join CDW, a Fortune 500 tech solutions provider with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, professional growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Embrace AI and continuous learning in a dynamic, equitable workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping innovative network solutions that drive customer success.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in network architecture with strong technical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
At CDW, we make it happen, together.
Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers.
It’s why we’re coworkers, not just employees.
Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another.
We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we’re headed.
We’re proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW.
Job summary
At CDW, we deliver customer outcomes through deep technical expertise, trusted relationships, and a strong services-led approach.
The Senior Network Architect operates as a senior presale overlay within the Secure Networks practice, responsible for shaping, designing, and leading complex network and security solutions aligned to customer business outcomes.
This role translates business requirements into high-level architectures, drives solution strategy across multi-vendor environments, and leads engagements from early discovery through to proposal and handover to delivery.
The Senior Network Architect is accountable for
- Owning solution architecture for complex customer opportunities
- Leading discovery, design, and proposal activities
- Aligning technology solutions to business outcomes, KPIs, and commercial objectives
- Driving the integration of CDW’s Professional and Managed Services into solution designs
- Supporting revenue growth through high-value, outcome-led engagements
What you will do
- Customer Engagement & Solution Ownership
- Lead customer discovery sessions to capture business and technical requirements
- Translate customer outcomes into scalable, high-level architectures
- Act as the technical authority throughout the engagement lifecycle
- Present solutions confidently to technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Architecture & Design
- Produce high quality solution proposals and where necessary High Level Designs (HLDs) aligned to customer requirements
- Design secure, scalable, and resilient network architectures across campus, data centre, WAN and cloud domains
- Ensure alignment with best practices, vendor validated designs, and CDW standards
- Support pricing, sizing, and commercial positioning
- Identify opportunities to enhance solutions with additional services or capabilities
- Contribution to pipeline growth and strategic opportunities
- Multi-Vendor Solution Strategy
- Define optimal technology stacks across networking and security domains
- Assess multiple vendor solutions for compatibility, scalability, and business fit
- Leverage vendor relationships, tools, and resources to validate designs
- Services Integration
- Embed Professional and Managed Services into solution designs
- Support scoping and estimation of services aligned to customer outcomes
- Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure smooth transition post-sale
- What we expect of you
- 10+ years in network architecture, design, or consulting roles
- Strong experience across enterprise and/or data centre networking
- Proven track record of leading customer-facing technical engagements
- Technical Expertise
- Enterprise networking: LAN, WAN, Data Centre (EVPN/VXLAN desirable)
- Security technologies: NGFW, ZTNA, IPS/IDS, segmentation (Micro & Macro), WAF
- Strong vendor experience (e. g. Cisco, Juniper, HPE Aruba, Arista, Fortinet, Palo Alto)
- Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions
- Strong problem-solving and solution design capability
- Experience producing high-quality technical documentation (HLDs, proposals)
- Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Confident presenter to senior stakeholders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to influence and build consensus across technical and commercial teams
- Understanding of solution pricing, risk, and commercial positioning
- Ability to align technical design with revenue and margin objectives
- Customer focused and outcome driven
- Strong analytical and decision making capability
- Effective collaboration across cross functional teams
- High level of accountability and ownership
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Experience with Zero Trust architectures and modern security frameworks
- Exposure to cloud networking (AWS, Azure)
- Exposure within observability and AIOps (Splunk, Logic Monitor, Big Panda)
- Experience with automation and AI-driven operations
- (Python, Net Box, Ansible, Terraform)
- Relevant certifications (e. g. CCNP/CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE, etc.)
- Working experience with AI within the workplace i. e. Microsoft Co Pilot
- Willingness to travel as required (typically up to 25%)
- CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization
We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools.
We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI.
Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making.
You don’t need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work.
Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants.
During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications.
As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating.
We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible.
We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.
About Us
CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what’s possible through technology.
What makes CDW different isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it.
At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more.
We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers.
And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning.
We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute.
That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.
As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes.
When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next.
Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do.
Together, we Make Amazing Happen.
CDW is an equal opportunity employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.
Senior Solution Architect - Secure Networks in London employer: CDW
At CDW, we foster a collaborative and inclusive work culture where every coworker is valued and empowered to contribute. Located in the heart of London, our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while ensuring that you are part of a dynamic team dedicated to innovation and excellence in technology solutions. With ample opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to embracing AI and new technologies, CDW is an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in their careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solution Architect - Secure Networks in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at CDW or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to CDW.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like CDW.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like CDW that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solution Architect - Secure Networks in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at CDW.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at CDW and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at CDW
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If CDW uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
