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Practising for the listing Solution Architect. Its requirements are filled in below. When you have an answer you like, paste it with your CV in Career Mirror to see which of the job's skills it shows.

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Solution Architect
About Gusto

At Gusto, we're on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff — payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR — so owners can focus on their craft and their customers. With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we support more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide and are building a workplace that reflects the people we serve.

All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs) — because everyone who helps build Gusto should share in its success. Offer amounts are determined by role, level, and location. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy .

AI is a fundamental part of how work gets done at Gusto. We expect all team members to actively engage with AI tools relevant to their role and grow their fluency as the technology evolves. AI experience requirements vary by role and will be assessed during the interview process.

About the role

A deep technical seat in Solutions Engineering: API and integration architecture, enterprise deal qualification, and the standing partnership with Engineering and Product. You're the single owner for qualification and demo strategy on the highest-MRR, highest-leverage deals, and the escalation point when a teammate hits a genuine product or integration gap rather than a configuration issue. The role spans every route to market, but most people anchor one. Today those split between Gusto Pro and Mid-Market/Franchises/Channel Partnerships. You also set the technical standard for the broader team, mentoring reps as they grow into more senior technical scope.

Here's what you'll do day-to-day

• Own deep technical scoping and all enterprise requests — sole owner of qualification and demo strategy for the most complex opportunities.

• Take the genuine product or integration escalations teammates surface — with reproduction steps and technical context already in hand — and own the resolution path end-to-end.

• Hold a standing partnership with Engineering and Product: surface tooling gaps, feed customer/technical insight into the roadmap, and influence what gets built next.

• Act as SE-side partner in PLO (premium/large-opportunity) management.

• Set the technical standard for the team — coach on deal strategy, complex customer handling, and long-term technical resolution; train new hires and support continuous learning.

• Own the delivery path on every scoped build. Route the work to the right resource, internal or external, hold the timeline, and own the commitment we made to the customer even when you are not the one writing the code.

• Architect and validate integration/API solutions spanning multiple systems — GL mapping, time-tracking stacks, multi-state payroll, and third-party integrations — where the standard playbook doesn't apply.

Here's what we're looking for

• Bachelor's Degree or 7+ years of relevant work experience in a comparable senior technical, solutions-architecture, or implementation role.

• Deep fluency in Salesforce (or a comparable CRM) and Gusto's integration stack — able to diagnose root cause across systems, not just within one.

• Proven ability to scope and resolve genuinely ambiguous technical/API problems, and to tell a real product gap apart from everything downstream of it.

• Track record of designing and implementing complex, integration-heavy solutions for enterprise-level customers.

• Comfort operating as the technical point of contact directly with Engineering and Product, including writing escalations that hold up as real bug reports.

• Demonstrated mentorship — able to set the technical bar for a broader team, not just clear your own queue.

Bonus points

• Payroll Certification.

• Direct experience with API-based or integration-heavy product demos and solution architecture.

• Payroll, tax, or compliance domain knowledge at a systems level.

• Experience with accounting firms, resellers, or partner-channel programs at enterprise scale.

• Proficient in Excel/Google Sheets/SQL for tracking and diagnostics across a large, complex book.

Our OTE cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $120,000 - 150,000 OTE in Denver & most remote locations. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

At Gusto, we don't use titles the traditional way, as a signal of rank or hierarchy. Instead, our titles describe two things at once — your craft (what you do, e.g. Engineering, Design) and your scope of ownership (what you're accountable for) — which is why you'll see something like "Head of X" instead of a rank word like "Director" that tells you neither. Because of this, the title on this posting may look different from what you'd expect based on the scope and seniority of the role, and from how similar roles are typically titled elsewhere. If you have questions about how this role compares to your current title or level, your recruiter can help translate.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees who are based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role). The same office expectations apply to all Symmetry roles, Gusto's subsidiary, whose physical office is in Scottsdale.

Note: The San Francisco office expectations encompass both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas.

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required. This includes non-office days for hybrid employees.

