Azure Pre-Sales Architect

Job Title: Azure Pre-Sales Architect Experience Level: Senior (7+ years in cloud sales/solution architecture) Location: Remote Type: Contract Job Summary: The Azure Sales Architect is a customer-facing technical sales leader who drives Azure cloud adoption by designing and positioning Microsoft Azure solutions to enterprise clients. This role combines deep technical expertise with sales acumen, ensuring that proposed solutions align with customer business goals while maximizing revenue opportunities. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in cloud presales, strong Azure architecture skills, and the ability to influence C-level decision-makers. Key Responsibilities: 1. Technical Sales & Customer Engagement Partner with sales executives to identify and qualify Azure cloud opportunities. Lead discovery workshops to understand customer pain points and business objectives. Deliver compelling presentations, demos, and proof-of-concepts (PoCs) to showcase Azure solutions. Articulate business value, ROI, and competitive advantages of Azure vs. AWS/GCP. 2. Solution Design & Proposal Development Develop high-impact proposals, RFx responses, and Statements of Work (SOWs). Design scalable, secure, and cost-optimized Azure architectures (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). Advise customers on migration strategies (lift-and-shift, refactor, rearchitect). Incorporate AI/ML, data analytics, DevOps, and security best practices into solutions. 3. Deal Execution & Revenue Growth Collaborate with partners (Microsoft, ISVs, SIs) to accelerate deal closures. Provide technical guidance on pricing, licensing, and commercial models (Azure Hybrid Benefit, Reserved Instances). Support contract negotiations by addressing technical objections and risks. 4. Market & Competitive Intelligence Stay updated on Azure innovations (e.g., AI, Copilot, Fabric, OpenAI integrations). Analyze competitor offerings (AWS, GCP) and position Azure effectively. Share insights with sales and marketing teams to refine go-to-market strategies. Required Skills & Qualifications: Technical Expertise: ✅ Azure Cloud Services: Deep knowledge of Azure Compute, Networking, Storage, Databases, Security. Hands-on experience with AKS, Azure Synapse, AI/ML, IoT, and Data Solutions. Familiarity with hybrid/multi-cloud architectures (Azure Arc, Azure Stack). ✅ Cloud Migration & Modernization: Experience with Azure Migrate, ASR, and cloud-native development. Knowledge of FinOps, TCO analysis, and cost optimization strategies. Security & Compliance: Expertise in Azure Security Center, Defender, RBAC, and Zero Trust. Understanding of compliance standards (GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST). Sales & Consulting Skills: ✅ Presales & Customer Influence: Ability to translate technical features into business outcomes. Strong storytelling, whiteboarding, and objection-handling skills. Experience in RFP responses, deal shaping, and proposal development. Certifications (Preferred): Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate Show more Show less