Presales AI Architect

Title: Presales AI Architect Reports To: Director of Advanced Solutions Engineering Location: Remote - United States Job Description: At Sterling, Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we do business, and how our customers do as well. With the explosion of AI in the past year we have seen a huge uptick in AI solutions being required for Analytics, Computer Vision, LLMs, Machine Learning, and more. To continue this transformation, we're seeking an experienced AI Infrastructure Architect who has expertise in the implementation of AI projects across multiple vendors and worked in a pre-sales motion. The ideal candidate will have a firm grasp of Machine Learning, LLMs, Chatbot use cases, Data Analytics and have an ability to build solutions to help our customers learn to utilize AI safely, and securely. Extensive knowledge of AI from ideation to realization, and advanced industry knowledge are essential to keep Sterling on the cutting edge. The AI Infrastructure Architect Pre-Sales will have an immediate impact on the day-to-day efficiency of Advanced Solutions group and an ongoing impact on Sterlings growth. Required Technical Skills: Our AI Infrastructure Architect should be proficient in building solutions for our customers combining OEM solutions(Nvidia, Dell, Google, AWS, Chooch, etc.) with services to help our customer realize what is possible with AI. Experience using data handling, GPU enablement, basic Datacenter understanding a plus. General Microsoft office proficiency is required. Required Education/Experience: The AI Infrastructure Architect should have a minimum of 3+ years of experience in the AI space and prior experience with Machine Learning is desired. Additionally, understanding of Cloud/Datacenter experience required. A high school diploma or equivalent is required and post-secondary education in Computer science, Computer Systems, or a related field is preferred. Core Technical Skillset Requirements (experience with one or more in each group) AI/ML: should have desire to track AI/ML technology trends, understand AI models and algorithms, ability to work with large datasets: cleaning, analysis, and interpretation. Familiar with Python, R, Java and TensorFlow/PyTorch. Experience with NVIDIA, Intel, AMD, DataBricks and other AI vendors. Cloud: should be familiar with cloud computing technologies, including public, private, and hybrid clouds, and be able to recommend the best cloud solution based on customer requirements. Must be familiar with: AWS, Azure, Google, Oracle, Gov Clouds Storage: must have knowledge of storage architecture, including storage area networks (SANs), network-attached storage (NAS), and software-defined storage such as: vSAN, Dell, HPE, Pure Storage, NetApp, NetApp, Pure Storage, Qumulo and VAST. Network Architecture: should have in-depth knowledge of AI network requirements, including software-defined networking (SDN) and network virtualization such as: Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper, Extreme, Ruckus, VMware and HPE/Aruba Additional Technical Fundamentals (high level familiarity with each group) Security: should have a strong understanding of security principles, including authentication, authorization, and encryption to ensure that infrastructure is secure Systems: must have a strong understanding of virtualization technologies, including hypervisors such as VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, and Citrix. Must understand OS layers from Microsoft, Red Hat, and other Unix platforms. Cost Optimization: must have a good understanding of cost optimization techniques, including using open-source solutions and scaling infrastructure based on demand, to provide cost-effective solutions to customers. Services: must understanding the role of services to customers and sales organizations and be able to position appropriately. The minimum requirements for this SE role are outlined in the five categories below: Productive: Sterling is a large small business that requires our employees to have an entrepreneurial motor to remain productive. Our SEs maximize their day and downtime to ensure their teams overachieve their sales goals while building deeper relationships and trust with our customers. Teamwork: Sterling's selling motions are built on utilizing cross-functional teams to maximize success. Our SEs must work well with peers, vendors and other segments within our business. Coaching: Technology is always changing, and we would never expect our SEs to know everything. We do however expect our SEs to learn from the experience of our extended engineering group and leadership. We try to minimize our mistakes and losses however learning from them is vital. Winning: Sterling has large ambitions and the only way we can achieve them is by winning together as a team. We want our SEs to have a winning mindset and to celebrate all successful events. When they win, we want them to enjoy the limelight, to grow in their influence, and to increase their earnings. Development: We expect our SEs to constantly evolve their knowledge, process and influences within the company and customers. What works today may not work tomorrow and we need SEs to prepare for the future of Sterling. Other: Ability to communicate, coordinate, and work effectively with sales, engineering, leadership and services delivery teams. Understand financial benefits of solutions and can speak to TCO/ROI of comparable offers. Ability to comprehend, understand, and confidently articulate technology solutions and how they best apply to customers. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to apply critical thinking and empirical evidence to solve problems. Able to clarify and assimilate information from different sources into a unified communication. Primary Responsibilities: Confidently articulate features and value of technology solutions to customers. Configure products according to specifications. Ensure any RFP responses are technically acceptable and profitable. Build deep relationships with key customer decision makers. Develop and perform technical presentations to customers, partners, and prospects. Participate regularly in industry training and seek and maintain certifications to keep up-to-date on relevant competitive solutions, products and services. Provide technical guidance to the business on forward looking technologies. Build partner relationships with key technology vendors and OEMs. Participate in account planning and QBRs with sales and sales leadership. Sterling Computers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, military status, national origin or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or applicable local law.