Presales solution architect

Summary

We are looking for an experienced Pre-Sales Architect to lead solutioning and pre-sales for Applications and Infrastructure opportunities across Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asia region. The successful candidate will partner with sales, delivery and Microsoft account teams to shape, qualify and win deals — translating client business problems into compelling, commercially-viable Microsoft-centric solutions, with a primary focus on application modernization, cloud-native architectures, and AI-infused software delivery on Azure. This is a client-facing, strategic role for someone who can hold their own in a CTO/CIO conversation, lead solution workshops, defend technical decisions during deal reviews, and produce high-quality proposals, estimates and architecture deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Sales & Solutioning

• Own the technical solution for Apps and Infra pursuits — from qualification through proposal, orals and contracting.
• Lead discovery workshops with client stakeholders to elicit business drivers, current-state pain points and future-state ambitions.
• Design end-to-end solution architectures spanning application modernization, microservices, integration, DevSecOps and underlying Azure infrastructure.
• Produce solution artefacts: architecture diagrams, capability maps, estimate models, delivery approach, risk registers and assumption logs.
• Partner with commercial and delivery leadership to construct deal shapes, pricing, resourcing and transition plans.

Application Modernization & Cloud-Native Design

• Define modernization roadmaps using the 6Rs (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild, Retire) and Azure migration patterns.
• Architect microservices-based solutions leveraging AKS, Azure Container Apps, Azure Functions, API Management, Service Bus, Event Grid and Cosmos DB.
• Apply cloud-native patterns: 12-factor apps, event-driven architectures, CQRS, saga, strangler-fig, anti-corruption layer.
• Advise clients on legacy decomposition strategies (monolith-to-microservices, mainframe offload, .NET Framework to .NET modernization).

LLM-Driven SDLC & AI-Infused Engineering

• Position and shape engagements that embed GenAI across the software delivery lifecycle — including GitHub Copilot adoption, AI-assisted code review, requirements engineering, test generation and documentation.
• Architect AI agents and copilots integrated into client engineering workflows.
• Define adoption frameworks, governance and measurement approaches for AI-augmented engineering productivity.
• Stay ahead of the Microsoft AI stack: Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, GitHub Copilot Enterprise, Copilot Studio.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with Microsoft account teams (ATU, STU, CSU) in Malaysia to co-sell and source opportunities.
• Represent Avanade in client meetings, industry events and Microsoft partner forums.
• Mentor junior architects and solution consultants within the practice.

Required Experience & Skills

• 12+ years in application architecture, software engineering or technology consulting, with at least 4 years in a pre-sales or solution architect role.
• Strong track record of winning and shaping mid-to-large application modernization and cloud transformation deals (USD 1M–10M+).
• Deep hands-on understanding of:
• Microservices and distributed systems design
• Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, AKS)
• API design and integration patterns (REST, GraphQL, event-driven, API Management)
• DevSecOps and platform engineering (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, IaC with Bicep/Terraform)
• .NET and/or Java engineering stacks
• Practical experience embedding GenAI tooling into SDLC — GitHub Copilot, AI agents, prompt engineering, evaluation frameworks.
• Solid grounding in Azure infrastructure: networking, identity, security, governance, FinOps.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to produce executive-grade deliverables and present to C-level stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in a matrixed, multi-country consulting environment.

Nice to Have

• Microsoft certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305), DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400), AI Engineer Associate (AI-102).
• TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture certification.
• Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform or Dynamics 365 integration scenarios.
• Industry depth in Financial Services, Manufacturing, Public Sector or Retail.
• Working knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia.

What We Offer

A regional remit with exposure to marquee clients across ASEAN. A career platform built on the Microsoft alliance — first access to roadmap, betas and joint go-to-market. Structured learning paths, certification sponsorship and a global community of architects. Competitive compensation, performance incentives and comprehensive benefits.