Senior Principal, Pre-sales Solution Architect

In Schneider Electric, everything we do is geared towards advancing progress and sustainability for all—our colleagues, customers, partners, and the communities and societies we serve. Whether it's through our products, software, and services that propel the digital transformation of energy management and automation, or through our corporate citizenship and volunteer activities, we make a meaningful impact by empowering people and organizations to become more resilient, electric, and digital. Which is where you come in. Working at Schneider Electric means working toward a cleaner, better world. You're part of a global team built on inclusion, mastery, purpose, action, curiosity, and teamwork, turning sustainability ambitions into actions.

The Role: Senior Principal, Pre-sales Solution Architect

The Segment Senior Principal, Pre-Sales Solution Architect owns the holistic solution architecture and commercial strategy for 4–6 assigned Zone/Regional accounts within a geographic region. This role is the primary customer relationship owner and the accountable leader for each account's fighting unit (KAM, System Architect Presales - Electrical, System Architect Presales - Mechanical, System Architect Presales - Digital). The Senior Principal, Pre-Sales Solution Architect ensures that every solution delivered is technically competitive, commercially compelling, and strategically aligned with Schneider Electric's market positioning. The Senior Principal, Pre-Sales Solution Architect is accountable for solution quality, account profitability, customer satisfaction, and the technical excellence of the fighting unit team.

What will you do?

Account Strategy & Commercial Leadership

• Own assigned accounts: define strategy, lead customer discovery, manage relationship lifecycle from presales through post-sale

• Define segment reference architecture for account's specific business model (hyperscaler, colocation, sovereign DC)

• Lead RFP responses and technical presentations to customer C-level and engineering stakeholders

• Represent Schneider Electric as trusted technical advisor throughout customer relationship lifecycle

• Track competitor solutions and maintain segment intelligence; influence market positioning

• Define win strategy for each major opportunity; align customer requirements with Schneider capabilities

Fighting Unit Leadership & Team Assembly

• Assemble cross-functional fighting unit: request System Architect Presales - Electrical, System Architect Presales - Mechanical, System Architect Presales - Digital specialists from respective Principal Architects Public

• Lead fighting unit on each opportunity: set technical direction, drive integration, ensure quality before customer presentation

• Manage specialist team dynamics: ensure System Architect Presales - Electrical, System Architect Presales - Mechanical, System Architect Presales - Digital collaborate effectively and deliver as an integrated solution

• Hold fighting unit accountable for solution quality: technical correctness, standards compliance, competitive positioning

• Escalate cross-discipline conflicts (electrical vs. cooling vs. digital) to Segment Leader , CVP’s or Offer Leader when consensus cannot be reached

Solution Architecture & Design

• Own overall solution architecture: integration of electrical, mechanical, and digital systems into a coherent, optimized design

• Define total cost of ownership (TCO) for each solution: CAPEX, OPEX, efficiency trade-offs, customer ROI

• Drive solution standardization through repeatable modules: PDU room configs, cooling skids, electrical distribution patterns

• Incorporate leading-edge technologies into segment architecture roadmap working with Technology Evangelists

• Make IG vs. OG product decisions: specify Schneider products where competitive; recommend third-party products where IG has gaps

• Produce detailed solution proposals: technical architecture, commercial terms, implementation timeline, risk mitigation

Customer Engagement & Relationship Building

• Lead customer engagement from discovery through solution proposal and contract negotiation along with CR/KAM

• Conduct technical workshops with customer teams to clarify requirements and present solutions along with CR/KAM

• Engage with design consultants and system integrators: position Schneider solutions, influence specifications along with CR/KAM

• Support EPC contractor engagement: technical partnerships, design reviews, issue resolution along with CR/KAM

• Build deep, long-term relationships with customer infrastructure teams and C-level decision-makers along with CR/KAM

Handover & Post-Sale Partnership

• Remain relationship owner through warranty/commissioning; support customer operational ramp-up

• Participate in win/loss debrief reviews: capture lessons for fighting unit development and standards evolution

Standards & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure all solutions comply with Schneider standards (electrical, mechanical, digital) at proposal stage

• Work with Principal Architects on standards exceptions: request approval, document rationale when customer needs drive non-standard design

• Provide market and competitive feedback to Principal Architects and Product Management Public

• Contribute to regional reference architectures, solution playbooks, and proposal libraries

What qualifications will make you successful?

TECHNICAL COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Systems-level thinking is essential. The Senior Principal, Pre-Sales Solution Architect must understand the integration points between electrical, mechanical, and digital systems — and be able to make design trade-offs that optimize total solution performance and customer economics.

Core Technical Domains

• Datacenter Infrastructure: End-to-end understanding of electrical, mechanical, and digital systems. Deep domain knowledge in 1-2 areas (primary expertise); working-level understanding of all three.

• Solution Architecture: Ability to integrate electrical, cooling, and controls into coherent, optimized designs. Understanding of system interactions and trade-offs (power vs. cooling, redundancy vs. cost, performance vs. efficiency).

• Customer Economics: Deep understanding of TCO, CAPEX/OPEX trade-offs, ROI arguments. Ability to present and defend financial justifications to customer stakeholders.

• Standards & Compliance: Working knowledge of IEC, IEEE, ASHRAE, TIA-942, Uptime Institute Tier criteria. Ability to explain standards constraints and navigate exceptions.

• Market & Technology: Awareness of emerging technologies (AI DC, immersion cooling, hyperscaler innovations). Ability to assess and position new capabilities.

Essential

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil Engineering, or related field (10+ years in datacenter presales strongly preferred)

• 10+ years in datacenter solution architecture, presales, or account management

• Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-discipline technical sales for large accounts (≥$5M+ contracts)

• Ability to present and defend at C-level and technical decision-maker level

• Experience assembling and leading cross-functional technical teams

• Proficiency in full datacenter infrastructure portfolio (electrical, cooling, controls)

• Familiarity with ASHRAE, IEC, IEEE, Uptime Institute standards

• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills

Preferred / Advantageous

• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) certification across multiple modules

• Direct experience with hyperscalers (AWS, Google, Meta, Microsoft) or Tier 1 co-location operators

• AI DC infrastructure experience: GPU cooling and power architecture

• Experience managing relationship lifecycle from discovery through post-sale commissioning

• Track record of account growth and customer expansion

What’s in it for me?

• Global Family Leave

• Comprehensive medical coverage for employee and dependents

• Worldwide Employee Stock Ownership

• Hybrid work arrangement (New Ways of Working)

• …and more!

Rewards designed for you

Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: We see you and we value you. It’s more than just pay and benefits—it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed to help you perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential. The package helps you care for yourself and your family, plan your future, grow your skills and career, collaborate in an inclusive workplace, and contribute to your community. At Schneider Electric, we’re here for what matters most to you. Discover more at our Career Page. * Country-specific programs and initiatives may be available.

Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?

When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us. IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world. We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one. Become an IMPACT Maker with Schneider Electric – apply today!

• €40 billion global revenue

• +9% organic growth

• 150 000+ employees in 100+ countries

You must submit an online application to be considered for any position with us. This position will be posted until filled.

Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do. At Schneider Electric, we uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders. You can find out more about our Trust Charter here Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.