Description
At CDW, we make it happen, together. Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It's why we're coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we're headed. We're proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW.
We are seeking a Principal Data & AI Solutions Architect to join our Pre-Sales team and serve as the senior technical leader for data lakehouse and analytics platform opportunities. This is a customer-facing pre-sales role focused on shaping, positioning, and closing data-driven transformation initiatives. You will work closely with account teams, partners, and executives to translate complex customer requirements into actionable architectures that drive business outcomes and revenue growth.
What you'll do:
- Lead technical pre-sales engagements for data lakes, lakehouse architectures, and advanced analytics platforms.
- Act as the trusted advisor to C-level and senior technology leaders, articulating the business value of data modernization and AI adoption.
- Design and present solution architectures, roadmaps, and proposals and SOWs that align with client priorities and industry best practices.
- Partner with sales teams to develop pursuit strategies, build business cases, and position differentiated offerings.
- Drive attach and expansion of analytics and AI services by embedding scalable design patterns into every engagement.
- Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure proposed solutions are feasible, supportable, and aligned with practice capabilities.
- Contribute thought leadership, reusable assets, and frameworks to scale pre-sales effectiveness across the Data & AI practice.
- Mentor and upskill solution architects and sellers on modern data platforms, analytics services, and cloud-native architectures.
What we expect of you:
- 10+ years of experience in data platform architecture, analytics, or AI/ML, with at least 5+ years in a customer-facing pre-sales or solutioning role.
- Deep expertise with data lakes, lakehouses, and modern analytics platforms (Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse, Databricks, AWS Redshift, Snowflake, etc.).
- Strong understanding of data governance, security, and integration patterns.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with proven success engaging executives and technical stakeholders.
- Ability to connect technical capabilities to business value and ROI.
- Experience working within a partner ecosystem (Microsoft, AWS, Databricks, Snowflake, etc.).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in consulting or professional services sales cycles.
- Familiarity with AI/ML services and their integration into analytics platforms.
- Recognized thought leader in data strategy, lakehouse adoption, or analytics transformation.
At CDW, we strive to offer market-competitive total rewards packages to attract and retain talent. As such, we are committed to pay transparency and ensuring fair compensation for all our coworkers. Each of our roles is assigned a salary range that is informed by multiple sources of market data. We determine individual pay within a given range based on a candidate's prior experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. This approach allows us to offer competitive and equitable salaries that reflect the value and responsibilities of each role at CDW. Salaries are based on a 40-hour workweek, and paid on a bi-weekly payroll schedule.
Pay range: $ 180,000 - $ 252,000, depending on experience and skill set
Current Opening: This posting reflects a currently available position within our organization for which we are actively recruiting.
CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization
We're looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner's mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances- not replaces- human creativity and decision-making. You don't need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work.Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that's curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what's possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.
About Us
CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what's possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn't just what we do- it's how we do it. At CDW we act as one- building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win- focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward- staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That's why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees- working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.
As a full-stack, full-lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what's next.
Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.
CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of experience in data platform architecture, analytics, or AI/ML
- 5+ years in a customer-facing pre-sales or solutioning role
- Deep expertise with data lakes and modern analytics platforms
- Strong understanding of data governance and integration patterns
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills
- Experience working within a partner ecosystem
What the Team is Saying
CDW Compensation & Benefits Highlights
How does CDW ensure its pay and bonus plans are competitive?
CDW supports competitive pay and bonus plans through a broad total rewards approach that combines performance-focused compensation, strong benefits, long-term financial support, and the stability of a large established company.
- Total rewards philosophy: CDW’s compensation approach is built around more than base salary alone. Its ESG report says the company uses competitive compensation and performance-focused pay practices designed to reward excellence and support coworkers’ professional and financial growth. That philosophy is reinforced by a broader total rewards package that supports physical, emotional, financial, and social wellbeing.
- Performance-based pay and incentives: CDW explicitly describes its pay practices as performance-focused, indicating that compensation is designed to recognize strong individual contribution and results. Employee feedback also points to meaningful earning potential in some roles, along with merit increases and incentive opportunities, especially in performance-driven functions.
- Structured compensation components and financial support: CDW strengthens compensation competitiveness through multiple financial programs beyond salary. These include a 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, life insurance, disability coverage, accident-related insurance, and charitable gift matching. Together, these programs help support both short-term financial needs and longer-term financial security. CDW also connects compensation to career growth through its Global Career Framework, which helps employees see how advancement and future opportunities fit into the broader organization.
- Benefits as part of total compensation: Benefits are a major part of CDW’s competitive rewards story. The company offers healthcare, parental leave, adoption support, wellbeing resources, commuter benefits, legal assistance, and tuition reimbursement, among other offerings. Its ESG report also notes that in 2023 CDW made additional investments by reducing the benefits waiting period for new hires and increasing paid leave for primary parental caregivers and bereavement. Employees frequently mention benefits, PTO, flexibility, and job stability as strengths of the company’s overall package.
- Scale and stability: CDW’s size and market position also reinforce its ability to offer competitive rewards. As a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company with about $21 billion in annual net sales and ~15,100 coworkers, CDW has the scale to provide broad benefits, structured pay programs, and long-term stability.
- External signals: Employee feedback points to several strengths in CDW’s rewards package, including mentions of generous compensation, strong benefits, stock options, merit increases, and financial stability. While compensation experiences can vary by role, reviews consistently suggest that benefits and overall package strength are important parts of CDW’s employer value proposition.
Bottom line: CDW supports competitive pay through a well-rounded total rewards model that combines performance-focused compensation, strong benefits, financial protection, and long-term career stability. It is especially well positioned for employees who value comprehensive benefits, growth opportunities, and the backing of a large, established technology company.
CDW Insights
What We Do
CDW Corporation is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW helps its customers to navigate an increasingly complex IT market and maximize return on their technology investments. For more information about CDW, please visit www.CDW.com. Our broad array of products and services range from hardware and software to integrated IT solutions such as security, cloud, hybrid infrastructure and digital experience.
Why Work With Us
Trust, connection and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It’s why we’re coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we’re headed.
Gallery
CDW Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
CDW is committed to offering a high quality, flexible work experience centered around connection, collaboration, and coworker well-being. Our flexible hybrid approach enables coworkers to get the best of working from home and being together.