Reliable, consistent presence: We expect regular and predictable attendance, whether you're working in-office, hybrid, or fully remote, so that you stay closely connected to your team, customers, and stakeholders in real time and ensure colleagues and customers receive the timely support and responsiveness they deserve.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for small businesses, you will find a home at Gusto.

Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Gusto considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Gusto is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. We want to see our candidates perform to the best of their ability. If you require a medical or religious accommodation at any time throughout your candidate journey, please fill out this form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Gusto takes security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please review our Fraudulent Activity Disclaimer .

Personal information collected and processed as part of your Gusto application will be subject to Gusto's Applicant Privacy Notice .

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Requirements found

Marketing Training Writing Salesforce Compliance (nice) Excel (nice) Google Sheets (nice) Sql (nice) Word (nice)

What this posting asks for

Level: Senior — The posting asks for 7+ years of experience.

Main responsibilities

Own deep technical scoping and all enterprise requests — sole owner of qualification and demo strategy for the most complex opportunities.
train new hires and support continuous learning.
Own the delivery path on every scoped build.
Architect and validate integration/API solutions spanning multiple systems — GL mapping, time-tracking stacks, multi-state payroll, and third-party integrati…
Track record of designing and implementing complex, integration-heavy solutions for enterprise-level customers.

Competencies an interviewer will look for

Technical skill Core
In the posting: “A deep technical seat in Solutions Engineering: API and integration architecture, enterprise deal qualification, and the standing partnership with Engineerin…” · “Hold a standing partnership with Engineering and Product: surface tooling gaps, feed customer/technical insight into the roadmap, and influence what gets bui…” · “Route the work to the right resource, internal or external, hold the timeline, and own the commitment we made to the customer even when you are not the one w…”
Show it by: Names the tools, languages or systems used and how; Explains a technical choice and its trade-off.
Problem solving Core
In the posting: “Deep fluency in Salesforce (or a comparable CRM) and Gusto's integration stack — able to diagnose root cause across systems, not just within one.” · “Proven ability to scope and resolve genuinely ambiguous technical/API problems, and to tell a real product gap apart from everything downstream of it.” · “Proficient in Excel/Google Sheets/SQL for tracking and diagnostics across a large, complex book.”
Show it by: Describes a real problem, the options considered and the one chosen; Shows how the cause was found, not just the fix.
Ownership and accountability Core
In the posting: “Own deep technical scoping and all enterprise requests — sole owner of qualification and demo strategy for the most complex opportunities.” · “Take the genuine product or integration escalations teammates surface — with reproduction steps and technical context already in hand — and own the resolutio…” · “Own the delivery path on every scoped build.”
Show it by: Takes a task from start to finish without being chased; Owns a mistake and what was changed after it.
Leadership and mentoring Core
In the posting: “You also set the technical standard for the broader team, mentoring reps as they grow into more senior technical scope.” · “Set the technical standard for the team — coach on deal strategy, complex customer handling, and long-term technical resolution;” · “Demonstrated mentorship — able to set the technical bar for a broader team, not just clear your own queue.”
Show it by: Describes setting direction or a standard others followed; Names someone they coached and what changed for them.
Customer focus Core
In the posting: “We handle the hard stuff — payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR — so owners can focus on their craft and their customers.” · “Hold a standing partnership with Engineering and Product: surface tooling gaps, feed customer/technical insight into the roadmap, and influence what gets bui…” · “Set the technical standard for the team — coach on deal strategy, complex customer handling, and long-term technical resolution;”
Show it by: Puts the customer's need in their own words; Shows a result for the customer, not only for the company.
Attention to detail and quality Core
In the posting: “You also set the technical standard for the broader team, mentoring reps as they grow into more senior technical scope.” · “Set the technical standard for the team — coach on deal strategy, complex customer handling, and long-term technical resolution;” · “Architect and validate integration/API solutions spanning multiple systems — GL mapping, time-tracking stacks, multi-state payroll, and third-party integrati…”
Show it by: Gives an example of an error caught before it caused harm; Names the check or standard they used.
Stakeholder management Core
In the posting: “Hold a standing partnership with Engineering and Product: surface tooling gaps, feed customer/technical insight into the roadmap, and influence what gets bui…” · “Reliable, consistent presence: We expect regular and predictable attendance, whether you're working in-office, hybrid, or fully remote, so that you stay clos…”
Show it by: Shows how they aligned people with different goals; Explains how they handled a 'no' from someone senior.
Teamwork and collaboration Supporting
In the posting: “With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we support more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide and are building a workplace that reflects the pe…”
Show it by: Says what they did inside a team, not only what 'we' did; Shows how a disagreement was handled.
Data and analysis Supporting
In the posting: “Hold a standing partnership with Engineering and Product: surface tooling gaps, feed customer/technical insight into the roadmap, and influence what gets bui…”
Show it by: Uses a number to describe the situation or the result; Explains what the data showed and what was done with it.
Adaptability and learning Supporting
In the posting: “Proven ability to scope and resolve genuinely ambiguous technical/API problems, and to tell a real product gap apart from everything downstream of it.”
Show it by: Describes learning something new quickly and using it; Shows a change of plan and how they adjusted.

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Practice questions

Tell me about yourself. Dedicated step-by-step practice.
If an interviewer asks something improper How to respond to questions about age, family, origin or health.
Built from this posting (8):
Walk me through a piece of work where you used your strongest technical skill. What exactly did you do? From this posting
Tell me about a difficult problem you solved at work. How did you find the cause? From this posting
Tell me about a task you took from start to finish without anyone asking you to. From this posting
Tell me about a time you helped someone on your team get better at their work. From this posting
How have you used marketing in your work? Walk me through one real example. From this posting
Tell me about a problem you solved using training. From this posting
Describe a time you worked with another team to deliver something. What was your part? From this posting
Tell me about a time you used data or numbers to make a decision. From this posting
This posting reads as Finance & accounting: its questions come first.
Walk me through how you build a budget or forecast. Finance & accounting
How do you make sure your work holds up in an audit? Finance & accounting
Tell me about a time you found an error in a financial report or reconciliation. Finance & accounting
It is the last day of month-end close and a balance will not tie out. What do you do? Finance & accounting
Describe a time you explained a financial result to a manager outside finance. Finance & accounting
Tell me about an analysis that saved money or found revenue. Finance & accounting
Three urgent requests arrive during close. How do you decide the order? Finance & accounting
Describe a finance process you made faster or more reliable. Finance & accounting
How have you used spreadsheets in your work?
How do you keep your pipeline organised?
Walk me through how you would check whether a report's numbers are right.
Describe a time you handled an upset customer or colleague.
Tell me about a time you had several deadlines at once. How did you decide what to do first?
Give an example of a mistake you caught before it caused a problem.
Tell me about a time you taught someone how to do something.
Describe a time you took the lead without being asked.
Tell me about a time you had to explain something complicated in simple terms.
Describe a process you improved.
Do you have any questions for us?
Why do you want to work here?
Why is there a gap in your employment? Difficult question
Why did you leave your last job? Difficult question
Why are you changing careers? Difficult question
What is your greatest weakness? Difficult question
What are your salary expectations? Difficult question
You seem overqualified for this role. Why do you want it? Difficult question
Improper-question practice: How old are you? / Do you have children? / Where are you from originally?
A customer is angry about a delay you did not cause. What do you do?
How do you keep track of many open customer requests?
Tell me about a time you could not give a customer what they wanted.
You find that the inventory count does not match the system. What do you do?
Tell me about a time a shipment or delivery went wrong.
How do you make sure safety rules are followed on a busy shift?
Two managers ask you to book the same room at the same time. What do you do?
Tell me about a time you had to enter or check a lot of data accurately.
Tell me about a sale or agreement you are proud of.
A prospect says your price is too high. How do you respond?
Tell me about a technical problem you solved on your own.
You find a bug right before a release. What do you do?