AI/Cloud Solutions Architect (GCP)

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing.

"DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." - IDC

"The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments" - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIA

DDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence.

Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management.

Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage.

The DDN AI Solutions Architect - Cloud / Google (GCP) is a strategic and technical leader focused primarily on driving joint solutions with Google Cloud (GCP). This role serves as a bridge between Google Cloud teams, DDN's field organization, and enterprise customers, delivering integrated AI/ML and data management solutions that leverage the power of DDN's Data Intelligence platforms, including Infinia and EXAScaler.

The position emphasizes designing and delivering innovative solutions by combining DDN's solutions with Google Cloud's AI/ML infrastructure delivering joint solutions to DDNs customers. Success in this role is measured by the ability to build and nurture relationships with Google Cloud, align joint solutions to customer needs, and drive measurable outcomes that accelerate AI adoption and cloud efficiency.

Core Responsibilities:

AI Intelligence: Demonstrate expertise in Cloud and AI technologies, including architecture, deployment, optimization, and integration, with a focus on delivering measurable outcomes
• Outcome-Driven Approach, Positioning and Consultation: Engage deeply to understand their Cloud and AI and data challenges & performance goals, recommending DDN's AI & high-performance solutions to achieve desired business outcomes, whether it's accelerated time-to-insight or operational efficiency.
• Value-Centric Solution Design: Architect and deliver AI-driven data solutions that prioritize long-term value, scalability, and performance optimization. Leverage DDN's expertise in AI, HPC, and cloud storage to address current requirements while enabling future growth and innovation.
• Active Selling Partner: As a proactive member in the sales process, the AI Solutions Architect is partially a Sales Engineering role which actively engages in client discussions, delivers compelling product demonstrations, and contributes to closing deals by demonstrating the business value and ROI of DDN's solutions.
• Pre-Sales Customer Development: Providing hands-on technical presentations, demonstrations, proof-of-concept support and management, and ongoing client management and support to ensure successful adoption, usage, and maximized business impact from DDN technologies.

Primary Responsibilities

Solution Design and Development

• Architect integrated solutions that combine Google Cloud's AI/ML services (Vertex AI, TensorFlow Enterprise) with DDN platforms.
• Design and validate reference architectures that address diverse workloads, such as LLMs, AI inference, and real-time data analytics in and delivered through GCP environments.
• Optimize DDN's solution capabilities, such as dynamic data tiering and intelligent data movement, for seamless interoperability with Google Cloud's infrastructure and services.

Google Cloud Focus

• Work closely with Google Cloud teams to co-develop joint solutions, including integration, APIs, plugins, and deployment strategies.
• Partner with Google Cloud technical stakeholders, such as Solution Architects and Product Managers, to align DDN's platforms with GCP's AI/ML frameworks and cloud-native workflows.
• Advocate for DDN's unique capabilities within Google Cloud's ecosystem to strengthen the partnership and expand joint go-to-market strategies.

Customer and Field Engagement

• Act as a primary technical liaison between DDN's field teams and Google Cloud, ensuring customer requirements are addressed in joint solutions.
• Partner with enterprise customers to align DDN-GCP solutions with their AI/cloud transformation goals, delivering tailored workflows and tangible business outcomes.
• Deliver technical workshops, product demonstrations, and proofs of concept (POCs) for both internal teams and customers.

Content and Collateral Development

• Develop technical collateral, including whitepapers, deployment guides, solution briefs, and reference architectures, that articulate the value of DDN-GCP joint solutions.
• Create enablement materials for DDN field teams, Google Cloud teams, and enterprise customers to streamline the adoption of joint solutions.

Technical Integration and Innovation

• Lead the integration of DDN's Data Intelligence platforms with GCP services, ensuring seamless data lifecycle management and AI workflow optimization.
• Drive innovation in AI/ML pipelines by combining Infinia's real-time analytics with Google Cloud's advanced tools, ML and AI Platform Pipelines.
• Conduct analysis and testing to optimize DDN-GCP solutions for demanding workloads.

Performance Optimization

• Leverage DDN capabilities to enhance scalability, reduce costs, and improve efficiency for AI/ML workflows on GCP.
• Conduct tuning and analysis to ensure that joint solutions deliver exceptional performance, reliability, and scalability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, AI, Data Engineering, or a related technical field or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with Cloud Providers (GCP, Azure, AWS), Alliances, OEM, partner ecosystems, hyper-scalers, and joint solution delivery.
• Previous experience as a solutions architect, sales engineer, technical sales, consultant or similar role, highlighting expertise in driving sales and technical conversations in the Cloud and Data Science AI/ML and Generative AI space.
• Experience working with cloud providers and other 3rd parties for joint GTM, leveraging relationships to drive indirect sales and co-selling opportunities.
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of customer challenges and the ability to propose credible solutions.

Technical Expertise

• 5+ years of experience in cloud-native solution architecture, AI/ML, or data engineering with a focus on Google Cloud.
• Demonstratable expertise in Cloud Infrastructures, Google Cloud services, such as Vertex AI, BigQuery, Kubernetes (GKE), Dataproc, and Cloud Storage.
• Proficiency with AI/ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and NVIDIA CUDA stack.
• Demonstratable expertise in generative AI technologies, including LLMs, neural networks, and recommendation systems.
• Familiarity with AI frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, NVIDIA Enterprise Suite, NeMO, NIMs etc.
• Proven track record of delivering technical wins in complex sales or consulting environments.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage technical and executive audiences.
• Certifications in AI and cloud architectures (e.g. NVIDIA, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or similar) are a plus.
• Subject matter expert in Cloud, AI frameworks, Data Science and Data Engineering concepts, Predictive Analytics, and/or Generative AI development practices.
• Working knowledge of full stack Cloud Applications and Infrastructures, and/or AI training, inference, development and deployment tools, including LLM, Feature Stores, Vector Databases, Embedding Models, ETL tooling, and modern programming languages/frameworks
• Entrepreneurial mindset

Customer and Partner Collaboration

• Proven ability to collaborate with enterprise customers, Google Cloud teams, and DDN's field organization to design and deliver joint solutions.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with both technical and business stakeholders.

Problem-Solving and Leadership

• Demonstrated success in resolving technical challenges in AI/ML and cloud environments.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives with internal and external teams.

Additional Skills

• Familiarity with Google Cloud AI tools, such as AI Platform Pipelines, Cloud AI Hub, and other GCP-native AI services.
• Certifications in AI and cloud technologies (e.g., GCP Professional Data Engineer, NVIDIA certifications) are a plus.
• Knowledge of ROI metrics related to cloud efficiency, GPU utilization, and AI workflow optimization.

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities:

Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives.

Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable.

Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful.

Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.