Job Description

At NTT we believe that by using innovative technology we can solve global challenges and create a world that is sustainable and secure. We are looking for curious people, from diverse backgrounds, that are keen to work in a fast-paced and agile environment.

At NTT we trust our employees to do the right thing, even when no one is watching, which is why we offer flexibility in the workplace. The majority of our roles are hybrid, meaning we encourage a balance of working from home and our local office. Ask our recruitment team if this is a hybrid role.

Want to be a part of our team?

The Software Solutions Architect is responsible for the design, modification, and integration of vendor’s digital Infrastructure software features to translate business requirements into technology terms. Specifically, this role identifies, match and reference software features of key vendors technologies, architecture and frameworks for software capabilities according to the required specifications. They take responsibility for the various aspects of the software lifecycle from applicability, functionality, design, security, and supportability, in the client’s infrastructure environment in line with business requirements and specifications.

Additionally, this candidate shall work as a Practice Lead / SME familiar with various software licensing tools from key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto and fully well-versed with the license structure.

• Candidate needs to be a champion for key vendors licensing and be able to influence clients on the optimal license structure and Enterprise Agreement.
• Candidate needs to have a deep knowledge and understanding of the client and provide effective commercial positioning of licensing to client after analysis of their licensing estate.
• Candidate shall particulate into new capabilities development and develop user stories and test E2E solutions relating to licensing.
• The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial with previous experience leading services, and has analytic horsepower, logical reasoning ability and understanding of key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto products and solutions.

Able to performs software license reviews and audits to ensure customers are in compliance with product usage agreements.

Act as a liaison between manufacturing/duplication, manufacturing support, sales, customer services, and legal in usage versus agreement reconciliation.

Assist with the development and implementation of procedures for targeted renewal, review, and/or audits of license compliance reviews.

Audits and research discrepancies. Provides licensing education to internal and external customers as needed. May require travel to customer sites to install usage measurement scripts and to better understand customer’s IT environment.

Verifies accuracy of software measurement usage against enterprise-wide or site licensing agreement (ELA) or software license agreement (SLA). Analyzes usage data and prepares compliance reports for management.

Designs a complete and complex framework, system or product. Defines processes for technical platforms, system specifications, input/output and working parameters for hardware and/or software compatibility. Conceives system interfaces and/or business application prototypes. Identifies, analyzes and resolves infrastructure software design weaknesses. Influences the shaping of future products by contributing to the framework (architecture) used across multiple products or systems. Provides multi-layered technical expertise for next generation initiatives.

Working at NTT

Software Solution Architects has cross domain level knowledge and is accountable for creating integrated infrastructure software solutions and will collaborate and support the architectural consulting function in architecting client infrastructure software solutions. Their primary objective is to ensure the optimal functioning of an entity’s IT infrastructure software by outlining complex infrastructure software solution architecture descriptions across domains, functions and industries, then monitoring and governing the implementation.

Software Solution Architect support, manage, and administer contracts for software and hardware services and infrastructure software products features across their assigned area of responsibility.

They also define and facilitate communication between the business and its providers/vendors in order to deliver infrastructure software and OEM technology features according to plan and within budget, and to ensure licensing compliance.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide expert multi-technology advice to internal clients, analysing and providing strategies and solutions on all aspects of infrastructure software, hardware features and related technology components.
• Advise and execute on the best design for information technology architectures.
• Designs and communicates high level structure to enable and guide the design and development of integrated solutions that meet current and future business needs.
• Use client business requirements to advise on the design, deployment and operation of infrastructures software.
• Create designs that provide holistic views, but also contain the details of the components and interconnections between components.
• Involved with projects at the time of inception and is involved along with the project manager in the planning and governance of projects and the functional analysis (FA) of developing the initial requirements.
• Contribute advice on improving methodology frameworks.
• Manage the proof of concept (POC) initiatives.
• Researches and investigates emerging infrastructure technologies, particularly on software defined infrastructure features and the best practices associated with these trends.
• Contribute to the improvement of internal effectiveness by contributing to improving current methodologies, processes and tools.
• Shares responsibility for win strategy with sales. Will lead the client discovery with relevant insights and articulate how our proven solution & services deliver tangible results.
• Shall be responsible for the Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) KPI.
• Responsible for providing inputs on delivery, service offer design, of all aspects of Software Asset and License Management such as discovery, tracking, reporting, auditing, compliance, renewal, in line with the business objectives.
• Work with Client facing teams to influence subscription license sales, provide educational inputs and act as SPOC for all licensing-related technical queries.
• Coordinate with the product management team to maintain knowledge on all licensing changes.
• Manage and evaluate all regulations and legislation for licensing activities and ensure appropriate implementation and provide
• input into strategies.
• Maintain knowledge of all compliance trends and recommend changes for operational processes.
• Understand Software Asset Management and Software Licensing policies and standards to ensure legal, security, contractual, and regulatory compliance and advise accordingly for service offer development
• Provide support to the license renewals team and undertake a quality review of renewal request proposals prior to being issued to the relevant stakeholders.
• Support projects and provide expertise for the Licensing aspects of service transition.
• Research software licensing models, product use rights and license metrics/entitlements as needed
• Remain current on software licensing rules and regulations in order to provide advice on queries related to license usage to ensure no non-conformance when proposing appropriate licenses to client’s needs
• Analyse client software purchases to identify suitable bundles for effective commercial license proposal
• Evaluate and recommend options to reduce licensing costs
• Create process/procedures around licensing controls and management
• Maintain software licensing knowledge and familiarity with product use rights
• Ensure and maintain expertise and advise stakeholders on license management methods, processes, best practices, technologies and tools
• Maintain familiarity with software licensing in the vendor’s environment.
• Perform cost benefit analysis on the proposed licensing bundles to support the design of competitive pricing proposition of specific client deals.
• Review the financial returns delivered by engagements to ensure the learning is captured as engagements deliver.
• Lead transformation deals on the conversion of current software licenses into Enterprise Agreements, change to optimal license structure etc
• Own documentations and deliver trainings to cross functional / internal teams
• Work with senior leadership team.
• Develop, implement and review operational policies and procedures
• Solid grasp of Cisco Smart accounts and Smart licensing
• Be available for internal stakeholders and client discussions on escalation and/or consumption report in detail

