Solutions Architect (Los Angeles) - OpenDrives

About Us:

Join the team at OpenDrives, a rapidly growing data services company that is dedicated to solving complex technology problems with innovative yet practical solutions. Our customers range from Hollywood blockbusters, to medical imaging specialists, to academia, and everything in between. Our company's core values are summed up in the word OPEN, which stands for open-mindedness, persistence, effectiveness, and nimbleness. We are looking for empathetic, self-starting professionals who are passionate about exceeding customer expectations and who thrive in a collaborative, supportive environment. If you're a curious listener, with a commitment to excellence, and want to be part of an organization that is dedicated to solving real-world data management challenges, we invite you to apply to join our team today.

About the Role:

While this job is mostly remote, we are looking for a Solutions Architect based in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. The Solutions Architect (Los Angeles) is expected to travel occasionally for lab testing at our Culver City HQ and co-locations as well as for customer visits and industry events domestically and internationally. 

At OpenDrives, the pre-sales Solutions Architect is a trusted expert in (Network Attached Storage )NAS technologies with an emphasis in the media and entertainment industry. This individual will play a pivotal role as part of the “Solutions Team” within the overarching Product department, with a focus on analyzing, qualifying, and certifying OpenDrives' products with other industry standards, hardware, and software technologies. This position involves close collaboration with various internal departments, along with external channel and alliance partners, to establish optimal practices and recommendations for OpenDrives and our partners/resellers. The goal is to ensure that both parties can effectively deliver top-notch solutions that meet our customers' workflow and business requirements with confidence. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must live in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area
• Drive analysis, qualification, and/or certification of OpenDrives software and services with other third-party offerings through the creation of test plans, testing, and validation of success criteria.
• Create proven workflow solutions and integrations that enable the “Technical Win” for pre-sales opportunities and ease the support burden on our post sales and support teams, including creation of diagrams and collateral as well as participation in Proof of Concept (POC) technical activities.
• Build relationships and become a trusted technology adviser to internal departments, alliance partners, and channel partners, through collaboration, training, and teamwork.
• Competency with industry trends, competition, and emerging technologies to effectively position our offerings in the market and guide our future development roadmap.
• Collaborate with the Product and Marketing teams to plan and execute releases,  campaigns, webinars, and events highlighting the technical advantages and integrations of OpenDrives' solutions.

Expertise:

The following technical expertise is a must:

• Media applications and workflows (e.g. NLE, Color, broadcast, VFX, OTT).
• High performance physical storage systems and related hardware components, with Docker and Kubernetes experience a definite plus.
• File systems and network protocols (e.g. ZFS, Lustre, SMB, NFS, S3), with advanced networking protocols (RoCE, NFSoRDMA, SMBDirect, & GPUDirect) a definite plus
• Hands-on experience with Linux, MacOS, and Windows administration, deployment, and command line tools, with Docker and Kubernetes experience a definite plus.
• Familiarity with networking, switches, and switch configurations (e.g. NVIDIA, Arista, LACP, MLAG, VLAN).
• Understanding of media terminology (e.g. codecs, resolutions, frame rate, bit depth, RAW, compression).

Competencies and Skills:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following:

• Self-starter with a customer focus and a strong hands-on, “can do” approach and with an attention to detail and time management.
• Solutions-focused with a passion for empathetic and collaborative solving problems through technology and design solutions that meet customer needs.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation skills with the ability to effectively discuss highly technical concepts to a variety of audiences, including the executive level, and help develop technical assets.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology or a related technical field.
• 2-5 years of proven experience as a Solutions Architect, Sales Engineer, Technical Marketing Engineer, or in a similar pre-sales technical role in the NAS data storage industry.

Physical Demands:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is frequently required to talk or hear; stand and walk. The employee must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 65 pounds.  

Work Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.This job operates partially in a clerical, office setting, but also includes on-site visits to customer locations and industry events.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position.  Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefits

We have some awesome perks if you want to work with us.

• Incredible vacation policy and flexible schedule
• Great health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer and Employee Paid Life Insurance & AD&D Options
• Voluntary Short & Long Term Disability Options
• Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account Options
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k)
• Cell Phone and Internet Allowance
• Options for hybrid remote/office work, or full remote
• A culture of empathy and empowerment

Pay Scale Disclaimer

The hiring salary range for this role is $125,000.00- $175,000.00 USD annually.

Please note that the compensation information provided is a good faith estimate for this position only and is provided pursuant to the California Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements Law. OpenDrives takes into consideration a candidate's education, training, and experience, external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the California Law, a potential new employee's salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.