Looking for the next step in your career? Enjoy a challenge?  Do you have an ambition for innovation? Want to make a difference?

If you join our growing global team, you’ll be working for an industry leader with offices across five continents, in over 50 countries and more than 30 000 employees.  You will work with some of the leading world brands across the Fortune 100 and  Fortune 500 companies – who are all relying on Dimension Data to help them use the power of technology to achieve their ambition in this digital era.You’ll be part of a team who’s passionate about making a difference to the way technology shapes how we live and work – whether it’s protecting the rhino, connecting the G20 Summit, or revolutionising cycling, giving you the opportunity to do great things.

You’ll be joining a Global Top Employer, recognised for investing in talent because people are at the heart of our success. You provide the skills, passion and ideas, and we’ll provide the platform to realise your ambitions.Great talent. Great teams. Great work. Great opportunities.

Want to be part of our team?

The primary responsibility of the Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist is to work with the relevant practice managers and regional architecture teams to define and mature the architecture standards across all domain areas in the particular BU. They will assume the role of expert and thought leader on architecture relating to product and service design, creating the relevant reference architecture.

What you'll be doing

Apply Technology expertise

They have expert knowledge on multi-technology software, OS’s and infrastructure design best practices in a variety of hardware platforms including distributed platforms, desktops, and mobile devices, which enables them to act as trusted advisors to the architecture consulting team on optimal software and infrastructure designs. They take holistic views of such technology environments including application software, hardware platforms, operating systems and storage. They use client requirements to advise on the design, deployment and operation of application infrastructures. They have knowledge of all Dimension Data products, service and solution lines and they often act as the bridge between Technical, Solution and Enterprise Architects.

Implement architectural strategy and vision

The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist will work with the relevant stakeholders to collaboratively develop the strategy and vision relating to architecture across all product design and development domains. This individual develops and maintains individual architectural frameworks relating to Networking practices. The architecture frameworks may span the operational architectures, platform architectures, commercial architectures, and functional architectures needed for market relevant competitive service products.

They are able to create strategies and solutions that define meta-architectural designs for complex solutions that will address issues such as styles, concepts, mechanisms and principles that combine to formulate the architectural vision for a specific environment. These designs provide holistic views, but also contain the details of the components and interconnections between components.

Develop and implement design standards

They engage with stakeholders and architecture representatives per domain and business area to collectively define architecture design standards. They ensure that the various views comprising the product architecture are consistent and coherent; at an appropriate level of detail and that changes are controlled so as to maintain consistency to the standard.  This individual uses a standards-based approach to architecture modelling, including architecture frameworks and other relevant IT standards. They interact with practice management and regional communities. They influence and control domain architecture roadmaps and are able to present a single unified architecture roadmap that represents all domain areas.

Execute and manage architectural design governance

The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist will ensure architecture design principles are consistently and pervasively applied. They advise on and participate in the governance boards to ensure that the service product architecture frameworks and standards deliver fit for purpose service products.

Provide thought leadership

The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist provides thought leadership to the wider product management and service development and design communities within the BU. They use their good understanding of tools and business process integration to ensure that all artefacts produced across the relevant domain areas, when assembled, function cohesively.

Vendor engagement

They interact with vendors as required to obtain full knowledge of vendor roadmaps, new developments and new product offerings. They include vendors in solution design when required, creating win-win scenarios for the different parties.

Research

The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist researches and investigates emerging infrastructure technologies and the best practices associated with them. They are adept at analysing client business needs and they are able translate this knowledge into an understanding of how markets and clients will respond to new trends in technologies.

Proof of Concept

In addition to the development of Reference Architectures, the ability to demonstrate the value of a particular architectural approach is necessary. Consideration needs to be given to how these would be positioned to clients, by the various regional specialists. Creating a relevant Proof of concept (POC) process and scope may be an essential part of developing business opportunities. The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist owns the creation and propagation of POC principals for specific offers across the Business Unit.

Design and Development Assurance

The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist is also accountable for the integrity of the practice of design and development and its application across the function, as well as its outputs. They are required to develop and maintain design standards and provide thought leadership to regional design functions. This includes the sharing of best practice methodologies and templates and ensuring their adoption. They ensure compliance and integration of the relevant standards and methodologies.

Behavioural skills

The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist acts as experts in the Dimension Data organisation and is able to proactively build and develop positive working relationships, as well as implement and embed good practice. They are effective communicators and use their collaborative approach to develop and delivery consistency that provides quality, cost effective domain products. The Principal Networking Architecture Design Specialist displays strategic thinking ability, proven leadership ability and is able to articulate ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.

What would make you a good fit for this role?

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

Diversity in Dimension Data

Dimension Data is an equal opportunity employer with a global culture that embraces diversity.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be unfairly discriminated against on any arbitrary ground including race, colour, sex, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other protected category.