Senior Solutions Engineer

Senior Solutions Engineer

Illumia is an industry leader in bringing the best integrated technology solutions to education, healthcare, and business campuses worldwide. Illumia was built on the collective expertise of two legacy cultures, and brings together people, technology, and insight to pioneer the art of the experience across the communities we serve. Be a part of this exciting organization and improving the lives of people doing mission-critical work.

We strive to provide the best customer experience in the industry and have succeeded with a single, strong motivating principle: We serve our user community.

Our success and growth are directly attributed to our people. Our newly named company is dedicated to fostering a culture of integrity, respect, and continuous personal development. We maintain an entrepreneurial spirit, where creativity, innovative problem-solving, and learning agility drive our day-to-day actions.

The Solutions Engineer – Security/Access Control is an experienced technical and strategic resource who contributes independently across presales engagements. This role goes beyond standard solution delivery to proactively identify client needs, craft customized solutions, and act as a trusted advisor to both clients and internal teams. The Senior Solution Engineer earns credibility with clients through deep domain knowledge, advanced product expertise, and polished demonstrations, while also supporting the growth of junior team members.

Job Summary / Purpose

The Senior Solutions Engineer – Security/Access Control leads end-to-end presales engagements, acting as a trusted technical and strategic advisor for clients in higher education, corporate and other institutional markets. This role independently manages complex discovery sessions, crafts tailored solution proposals, and builds credibility with client stakeholders through deep Security and Access Control domain expertise and polished product demonstrations.

Working closely with sales, product, and implementation teams, the Senior SE bridges technical capabilities and business outcomes — translating complex software functionality into compelling value propositions that resonate with both operational staff and executive decision-makers.

The Senior Solutions Engineer collaborates closely with the Sales team on pre-sales strategy and client proposals, the Product team relaying competitive insights and client feedback, and the Implementation and Support teams to ensure seamless client onboarding. This role also serves as a mentor and resource to Solution Engineers on the team and participates in cross-functional initiatives alongside Solution Engineering leadership.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead end-to-end presales engagements including discovery sessions, solution workshops, and tailored product demonstrations, independently managing client expectations throughout.
• Proactively identify underlying business and operational challenges during client consultations and translate them into customized Electronic Security/Access Control software solutions.
• Craft compelling value propositions that connect technical capabilities to client-specific outcomes, adapting messaging for both technical users and business decision-makers.
• Anticipate and address client objections proactively during sales engagements, guiding clients toward optimal solution configurations.
• Collaborate with sales, product, and implementation teams to develop complex, customized proposals that align with client goals and operational context.
• Actively research competitive landscapes and client trends, integrating insights into solution recommendations and providing feedback to product teams on features that enhance competitive differentiation.
• Serve as an onboarding mentor and ongoing resource for Solution Engineers, sharing best practices and supporting team development.
• Complete technical documents including Technical Assessments and RFP responses, independently managing scope and quality.
• Bridge communication between cross-functional teams, acting as a go-to resource for technical guidance and helping drive alignment between strategy and execution.
• Participate in the new employee mentorship program to support the development of the broader Solution Engineering team.
• Travel - Estimated travel to be 30-50% with client sales visits and conferences being the majority.

Required Qualifications

• Certification with Illumia Transaction Solution products or similar product experience.
• 5+ years of experience managing, implementing, and/or supporting Electronic Security/Access Control System software/hardware with demonstrated progression in client-facing or presales roles.
• Understanding of enterprise system deployment environments and integrations to include authentication services, restful APIs, event messaging and network topography.
• Advanced knowledge of Security/Access Control System software applications with strong ability to configure, troubleshoot, and tailor solutions to complex customer requirements.
• Proven ability to lead discovery sessions, uncover underlying business challenges, and design customized solution recommendations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with demonstrated ability to translate technical detail into compelling client narratives for diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage cross-functional collaboration independently, driving alignment across sales, product, and technical teams.
• Experience mentoring or providing guidance to junior team members in a presales or consulting environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and/or certification using Illumia (Transact/CBORD) software and hardware.
• Certification with Security/Access Control products such as S2 NetBox and Genea or other similar solutions.
• Previous experience working in the Higher Education market in a technical aspect.
• Experience consulting with clients on Electronic Security/Access Control Solutions, process optimization, or system implementation.
• Comprehension of software architecture with a deep understanding of enterprise software applications such as ODBC databases, Microsoft Azure, Mobile platforms, and SaaS products.
• Track record of developing technical content or sales collateral that supports solution positioning.

This position is classified as Exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable state wage-and-hour laws.

What you get when you join our team:

• Flexible time off to include paid holidays and volunteer time.
• Robust health, dental, and vision insurance plans on your first day of employment
• Comprehensive employee assistance program (EAP)
• Employer-paid life insurance/AD&D/short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)
• Matched 401(k)
• Employee stock purchase plan

Base salary offers for this position may vary based on factors such as location, skills, and relevant experience. Some positions may include additional compensation in the form of bonus, equity, or commissions.

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Illumia is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, protected military/veteran status, or any other protected factor.