45Drives Solution Architect

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $71,120 - $134,250 USD

45Drives Solution Architect
Location: Wilmington, NC
Term: Permanent, Full-Time (40 hours per week)
Anticipated Start Date: August/September
Work Arrangement: In-Office Only

Full transparency: we work a little differently around here.
This isnt just another job where you punch in and punch out. We come to work every day because we strive to earn a living in a meaningful way. Too many people exist without finding joy or purpose in their work, and we believe thats just wrong. After all, we spend at least a third of our lives workingso why not create workplaces where people want to come to work in the morning and feel good when they leave at the end of the day?

At 45Drives, your ideas dont just matterthey shape our future. We thrive on collaboration and innovation, where every voice is heard, valued, and makes a real impact. Does this sound like something youd want to be a part of and help grow?

About Us

45Drives is changing the way organizations store data.

Instead of locking customers into proprietary software, we build enterprise storage solutions using open-source software and commodity hardwaregiving customers flexibility, transparency, and long-term value without vendor lock-in.

45Drives is part of Protocase Inc., an innovative manufacturing and technology company with more than 400 employees serving over 16,000 customers worldwide, including organizations such as NASA, Boeing, Google, Apple, Microsoft, MIT, and many more.

Learn more:

• 45Drives:
• Protocase:

About the Role

The Solution Architect partners closely with Sales Account Managers to deliver technically sound, client-focused solutions by combining deep architectural expertise with a high standard of customer service throughout the sales process.

As a Solution Architect, you'll act as a trusted technical advisor, working with clients to understand their business challenges and design solutions that align with their goals. You'll guide discovery conversations, develop solution architectures across data, applications, and infrastructure, and support clients from initial engagement through implementation while helping communicate the value of our technology.

Day-to-Day

• Meet with clients to understand business needs, technical requirements, and long-term objectives.
• Conduct technical discovery sessions to identify challenges, opportunities, and solution requirements.
• Design customized enterprise solutions across storage, infrastructure, applications, and data environments.
• Deliver technical presentations, workshops, and live product demonstrations.
• Develop technical scopes of work, architecture documentation, and implementation recommendations.
• Partner with Sales Account Managers throughout the sales process to support customer success.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear business value.
• Collaborate with R&D by sharing customer feedback, industry trends, and product opportunities.
• Share knowledge with clients and internal teams through documentation, training, and discussions.

Core Responsibilities

• Analyze client environments, workloads, and requirements to identify effective technology solutions.
• Design scalable architectures that align with customer goals, technical requirements, and industry best practices.
• Evaluate existing infrastructure, applications, and data ecosystems to recommend appropriate solutions.
• Develop architecture roadmaps, migration strategies, performance expectations, and technical documentation.
• Review solution designs, quotes, and deliverables to ensure alignment with customer requirements.
• Support implementation planning by ensuring solutions meet agreed-upon architecture and performance expectations.
• Work closely with Sales, Engineering, and internal teams to deliver successful customer outcomes.
• Provide technical guidance throughout the customer journey and act as a trusted advisor.
• Communicate market trends and customer feedback to support product improvements and standardized solutions.
• Promote open-source technologies, architectural best practices, and continuous learning.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• A strong technical background in data storage, systems architecture, virtualized systems, or related technology fields.
• Experience designing or supporting enterprise infrastructure solutions.
• Knowledge of open-source technologies such as ZFS, Ceph, Proxmox, or similar platforms.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex technical challenges.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify and explain complex concepts.
• Experience delivering technical demonstrations, presentations, or working directly with customers is an asset.
• A customer-focused mindset with strong attention to detail.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement.

Company-Wide Standards

• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives that enhance client experience and organizational success.
• Conduct all work in accordance with company values, ethical standards, and professional practices.
• Follow established processes, documentation standards, and architectural best practices while remaining adaptable to business needs.
• Perform additional duties as required to support team objectives and organizational success.

Why us?
At 45Drives, we believe in recognizing and rewarding hard work and dedication.
Our starting annual total compensation packageincluding base salary and performance incentivesranges from $71,120 - $134,250 USD, depending on experience.

In addition, you can look forward to:

• Training and Growth:Well teach you the role from the ground up and provide opportunities to expand into broader accounting and finance responsibilities over time
• Comprehensive Health Care:Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, and Group Insurance (available after 2 months of full-time employment)
• Vacation:Start with two weeks of paid vacation, increasing to three weeks after three years, and four weeks after five years
• Community Discounts:Access exclusive deals at local businesses
• Wellness Support:Participate in wellness events and enjoy access to a gym membership
• Social Events:As our Wilmington branch grows, enjoy team lunches, seasonal parties, and social events
• Wilmington Lifestyle:Embrace coastal living with stunning beaches, rich culture, historic charm, and a thriving innovation scene

Apply today to join 45Drives as our next Solution Architect and help organizations build storage solutions with confidence.