Manager, Solutions Architect - UK&I

<div class="content-intro"><p>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.</p> <p>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&nbsp;and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZIb5zszQI">Co-create the future with us</a> as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.</p> <p>*<em>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.</em></p></div><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">Overview of the Role</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">As the Manager, Solutions Architecture - UK/I (Pre-Sales) at GitLab, you'll manage a distributed team of Solutions Architects working with customers across the UK and Ireland, with scope to grow into additional countries within the region over time, such as Sweden and the Netherlands. In this player-coach role, you'll guide technical strategy across complex sales motions while also stepping directly into high-impact opportunities to help your team secure technical wins and build customer confidence in GitLab's platform approach. At GitLab, we work at the intersection of technical sales strategy, team development, and operational scale, and you'll help translate customer requirements into clear business outcomes.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">You'll partner closely with regional go-to-market counterparts and cross-functional teams including Sales, Channel, Marketing, Sales Enablement, Product Management, and the global Solutions Architecture team. In our all-remote environment, you'll help shape how we grow the Solutions Architecture organization across UK/I by building strong operating rhythms, strengthening executive relationships, and creating the conditions for your team to do their best work. This role suits someone who combines technical depth, strong judgment, and a hands-on approach to winning business and scaling teams.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">Some of the types of projects you'll work on:</p> <ul class="[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Running technical evaluations, executive workshops, demos, and proof-of-concept engagements that help customers map GitLab's DevSecOps platform to their business goals</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Building regional operating practices that improve team execution, strengthen cross-functional alignment, and scale the impact of Solutions Architects across UK/I</li> </ul> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">What you'll do</p> <ul class="[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Manage a team of intermediate and senior Solutions Architects across the UK and Ireland, with scope to expand into other countries within the region such as Sweden and the Netherlands as the team grows, setting clear direction and enabling high-quality execution across UK/I.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Act as a player-coach by partnering directly on strategic opportunities, building executive relationships, and coaching your team through complex sales cycles to help secure the technical win.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Guide regional strategy for technical evaluations, workshops, demonstrations, and proof-of-concept engagements, ensuring customer needs are translated into meaningful technical and business outcomes.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Work cross-functionally with global Solutions Architecture, Sales, Channel, Marketing, Sales Enablement, and Product Management to align on priorities and execute against regional goals.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Manage dotted-line relationships with Channel Solutions Architects and subject matter experts, driving accountability, collaboration, and alignment around common goals.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Maintain strong operational discipline across workload planning, resource allocation, headcount planning, opportunity forecasting, and field execution.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Define and track key performance indicators for the team, communicating progress, risks, and priorities clearly to your team, peers, and senior stakeholders.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Hire, develop, and retain high-performing Solutions Architects while strengthening team capability, encouraging innovation, and building a scalable regional organization for future growth.</li> </ul> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">What you'll bring</p> <ul class="[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Experience managing technical teams in software or technology sales, pre-sales, consulting, or a related environment, with direct exposure to the UK and Ireland; exposure to other European markets such as Sweden or the Netherlands is a plus, given the scope for the role to grow into these countries over time.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Strong background in solution architecture or comparable practical experience, with the ability to relate technical depth to customer business value and apply transferable experience from adjacent domains while learning GitLab and related tools.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Proven success developing, mentoring, and scaling Solutions Architecture practices or similar customer-facing technical organizations in growing businesses.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Strong communication and technical presentation skills, with the ability to engage effectively across cultures and with both technical and business stakeholders.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Demonstrated business acumen and sound judgment, balancing technical excellence with commercial outcomes and regional priorities.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace