Solutions Engineer

Relay, a Raleigh-based high growth company, is looking to change the way we communicate. We’re on a mission that matters, and we're hiring for a Solutions Engineer who will thrive in a dynamic high-growth environment.

Frontline workers are the lifeblood of our economy, and we're building the cloud platform that makes them better, faster and safer than ever before. Our cloud solution offers a data driven approach to frontline work through real time communications, real time location information and powerful real time data and insights. Here at Relay, we've designed, built and launched an entirely new product category and we're disrupting the handheld radio industry.

The Solutions team is central to our revenue growth and customer value strategy, serving as the technical experts for our most important strategic sales opportunities. Our mission is to design innovative, AI-driven solutions that transform complex business problems, showcase the power of the Relay SaaS platform and its advanced AI capabilities for large prospective clients, and accelerate deals by expertly navigating technical diligence and removing IT or technical roadblocks. 

Position Overview:

As a Solutions Engineer specializing in Frontline Business Transformation, you will be a key technical member on the Solutions team, working directly with prospective and existing enterprise customers. You will leverage deep technical expertise and business acumen to architect and implement sophisticated AI-driven solutions, demonstrating how Relay's platform drives significant business transformation, both pre- and post-sale. You will play a crucial role in the technical pre-sales cycle, from initial discovery and design to hands-on technical POC creation and demo, with a particular focus on pioneering new and emerging AI-powered solutions. You are a trusted technical advisor, adept at handling complex requirements, overcoming objections, and ensuring our most strategic customers derive maximum value and achieve transformative outcomes from our AI offerings by actively participating in their deployment and initial operationalization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Pre-Sales & Hands-On AI Solution Architecture:
• Partner with assigned Business Development and Enterprise Sales teams to gain a deep understanding of their business goals, complex technical landscapes, and critical pain points, identifying opportunities for AI-driven transformation.
• Design and architect robust, scalable, and innovative AI solutions using our core product suite and APIs, tailored to specific customer needs and demonstrating significant value through AI-powered business process re-engineering.
• Develop and deliver highly customized, compelling product demonstrations and technical presentations that effectively communicate the value and technical feasibility of AI-driven solutions to diverse audiences, including C-suite and IT leadership.
• Lead the development, hands-on implementation, and management of Proof-of-Concept (PoC) solutions to validate technical requirements and showcase the transformative power of Relay's AI capabilities in complex scenarios.
• Technical Sales Leader:
• Act as the primary technical contact and trusted advisor to prospective customers during strategic sales cycles, guiding them through technical evaluations and platform deployments.
• Lead and manage the technical diligence process, expertly addressing intricate technical questions, security inquiries (RFIs/RFPs, security questionnaires), and integration challenges related to AI deployments, leveraging internal Security/Support for standard items.
• Proactively identify, address, and overcome technical objections, securing technical validation and buy-in from key customer stakeholders, including IT and leadership, regarding AI solution adoption.
• Provide significant technical contributions to proposals, Statements of Work (SOWs), and commercial negotiations, emphasizing the value of AI-driven transformation.
• Drive the initial implementation and configuration of "emerging solutions" (e.g., initial integrations using new AI APIs or cutting-edge AI models) directly with customers, ensuring successful deployment and initial operationalization.
• Enablement & Knowledge Transfer:
• Meticulously document designed AI solution architectures, including critical configurations, API utilization for AI integrations, and integration points defined during pre-sales.
• Conduct thorough handover sessions to Customer Success and longer-term Implementation/Operations teams for standardized AI solutions, ensuring they have the necessary technical context and design rationale.
• Serve as a point of escalation for implementation and post-deployment teams.
• Provide direct support and optimization for "emerging solutions" until they become standardized and transitionable to Operations.
• Cross-Functional Influence & Enablement:
• Proactively engage and influence cross-functionally to create revenue momentum across Product Management, Operations, Marketing and Sales, specifically focusing on AI and business transformation.
• Synthesize and deliver valuable field feedback to Product Management regarding strategic customer needs for feature gaps, and usability to influence roadmap direction.
• Partner with Operations to develop robust playbooks for onboarding and supporting novel customer solutions.
• Collaborate with Security and Support teams to equip them with the knowledge needed for routine technical and security questionnaires related to implementations.
• Develop technical cheat sheets and one-pagers focused on AI capabilities and business transformation for BD and Enterprise sales teams.
• Collaborate with Marketing on technical content generation (e.g., whitepapers on AI use cases, case studies and conference talks) as needed.

Qualifications:

• Experience (e.g., 1-3+ years) in a customer-facing technical role such as Forward Deployed Engineer, Sales Engineer, or Technical Analyst, preferably within an enterprise software or SaaS environment with a focus on AI, or data science solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex business challenges and architect sophisticated, AI-driven technical solutions using a SaaS platform's core features and APIs to achieve business transformation.
• Strong experience designing, implementing, and delivering compelling technical demonstrations and presentations focused on AI capabilities and their business impact to both technical and business audiences.
• Experience leading technical diligence processes for AI-driven solutions, including responding to RFPs/RFIs, security questionnaires, and technical objections related to AI.
• Hands-on ability to build, implement, and manage Proof-of-Concept solutions leveraging modern web technologies and AI/ML frameworks.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills, with an ability to clearly articulate the value of AI-driven workflows.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate ambiguity, particularly in the evolving AI landscape.
• Experience working effectively with business development and enterprise sales teams and engaging directly with large prospective customers to drive AI adoption and ensure successful initial deployments.
• Ability to translate complex technical AI concepts into clear, understandable language for various stakeholders, including C-suite executives.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Travel:

• Up to 50% domestic travel to meet with prospective customers and support sales and initial implementation engagements, particularly for strategic AI opportunities.

About us: Relay culture, benefits & perks:

First and foremost, our culture hinges onRelayers getting LIT up in an environment that fosters learning, impact, and teamwork (LIT) where we can do the best work in our lives. We call this BWIML (pronounced bee wimmel = Best Work In My Life)!

It's truly amazing what engaged team members can achieve together. Our ever-evolving list of benefits and perks means you'll be able to integrate work into your whole life, focus on health, perform impactful work, grow and learn in your role, look after yourself/your family, and invest in your future. 

At Relay, we offer...

• 100% Paid Insurance Health, Dental, Vision, Long/Short Term Disability, and Life Insurance benefits for you and those who depend on you
• Generous Paid Time Off
• 401(K) Savings Plan + Company Match
• Baby Cash Reward + Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Perks, including a world-class onsite fitness center with instructor-led classes + locker room, as well as endless outdoor amenities, whether tennis, basketball, cycling, or pickleball is your jam
• Free Snacks and Fun Times
• Latest tech, standing desks, and all the accessories and software you need to succeed in your role

Please note this role is based onsite at our HQ in Raleigh, NC, with up to 50% travel