Experienced Customer Solutions Architect and Technical Leader - Cloud and Data Solutions Development and Implementation at blithequark

Introduction to blithequark blithequark has been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering the use of public cloud technology as the first large bank to fully adopt it, all while navigating the complexities of a highly regulated business environment. Our journey has been marked by significant milestones, including the development of a large engineering organization, the migration to the cloud, the re-architecture of our applications and data platforms, and the integration of machine learning at scale. Our AI/ML capabilities are now a benchmark for what is possible in the banking sector, with notable achievements such as the development of blithequark Eno. Through our tech journey, we have built and battle-tested new capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We have open-sourced several software tools we developed, such as Cloud Custodian and Hygieia, and have formed strategic partnerships with other digital leaders, including Microsoft. These collaborations have enabled us to develop a suite of internal solutions tailored to the challenges of a digital-first, cloud-first business at scale. Recognizing that many other businesses face similar data management needs as they accelerate their cloud and data journeys, we are exploring opportunities to bring some of these tools to market as enterprise B2B software solutions. Role Overview The blithequark Software team is seeking a highly motivated and customer-centric individual to join our team as a Customer Solutions Architect. As a key member of our team, you will be entrepreneurial by nature, comfortable working with diverse cross-functional teams, and talented at helping customers align technical and business outcomes. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about removing friction from the overall customer experience and thrive in an environment driven by bold ideas, collaboration, and creativity. Specifically, we are looking for experienced and collaborative technical pre-sales individuals to partner with technically skilled customers, internal Product and Engineering teams, as well as other cross-functional verticals. In this role, you will need to be technically capable and credible in your own right, as well as effective in shaping the customer and solutions-focused skills of your team. We are looking for individuals who love learning and introducing new technology to help colleagues and customers embrace and adopt new solutions. The ideal candidate will have past experience working as a Customer Solutions Architect, technical pre-sales, or a similar role, with the ability to grow their leadership skills and dive deep into various hands-on solutions while developing new skills. Key Responsibilities Cultivate trust and build relationships with customers by identifying, documenting, and measuring pain points and desired business outcomes. Effectively advocate and represent the voice of customers to influence organizational objectives, product roadmaps, and improve the overall customer experience. Manage relevant customer activity, identify risk and growth opportunities, and partner with internal teams to mitigate risks or close opportunities. Build and manage key processes, including product fit and tech fit discoveries, customer technical wins, customer FAQs, customer objections, customer feedback, and customer tech research. Serve as a knowledge resource and escalation point for coworkers and customers. Autonomously work through complex situations and ambiguous environments by building mechanisms and solutions to close gaps and grow the business. Lead cross-functionally to achieve organizational objectives, including the attainment of targets for customer solution needs, product fit, product growth, and evolution. Lead high customer satisfaction through the use of data and proactive solutions. Productively challenge the status quo with clarity, identifying and proposing different approaches and solutions. Conduct periodic check-ins with customers to ensure product fit and align on ways to drive more value together through technical solutioning. Develop and maintain technical support procedures and policies. Build credibility and trust within the team and with our business customers and stakeholders. Drive architecture/design reviews for our customers focused on business requirements, and as needed, design, plan, and manage architectural projects. Analyze, define, and document requirements for data, workflow, logical processes, hardware, and operating system environment to support customer needs. Work with business partners, architects, and other groups to identify technical and functional needs of systems and determine priority of needs. Stay current with new technology options and products, evaluating which ones would be a good fit for the customer or even a good fit for blithequark to develop. Key Areas of Focus for Customer Solutions Architects Trusted Advisor: Serve as the front line for our customer's tech, product, and cyber needs, as well as for solutioning product-specific improvements. Customer Ambassador: Represent the voice of the customer and customer needs in internal discussions and working groups. Demonstrate Value: Focus on identifying the best solutions that bring value to our customers. Thought Leadership: Use research and customer solutioning experiences to build and share thought leadership both internally and externally. Subject Matter Experts: Gain deep understanding of our products and deep subject matter expertise across technology domains to best advise our customers, solve complex problems, and identify areas of improvement for our products. Pre-Sales & Post-Sales: Serve our customers predominantly in the Pre-Sales stages, determining how to best implement our products for their needs, and also solve for any unique requests in the Post-Sales stages. Solution Oriented: Focus on finding solutions to address every customer problem and need using every tool, skillset, and creativity at our disposal. Channel Partnership: Collaborate with Partner Sales Engineers and Partner Sellers on joint customer strategies and joint value props, as applicable for different products. Essential and Preferred Qualifications To be successful in this role, you will need to have a strong foundation in customer-facing roles, with at least 4 years of experience in an organization or entrepreneurial context. You should also have at least 3 years of experience working with cross-functional teams and at least 3 years of experience with cloud services, data clouds, and data manipulation languages. Additionally, you should have at least 2 years of experience with design, implementation, or consulting experience of distributed applications. Preferred qualifications include a Master's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology, as well as a high level of comfort communicating effectively across internal and external organizations. A history of successful technical consulting and/or architecture engagements with large-scale customers or enterprises is also desirable, along with experience developing, marketing, selling, or supporting a client-facing technical product or service at scale. Skills and Competencies Strong technical skills, with the ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with customers, colleagues, and partners. Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with multiple priorities and deadlines. Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire teams to achieve their goals. Ability to think strategically, with a focus on driving business growth and improvement. Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits At blithequark, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. As a Customer Solutions Architect, you will have the opportunity to work on complex and challenging projects, developing your technical and leadership skills. You will also have access to a range of training and development programs, including mentorship, coaching, and formal training courses. Our goal is to help you achieve your career goals, whether that is to move into a leadership role or to specialize in a particular area of technology. Work Environment and Company Culture At blithequark, we pride ourselves on our collaborative and inclusive work environment. We believe in fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and experimentation, where employees feel empowered to take risks and try new things. We also prioritize diversity and inclusion, recognizing that a diverse workforce is essential to driving business success. Our employees are passionate about their work, and we are committed to providing a work environment that is supportive, flexible, and fun. Compensation, Perks, and Benefits At blithequark, we offer a competitive compensation package, including a salary range of $170,700 - $194,800 for this role. We also offer a range of perks and benefits, including health, financial, and other benefits that support your total well-being. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package that recognizes the importance of work-life balance and supports the unique needs of our employees. Conclusion If you are a motivated and customer-centric individual who is passionate about technology and innovation, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join the blithequark Software team as a Customer Solutions Architect. With your strong technical skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to think strategically, you will be well-positioned to succeed in this role and make a meaningful contribution to our team. Don't miss out on this opportunity to join a dynamic and innovative company that is shaping the future of technology. Apply now to take the first step in your journey with blithequark! Apply for this job