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Principal Technologist – Lenovo

CDW · IL · Remote available · $151,350–$211,870 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · 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 complex or transformational opportunity you shaped technically. What was your role in winning it?

What they are checking: Whether they have led senior presales work that changed the outcome of large deals.

How do you lead through influence when field architects and sellers across the country do not report to you?

What they are checking: Whether they can set national technical direction without formal authority.

What reusable practice assets have you created, and how did you get others to actually use them?

What they are checking: Whether they multiply their impact through tools others adopt, which is expected at principal level.

Tell me about a time you coached a less experienced architect through a hard customer engagement.

What they are checking: Whether they develop others, since coaching is part of how this role builds the practice.

What would you do

A customer wants AI-ready infrastructure but cannot clearly describe their workloads. How do you scope it?

What they are checking: Their ability to turn vague AI ambitions into realistic compute, storage and network requirements.

Lenovo is pushing a solution that you do not think fits the customer. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the customer's interests and CDW's credibility while keeping the partner relationship healthy.

How would you analyze a competitive situation where the customer is leaning toward another vendor's edge solution?

What they are checking: Their competitive analysis skill and ability to define actions within the sales cycle.

About the work

Walk me through the Lenovo ISG portfolio as you would explain it to a CIO who knows Dell and HPE well.

What they are checking: Whether they have deep, current command of Lenovo infrastructure and can position it against competitors.

When would you recommend hyperconverged infrastructure over a traditional converged or three-tier design?

What they are checking: Whether they make architecture choices based on workload and operations needs rather than preference.

How would you design an HPC or AI cluster where cooling and power at the customer's data center are the real constraints?

What they are checking: Whether they consider facility limits like liquid cooling and power density in modern data center design.

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The full job description

As published by CDW.

Job Summary: The Principal Solution Architect - Lenovo ISG is a nationally aligned, senior individual contributor technical pre-sales leadership role within CDW’s National Specialized Presales team. The role serves as a national technical authority for Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group solutions and provides strategic architectural direction across enterprise compute, storage, converged and hyperconverged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, high-performance computing, AI-ready infrastructure, edge, and modern data center platforms. The Principal Solution Architect works with internal and external sales teams to plan and organize sales strategies, analyze customer expectations and competitive and technical environments, and define actions within the sales cycle. The role partners with strategic customers, CDW leadership, sellers, field and consulting architects, services teams, and Lenovo to shape technical strategy and support complex and transformational opportunities. The Principal Solution Architect develops and maintains strategic relationships, serves as a trusted advisor, and leads through influence, innovation, thought leadership, coaching, and reusable practice assets. The role helps establish technical direction for the Lenovo ISG business while supporting cross-practice collaboration and consistent delivery quality. What you will do: • Serve as a national technical authority and escalation resource for complex, strategic, and transformational Lenovo ISG opportunities across CDW. • Define architectural direction for enterprise compute, storage, converged and hyperconverged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, HPC, AI-ready infrastructure, edge, and modern data center solutions. • Lead technical strategy for complex pursuits, including discovery, solution framing, architecture validation, competitive positioning, executive presentations, and cross-practice alignment. • Design solutions addressing infrastructure requirements, business constraints, operational considerations, financial objectives, and long-term roadmaps. • Serve as an executive-level trusted advisor and lead briefings, innovation workshops, architecture reviews, and business outcome discussions. • Review peer designs for quality, accuracy, scalability, supportability, and alignment to requirements. • Define complementary services and collaborate with services teams on scope and effort estimates. • Lead technical go-to-market execution and develop repeatable solution plays. • Develop standardized deliverables, reference architectures, design templates, SOW frameworks, demonstration guidance, assessment methods, and reusable intellectual property. • Maintain strategic relationships with Lenovo and ecosystem partners and execute joint strategies. • Lead national enablement and knowledge-sharing initiatives. • Coach and mentor architects, engineers, specialists other technical professionals. • Communicate CDW’s technology and services value proposition and support Lenovo ISG growth. What we expect of you: • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 7 years of technical pre-sales or technical architecture experience. Final minimum qualifications are subject to HR validation against the approved Principal Solution Architect job profile. • Demonstrated subject matter expertise in enterprise data center infrastructure and Lenovo ISG or comparable compute, storage, converged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, HPC, or AI infrastructure technologies. • Proven success designing, positioning, and selling complex technology solutions and services. • Advanced consulting, presentation, facilitation, written, and verbal communication skills. • Ability to influence without direct authority, mentor peers, and drive standards and best practices. • Strong business and market acumen connecting technology strategy to customer outcomes and growth. • Ability to travel as needed. • Current Lenovo ISG technical certifications aligned to the role and CDW partner requirements, a plus. • Experience architecting Lenovo ThinkSystem, ThinkAgile, TruScale, high-performance computing, AI-ready infrastructure, edge, and enterprise storage solutions, a plus. • Hands-on experience with OneIQ for infrastructure discovery, workload and resource analysis, collaborative solution design, and optimization of Lenovo ThinkAgile and ThinkSystem environments, a plus. • Proficiency with Lenovo Data Center Solution Configurator (DCSC) to develop, validate, document, and export accurate server, storage, networking, software-defined infrastructure, and services configurations for complex customer solutions, a plus. • Experience with Lenovo Solution Sizing Tool (LSST), including its NetApp Fusion-based storage sizing capabilities, to translate workload, capacity, performance, resiliency, and growth requirements into validated Lenovo storage recommendations, a plus. • Ability to combine OneIQ assessment insights, DCSC configurations, and LSST/Fusion sizing outputs into complete, supportable, and commercially actionable Lenovo solution architectures, a plus. • Experience with ecosystem technologies supporting modern data center solutions, including accelerated computing, virtualization, containers, hybrid cloud, networking, data protection, and infrastructure management, a plus. • Experience supporting highly complex strategic customers, enterprise transformations, multi-practice opportunities, or large data center modernization initiatives, a plus. • Experience developing architecture standards, new service offerings, technology practices, reusable solution assets, or go-to-market initiatives, a plus. • Demonstrated technical thought leadership through executive briefings, speaking, publishing, mentoring, innovation, or industry participation, a plus. Pay range: $151,350 - $211,870 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 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.

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