Established in 1982, Bytes has grown rapidly and now employs over 800+ people across 6 locations in the UK and Ireland. Our turnover in Financial Year 2024 was in excess of £2bn. We work with SME’s, corporates and public sector organisations to modernise and digitally transform their IT infrastructures.We invest in our employees through on-going support, training and advice to help them achieve their career aspirations, rewarding success both financially and personally. There is opportunity to grow and move internally which can be seen through our long-standing employees who have developed existing and new skills to move into senior positions in the organisation leaving space for new team members to begin their journey.Your Future Starts HerePurpose Of Job: As a Microsoft Data & AI Cloud Presales Architect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how our customers adopt and scale Microsoft’s intelligent cloud and data services. This is a highly consultative role that blends deep technical expertise with commercial acumen and customer engagement.You will work closely with account teams, solution specialists, and delivery consultants to design and position scalable, secure, and innovative Data & AI solutions. These solutions will span Microsoft Azure, Fabric, Azure AI services including Azure OpenAI. Cognitive Services, and Machine Learning and will be tailored to meet the unique needs of enterprise and public sector clients.Your responsibilities will include leading technical discovery sessions to develop solution architectures, and supporting the sales cycle with compelling demos, proposals, and proof-of-value engagements. You’ll also act as a trusted advisor to customers, helping them understand how to unlock value from their data and AI investments.This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of technology and business, and who is passionate about helping organisations transform through data-driven decision-making and AI innovation.Key Responsibilities: Advise customers on the use of Azure AI services including Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning, and Azure OpenAI to solve business challenges.Lead technical discovery sessions with customers to understand business and technical requirementsDesign and present Data & AI solutions using Microsoft Azure, Fabric, and OpenAI servicesCollaborate with internal teams to shape proposals and ensure solution feasibilitySupport the sales cycle with technical expertise, demos, and proof-of-value engagementsStay current with Microsoft’s Data & AI roadmap and emerging technologiesEnsure proposed solutions align with Microsoft’s “Metrics that Matter” to drive measurable customer outcomesCollaborate with AI-focused delivery teams to shape PoC engagements and ensure feasibility of AI-driven solutions.QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS: Educational Qualifications:Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related fieldEquivalent industry experience in lieu of formal education Professional QualificationsMicrosoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert or equivalentMicrosoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate or Data Engineer Associate Years of Experience5+ years in a Technical Pre-Sales, solution architecture, or consulting roleExperience designing and presenting Data & AI solutions Other RequirementsHands-on experience with Azure AI services including Cognitive Services, Azure ML, and Azure OpenAIStrong understanding of Microsoft Azure Data & AI stackFamiliarity with Microsoft Fabric and Azure OpenAIUnderstanding of responsible AI principles and governance in enterprise environmentsExperience with AWS Data & AI servicesAbility to simplify complex data topics for customer conversationsExperience planning Proof of Concept (PoC) projectsUnderstanding of Microsoft’s “Metrics that Matter”Deep knowledge of Azure Data & AI services, architecture, and deploymentAbility to lead discovery sessions and translate needs into solutionsSkilled in designing scalable, secure, and innovative architecturesClear communicator with technical and non-technical stakeholdersWorks effectively with sales, delivery and partner teamsKeeps up to date with Microsoft roadmap and emerging technologiesUnderstands licensing, pricing and commercial models for Microsoft cloudAbility to align solutions with customer business outcomesAbility to design and position AI-driven solutions using Microsoft’s AI stackFamiliarity with responsible AI practices and customer data governance