What will make you a good fit for the role?

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Key Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain solid stakeholder relationships up to Management level
• Detailed understanding of a broad range of Hardware, Software, and Configuration operating models
• Hands-on experience in a Software Asset Management platform preferred.
• Knowledge of different licensing models – Perpetual, Right To Use, End-User, Subscription, Enterprise Agreements, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Sound knowledge of relevant supply chain management methodologies and toolsets
• An influencer and ability to communicate at all levels within the stakeholder community
• Strong organizers who can maintain focus on assigned tasking to completion
• Ability to work under pressure and meet all given service management targets
• Engineering industry background in IT service provision
• Sound team leadership and management skills and ability
• Ability to think strategically and tactically
• Takes data from multi sources and provide the reporting data for opportunity and Software Lifecycle Management (SLM)

• Ability to construct solutions using their expertise of more of the functions offerings
• Expert knowledge on multi-technology infrastructure software, technology features and infrastructure solution design best practices in a variety of architecture domain including Networking, Data Center, Collaboration and/or Security.
• Deep knowledge of reference architectures
• Good knowledge of project management principles
• Knowledge of vendor roadmaps, new developments and new product offerings
• Analytical in their approach
• Display the required interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with a variety of stakeholders
• Ability to share and communicate ideas clearly, both orally and in writing, to executive staff, business sponsors, and technical resources in clear concise language

Additional Skill:

• Mandatory prior experience in key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto license compliance
• Mandatory knowledge of key vendors licensing models, such as Cisco, Microsoft, VMWare and Palo Alto license structure, license tools and license commercial model.
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good negotiations and problem-solving skills
• Effective reporting and presentation skills
• Excellent commercial acumen
• High level of drive and ability to work under pressure
• Superior awareness and understanding of relevant industry trends and issues, as well as vendor organizations and business practices within the field of software license management and compliance.
• Expertise in software license management, especially in interpreting contract language and compliance.
• Expertise in contract management, especially in contract negotiations.
• Proficient understanding of financial concepts and practices as they relate to software license and contract management.
• Certified Software related certification is desired.

EDUCATION REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or related field of study
• IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation qualification
• TOGAF / COBIT or related certification

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• More than 8 years’ experience in digital infrastructure of the key vendor’s software feature and technology capabilities.
• More than 5 years’ experience in providing an end-to-end design and solution in the aspect of the digital infrastructure.

Additional Experience for the following would be a plus:

• Experience working as a software asset specialist/analyst, a software asset configuration specialist/manager, IT asset manager, or a licensing manager
• Experience evaluating software asset agreements
• Experience in license/software adoption strategies and frameworks.
• Experience auditing across an IT software portfolio
• Experience in budgeting and forecasting
• Demonstrable experience in multiple industries and across several disciplines
• Experience with projects through the sales engagement, pre-sales, and also architecture design validation, especially on the infrastructure software technology of key vendor, such as Cisco, VMWare, Microsoft and/or Palo Alto, as well as fully well-versed with the respective vendor’s licensing model and structure
• Demonstrable experience working as a solution architect in a global IT services provider organisation

ADDITIONAL JOB DESCRIPTION

• Have wide-ranging experience
• Uses professional concepts and company objectives to solve complex issues in creative ways
• Networks with others outside own area of expertise
• Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria to obtain results
• May coordinate others’ activities

Join our growing global team and accelerate your career with us. Apply today.

Equal opportunity employer

NTT is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, veteran status, or other protected category.