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Consulting Solution Architect - Managed Services

CDW · IL · Remote available · $121,450–$170,018 a year · Full time

Posted Dec 5, 2025 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you helped a customer understand why a managed service was better than doing it in-house.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain value in terms of staffing, coverage and risk, not just features.

Describe how you've worked with delivery teams during a sales cycle.

What they are checking: Whether they involve delivery early so the sold solution is realistic and well supported.

How do you build a long-term relationship after the first deal closes?

What they are checking: Whether they act as a trusted advisor who keeps growing the managed services account.

What would you do

A customer wants 24/7 coverage at a price that doesn't fit the model. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can find options and hold a sound position instead of promising what can't be delivered.

A sales rep wants to bundle a service the customer doesn't need. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they keep customer trust ahead of a short-term increase in deal size.

About the work

How would you scope a managed security service for a mid-sized customer?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn customer needs into a clear service scope that delivery can support and price.

Walk me through how you would answer a technical RFP or RFQ for managed services.

What they are checking: Whether they can write clear, accurate responses that match what the service actually includes.

What service level terms matter most in a managed security agreement?

What they are checking: Whether they understand response times, escalation paths and reporting that customers will hold CDW to.

How do you explain security risks to business leaders who aren't technical?

What they are checking: Whether they can make security needs clear and relevant to executives who decide on budget.

What security technologies do you know best, and how do they fit into a managed offering?

What they are checking: Whether their technical depth is strong enough to scope partner products inside a managed service.

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The full job description

As published by CDW.

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. The Consulting Managed Services Solution Architect (CMSA) is a field-based technical pre-sales role that focuses on developing comprehensive security solutions for CDW customers. This role involves providing consultative guidance, supporting partner product sales, scoping service offerings, and fostering strategic relationships to drive business growth. In this role you will be working with customers, delivery, and internal sales teams to develop and maintain strategic relationships and be a trusted advisor to grow our Managed Services business. What you will do: • Develop appropriate assessment and service solutions for CDW customers, including analysis, technical scoping and support for appropriate managed services offerings. • Collaborate with customers, delivery teams, and internal sales to offer consultative guidance, plan sales strategy, to provide quotations and technical response for Request for Proposal (RFP’s) Request for Quote (RFQ’s), Request for Information (RFI’s), standard proposals, and author statements of work (SOWs). • Costing and pricing of managed services opportunities to meet managed services business goals including gathering customer key metrics to scope and price. • Analyze technical and competitive considerations, defining actions to meet customer expectations in the sales cycle by uncovering customer long-term goals and requirements and crafting solutions that build towards the desired end goals. • Maintain strategic relationships with Customers, Internal Sales & Delivery management, acting as a trusted advisor to drive business growth. • Grow influence in your assigned territory and or client base by high levels of engagement with partners/customers/Sales as a strategic advisor and being seen by teammates as an expert in the field. Able to operate at a Sr. level or better for 80% of managed services offerings. • Act as a subject matter expert in multiple families of products and solutions, including services for multiple complex managed services offerings. • Assists and monitors many opportunities of varying complexity. • Works with resource coordinators/managers of delivery to ensure that appropriate quantity and quality of technical and services resources are deployed for engagements. • Collaborates with various technical delivery groups to review and compile technical analysis and compile financial data to support new or revised offerings. • Drive outreach initiatives, technical enablement projects, coaching, and mentoring for other MSAs, Sales Solutions Executive, and Field Sellers. • Mentoring and coaching of solution architects around best practices to engage with coworkers and customers. • Acquire and maintain relevant technology and industry certifications as required. What we expect of you: • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience and 8 years in technical, pre-sales, or post-sale delivery role. Or 12 years in technical, pre-sales, or post-sale delivery role. • Self-motivated and proactive professional with the ability to perform high-quality work independently, demonstrating strong ownership, accountability, and minimal need for direction. • Deep industry knowledge and domain expertise, with a strong understanding of market trends, regulatory requirements, and best practices relevant to Managed Services. Must possess comprehensive knowledge of enterprise architecture, company solutions, and technologies to effectively position and tailor recommendations for clients. • Areas of expertise for this role include: Networking (Cisco, Aruba, SD-WAN); Cybersecurity (Palo Alto, Fortinet, Exabeam, Microsoft Security, CrowdStrike); Cloud and Infrastructure (Microsoft Azure, Converged/Hyperconverged Systems, Storage, Endpoint Management). • Proven success collaborating across cross-functional teams, including Sales, Product, and Delivery, to drive solution alignment and customer satisfaction. Demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions, influence architectural decisions, and provide mentorship to junior team members. • Strong customer engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to identify and articulate customer needs, present complex technical concepts clearly, and develop trusted advisor relationships. Skilled in translating business challenges into strategic technology solutions that deliver measurable value. • Exceptional solution design and problem-solving capabilities, with a track record of designing and communicating scalable, secure, and cost-effective architectures. Able to analyze complex business problems, identify innovative solutions, and build consensus among technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage at both executive and technical levels and deliver persuasive, customer-focused solution recommendations. • Willingness to travel up to 25%, or as business needs dictate, to support client engagements, workshops, and project delivery activities. • Familiarity with system patching and endpoint management, is a plus. Pay range: $ 121,450 - $ 170,018 depending on experience and skill set Annual bonus target of 25% subject to terms and conditions of plan Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/ Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials We make technology work so people can do great things. CDW is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW helps its customers to navigate an increasingly complex IT market and maximize return on their technology investments. Together, we unite. Together, we win. Together, we thrive. 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. CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, CDW’s goal is to get to know you as an applicant and understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. While AI can help you present yourself more clearly and effectively, the essence of your application should be authentically yours. To learn more, please review CDW's AI Applicant Notice .

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