Principal Solutions Architect, AI / Core DevOps SME

GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

*Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab.

An overview of this role

As a Principal Solutions Architect in GitLab's global Solutions Architecture Center of Excellence, you'll be the trusted technical advisor and pre-sales partner who helps customers unlock the full value of GitLab's AI-powered DevSecOps platform. You will solve complex challenges across the software lifecycle by connecting GitLab, AI agents, security, and cloud-native capabilities to real business outcomes, guiding customers through digital transformation and modern software delivery. Reporting into the Senior Director and acting as the AI subject matter expert on a team of specialists, you'll own technical strategy for strategic accounts, lead value stream and Proof of Value (PoV) engagements, and serve as the technical "CTO" for your accounts. In your first year, you'll be focused on driving successful platform evaluations and adoption as part of the pre-sales process, shaping AI-led solution architectures, influencing product direction with field feedback, and creating reusable assets and providing thought leadership for raising GitLab's technical bar globally.
What you'll do

• Lead technical discovery, architecture design, demos, and end-to-end evaluations (POC/POV) to validate GitLab as the preferred agentic, AI-powered DevSecOps platform for prospects and customers.
• Drive AI-focused solution strategy as the team's AI subject matter expert, including competitive positioning and business value justifications.
• Own the technical strategy and influence Customer Success Plans for assigned accounts, acting as the "technical CTO" to guide multi-team, multi-year transformation initiatives across the DevSecOps lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Sales, Customer Success, Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to shape account strategies, inform territory planning, and ensure successful platform adoption.
• Provide advanced technical guidance during the pre-sales cycle, including tender and audit support, workshop design, and solving complex integration and implementation challenges.
• Serve as the voice of the customer by translating real-world feedback into product requirements, documentation improvements, and roadmap input, especially for AI, security, and platform capabilities.
• Create and share reusable technical assets such as reference architectures, working examples, best practice guides, and internal enablement content to scale impact across regions.
• Mentor other Solutions Architects, contribute to global initiatives for the Center of Excellence, and act as an external industry authority through thought leadership, standards participation, and ecosystem relationships.

What you'll bring

• Expert resonance for the most strategic aspects of GitLab's product and customer personas while empowering the field with domain knowledge.
• Deep hands-on expertise with AI, such as designing or implementing AI-powered solutions, advising on AI adoption, or acting as an AI subject matter expert for customers or internal teams.
• Experience in technical pre-sales, software consulting, or similar roles where you connect complex technology to business outcomes.
• Practical background in modern software development or operations, including CI/CD, DevSecOps practices, and related tooling.
• Knowledge of cloud computing concepts and architectures, and how cloud services integrate into secure, scalable application delivery.
• Ability to design and explain technical architectures that span multiple teams and phases of the software lifecycle, from planning through monitoring.
• Skill in leading technical evaluations and workshops (for example, proofs of value or solution design sessions) with diverse stakeholders, from engineers to executives.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to act as a trusted advisor and customer advocate across sales, product, and engineering teams.
• Openness to learning and growth, with experience building new skills over time; candidates with transferable experience in adjacent domains (for example security, data, or cloud architecture) are encouraged to apply.

About the team

This role sits within GitLab's global Solutions Architecture Center of Excellence, our distributed team of subject matter experts focused on AI, application security, and monetization. Our mission is to accelerate GitLab's market leadership by helping shape how customers adopt GitLab and partnering with Sales, Product, and Engineering to drive successful platform outcomes. We collaborate asynchronously across regions, sharing best practices, reusable assets, and field insights that influence product direction and go-to-market motions. As an AI-focused Solutions Architect on our team, you'll help tackle complex customer challenges around AI adoption, security, and value realization, while contributing to the technical standards, frameworks, and thought leadership that support GitLab's most strategic accounts.

The base salary range for this role's listed level is currently for residents of the United States only. This range is intended to reflect the role's base salary rate in locations throughout the US. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, alignment with market data, and geographic location. The base salary range does not include any bonuses, equity, or benefits. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.

United States Salary Range

$201,600-$338,400 USD

How GitLab Supports Full-Time Employees

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental Leave

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.

Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.


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GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab's policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.