Associate Solutions Architect

SUMMARY: The Associate Solutions Architect role supplies technical and administrative bandwidth to the Solutions Architects who own Aligned’s hyperscale and enterprise pursuits—creating technical sales collateral, building contract exhibits, comparing technical specs, and maintaining the technical record from qualification through execution. It is deliberately structured as a development role: the work is the curriculum. Over time, the Associate Solutions Architect learns Aligned’s data center design and product offering, the people and processes that deliver it, and the judgment expected of a Senior Solutions Architect—a technical business leader who cross-functionally manages deal architecture, technical solutioning, and delivery requirements, and who negotiates those concepts both internally with stakeholders and externally with customers. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Technical Deliverables & Deal Documentation

• Mark up site plans, building and whitespace layouts, one-line diagrams, and related drawings to reflect customer-specific configurations capacity phasing, and scope demarcation; route to Engineering and the Solutions Architect for verification.

• Build customer-facing and internal support materials, including technical presentations, contract exhibits, spec comparisons, and written responses to customer questions.

• Maintain accurate, version-controlled technical files, summaries, and reportsto enable visibility, tracking, and cross-referencing of scope for all opportunities.

• Pursuit & Cross-Functional Support

• Support Solutions Architects across the pre-sale lifecycle—qualification, technical review, proposal development, negotiation, and hand-off to execution teams.

• Track open technical questions, action items, and internal commitments through resolution; proactively escalate items at risk of missing customer commitments.

• Partner with the Associate Account Director and the broader account team on CRM hygiene, pursuit tracking, meeting preparation, and follow-up documentation.

• Attend internal deal reviews, customer calls, and site tours to build direct exposure to deal architecture, negotiation dynamics, and customer decision-making.

• Technical Fluency & Continuous Learning

• • Develop working command of Aligned’s data center design standards—power topology, cooling architecture, site infrastructure, and delivery sequencing.

  • Learn how technical decisions translate into commercial outcomes: how scope, deviations,and schedule risk are accounted for in pricing and lease terms.

  • Build familiarity with Aligned’s campuses, available and planned capacity, delivery pipeline, and competitive differentiators.

  • Actively seek and apply feedback from Solutions Architects, and progressively assume independent ownership of solution components and customer interactions.

  COMPETENCIES:

  • Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, civil, or industrial) or a related technical discipline strongly preferred.

  • Two to five years of professional experience in the data center industry or an adjacent field—MEP or A/E design, construction management, mission-critical facilities, power development, commercial real estate, or technology infrastructure.

  • Exposure to construction drawings, technical specifications, and submittals, with the ability to read and interpret plans and one-line diagrams.

  • Technical Aptitude

  • Foundational understanding of electrical and mechanical building systems and fluency in the vocabulary of critical infrastructure.

  • Preference for a technical generalist with curiosity across disciplines and commercial awareness, rather than a narrowly focused specialist.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and comfort with drawing markup tools such as Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat, or AutoCAD viewers.

  • Communication & Professional Presence

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear, accurate, well-organized documents and to summarize complex technical material concisely.

  • Poise and professionalism in front of internal executives and, with increasing frequency, customer stakeholders.

  • Active listener who asks clarifying questions rather than proceeding on assumption, and who confirms understanding in writing.

  • Mindset & Work Style

  • Exceptional attention to detail and personal accountability for accuracy.

  • Highly organized; able to manage multiple concurrent pursuits with competing deadlines and shifting priorities.

  • Self-motivated problem solver who is comfortable with ambiguity in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

  • Collaborative and low-ego; willing to own the detailed, unglamorous work that makes a deal team effective, and eager to learn from those doing the work.

  • Willingness to travel approximately 10–20% to support customer meetings, site tours, and internal alignment.

  CAREER PROGRESSION:

  • This role is intentionally designed as the development track toward Senior Solutions Architect. Progression is earned through demonstrated accuracy, judgment, and customer readiness.

  • Early focus is on the quality, speed, and completeness of assigned deliverables under the direction of a Solutions Architect.

  • With demonstratedproficiency, scope expands to independent ownership of exhibit packages and specification comparisons, leading portions of internal technical reviews, and direct engagement with customer technical counterparts.

  • Progression to Solutions Architect role is contingent upon individual performance, demonstrated commercial and technical judgment, and business need.

  BENEFITS & PERKS:

  Aligned Data Centers is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our team members. Eligible employees have access to:

  Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts:  HSA with employer contribution for eligible participants.  FSA's offered for health and dependent care to increase tax savings.

  • Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company match
  • Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay
  • Company-Sponsored Insurance: Short-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (with medical election)
  • Optional Benefits: Voluntary life, critical illness, legal, and additional disability coverage
  • Wellness Programs: Employee assistance program (EAP), Wellhub gym membership, and other wellness initiatives

  The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job.  It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

  Aligned is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities for all employees. We ensure that all applicants and team members are considered for employment, advancement, and all other employment-related matters without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

  If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of your job due to a disability or medical condition, please contact our People & Culture team. Accommodation requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable laws. Aligned will make reasonable accommodations where necessary to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their role.