Associate Solution Architect

We’re a global team of over 400 people, working together to push the boundaries of open‑source technology and multi‑cloud solutions. Our vision is to become the trusted Data & AI Platform for everyone, leveraging the most popular open‑source technologies like Apache Kafka, Aiven for PostgreSQL, Aiven for Clickhouse, and Aiven for OpenSearch to help companies accelerate time‑to‑market and build innovative solutions across any cloud. The Role: We are looking for a customer‑centric Solutions Architect to promote the use of Aiven’s managed open‑source services. The ideal candidate will be passionate about open‑source technology and genuinely want to help customers in a pre‑sales capacity. You must have proven experience in one of the following areas: Apache Kafka, PostgreSQL, or OpenSearch. The position is full‑time, permanent, and will be located in Austin, TX. What you’ll do: Champion the customer journey, fostering trusted partnerships from pre‑sales strategy through implementation and long‑term adoption. Assess customer needs, pain points, and strategic goals to ensure the proposed product is a viable fit. Design and deliver customized, high‑impact technical presentations and product demos for various stakeholders. Manage pilot programs or POC evaluations to prove the value and technical feasibility of the solution. Respond to the technical and functional sections of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and vendor assessments. Act as the voice of the customer by relaying market feedback and feature requests to the Product and Engineering teams. Be an ambassador for Aiven by writing technical blogs, conducting webinars, sponsoring meetups, or speaking at conferences. Travel up to 10% of the time. What we’re looking for: Experience working in technology, software sales, pre‑sales, or consulting. Fluency in one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, Go, or Ruby. Ability to translate complex technical jargon into clear, persuasive business value for non‑technical buyers. Experience implementing proof of concepts as needed to work with Aiven services to address business requirements. Knowledgeable of public clouds (AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure) and in compute, storage, networking, and security groups. Experience with Linux operating systems, diverse utilities, and networking basics like DNS. Hands‑on experience with search‑engine ecosystems (OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, or Lucene). Understanding of streaming frameworks with proficiency in tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Apache Spark Streaming, or AWS Kinesis. Understanding of storage systems, including distributed storage, NoSQL databases, and data lakes. Attention to detail and strong problem‑solving and project‑management skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills, and a capacity to work well with cross‑functional teams. Relationship building: ability to build trust quickly and maintain strong relationships with both internal sales reps and external clients. Our Offer: Enjoy the agile environment of a hyperscale scale‑up where you can truly make an impact and have fun while at it. We invest in you: Participate in Aiven’s equity plan. Global locations and a hybrid work policy to balance work and life. Company‑provided equipment for your success. Employer support for your career growth through learning platforms and an annual learning budget. Holistic wellbeing support via a global Employee Assistance Program. Make a difference at Aiven: Contribute to open‑source projects that you find meaningful outside of work—and get paid for it through our Plankton program. Use up to 5 days per year to volunteer for a cause of your choice. Join one of our team member resource groups to empower yourself and others. What else: Comprehensive health insurance options including dental and vision, plus life and AD&D insurance. Health savings account with Aiven contributions; short and long term disability plans. 401(k) and Roth 401(k) retirement plans. E‑verify Aiven participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Equal Opportunities Aiven provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, marital and family status, or any other similar personal attributes. Aiven complies with applicable local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment in every location in which the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training and any other terms and conditions related to employment. Accessibility and Accommodations At Aiven, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities or special needs in our working environment and job application procedures. We make all reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or who otherwise need support to thrive in the workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr