Partner Solution Architect
NetApp ·
- Category
- Architecture
A senior technical enablement role at NetApp: scaling technical reach through the partner ecosystem by coaching resellers, distributors, and alliance partners to independently architect, sell, and deliver NetApp solutions. Involves running workshops and labs, mentoring partner engineers, architecture guidance, and thought leadership across cloud and storage portfolios.
Job Summary
You'll help partners become self-sufficient technical engines of growth.
As a Partner Solutions Architect (PSA), you will be a technical leader responsible for scaling NetApp's technical reach through the partner ecosystem. Acting as a trusted advisor to strategic reseller, distributor, and alliance partners, you will build partner capability, shape technical strategy, and enable partners to independently position, architect, sell, and deliver NetApp solutions
Working closely with partners, field sales, systems engineers, alliance teams, and product organisations, you will bridge technical enablement and business execution. Through coaching, solution leadership, community development, and thought leadership, you will accelerate partner maturity, expand portfolio adoption, and drive measurable partner-led growth. Success in this role comes from influence, enablement, and scale rather than direct ownership of customer opportunities.
The PSA operates through coaching, mentoring, and capability development rather than direct execution. The goal is to help partners become increasing self-sufficent, reducing dependency on NetApp whilst increasing their ability to independently create customer and business growth.
What You'll Do
Build Partner Capability
Own the technical enablement strategy for assigned partners, aligned to business priorities and growth objectives. Develop partner technical maturity across NetApp's strategic solution portfolios through scalable workshops, bootcamps, hands-on labs, technical onboarding programmes, and coaching initiatives. Mentor partner Solution Architects, Systems Engineers, and technical leaders to build long-term capability and independence. Enable distributor technical teams to autonomously qualify, design, and support opportunities within their market segments.
Provide Technical Solution Leadership
Provide architecture guidance on complex partner-led opportunities and act as a technical escalation point when additional expertise is required. Help partners develop differentiated, domain-led offerings that integrate NetApp technologies into broader customer solutions and alliance ecosystems. Support solution validation, design reviews, and the development of repeatable solution patterns that partners can independently replicate and scale. Guide and coach partners through technical decision-making, helping them to build confidence and capability to lead future engagements independently.
Evangelise and Lead Thought Leadership
Present at bootcamps, partner conferences, technical communities, distributor events, and industry forums. Build credibility and influence through technical leadership and community engagement. Contribute to technical content, reference architectures, best-practice guidance, and reusable enablement materials that strengthen the broader partner ecosystem.
Grow the Partner Community
Build and nurture strong relationships within partner and distributor organisations. Develop thriving technical communities, advisory groups, and peer networks that encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration. Connect partner practice leaders with NetApp experts and foster collaboration across partners, distributors, alliance teams, and field organisations.
Accelerate Partner-Led Growth
Collaborate with sales, channel, marketing, and alliance teams to drive partner-led pipeline creation and portfolio expansion. Support partner-led campaigns, workshops, technical events, and solution development initiatives that help partners identify, qualify, and progress opportunities independently. Increase adoption across NetApp's strategic portfolio areas and help partners expand beyond traditional storage opportunities.
Connect Ecosystem Insights to Strategy
Act as a voice of the partner ecosystem within NetApp by capturing partner and customer feedback and helping influence technical strategy and future solutions. Share market insights, partner challenges, and emerging opportunities with internal stakeholders to improve partner success and solution relevance.
What You'll Bring
- Significant experience in technical presales, solution architecture, consulting, partner enablement, or related technical leadership roles.
- Experience working with channel partners, distributors, system integrators, or alliance partners.
- Strong knowledge of enterprise IT, cloud, data infrastructure, and solution architecture practices.
- Experience aligning technical strategy and enablement programmes to commercial and business priorities.
- Experience developing technical capability through coaching, enablement programmes, mentoring, or community leadership.
- Familiarity with hyperscaler cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud) and alliance technologies such as Cisco, NVIDIA, and Commvault.
- Ability to translate technical differentiation into repeatable partner-led solutions and business outcomes.
- Strong stakeholder management, communication, facilitation, and influencing skills.
- Ability to drive outcomes through expertise and collaboration rather than direct authority.
- A coaching mindset and a passion for helping others succeed.
- Ability to thrive in a matrix organisation and balance strategic thinking with practical execution.
Nice to Have
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Experience in a technical role within a sales, channel, or alliance organisation.
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Experience building and scaling technical communities and enablement programmes.
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Experience creating technical content, such as blogs, whitepapers, workshops, or conference sessions.
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Familiarity with AI infrastructure, cyber resilience, hybrid cloud, or other modern data infrastructure architectures.
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Experience working across multiple countries, partner ecosystems, or alliances.