Solution Engineer

$94,500 - $157,500/Yr

Lumen Technologies - Columbus, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

Columbus, OH

Telecommunications

About the position

Lumen is seeking Solution Engineers who are enthusiastic about utilizing technology innovation to enhance human experiences. This customer-facing role is integral to our Sales & Customer Success teams, where you will engage in meaningful discussions that influence the growth of our enterprise clients as they navigate the 4th Industrial Evolution. As a Solution Engineer, you will design and architect solutions using our technology services platform, requiring a blend of technical expertise and sales acumen. Your role will involve understanding business requirements, developing a technical sales strategy, and effectively presenting solutions that deliver business value to our customers. In this position, you will analyze customer needs through strategic discovery, leveraging your technical thought leadership to discuss industry best practices and present tailored product offerings. Your goal will be to recommend and propose solutions that position you as a trusted advisor, demonstrating how our products can enable digital business strategies. You will be expected to lead customer meetings, both in person and virtually, preparing and delivering technical proposals and presentations that resonate with diverse audiences. The Solution Engineer will also play a crucial role in customer solution development, where you will assess business and operational impacts of technology, craft custom solutions that differentiate Lumen's services, and ensure alignment with customer objectives. You will act as a customer advocate, participating in pre-sales efforts, technical sales presentations, architecture design discussions, and solution demonstrations. Additionally, you will support local sales teams in pursuing key business opportunities and collaborate with various internal teams to deliver effective solutions that build credibility and trust with customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and attend customer meetings in person and via collaboration tools.
• Prepare and deliver technical proposals and presentations tailored to the audience.
• Analyze and identify customer business and technology objectives through technical discovery.
• Architect client solutions to meet gathered requirements and assess business impacts.
• Craft and propose custom solutions that differentiate Lumen's services.
• Advise customers and sales teams on technical aspects of proposed solutions.
• Provide internal feedback to product management and sales leadership regarding customer experience and product features.
• Act as a customer advocate in pre-sales efforts, including technical presentations and solution demonstrations.
• Support local sales teams in pursuing key business opportunities and engage customers on data lifecycle aspects.

Requirements

• Technical pre-sales and/or consulting experience.
• Knowledge of Enterprise Architecture and Design.
• Technical knowledge across one or more Lumen technology pillars (Global network infrastructure, edge cloud capabilities, connected security, communication and collaboration services).
• Ability to lead technical workshops and discussions with mid-level IT stakeholders.
• Experience in complex deal discussions with internal teams.
• General problem-solving skills and ability to resolve complex issues.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team to build complex customer solutions.
• Strong presentation skills for both technical and executive audiences.
• Excellent listening, reasoning, and objection handling skills.
• B.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, MIS or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in technology-focused roles such as pre-sales, engineering, or consulting.

Nice-to-haves

• Industry certifications in specialized technologies.
• Experience in solution consulting - ITIL.
• Fundamental understanding of Cloud & Architecture design.
• Fundamental understanding of Network Functions Virtualization.
• Fundamental understanding of Security solutions.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life insurance coverage
• Dental insurance coverage
• Vision insurance coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• 401(k) matching contributions
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Flexible work hours and remote work options
• Tuition reimbursement for further education
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee discounts on products and services