Account Executive - Architecture: Data Center Infrastructure (GES)
About The Position
Cisco’s Architecture Sales Organization drives specialized revenue growth, competitive displacement, and business transformation across our strategic technology portfolios. As specialized Account Executives, we partner closely with Core Account Teams, Solutions Engineers (SEs), and Cisco Engineering Business Units to identify high-impact opportunities, navigate enterprise buying centers, and position Cisco’s market-leading architectures. We focus on commercial excellence, business outcome realization, and accelerating the adoption of next-generation enterprise networking, cybersecurity, cloud, and AI-ready infrastructure. As an Account Executive on the Architecture Team, you will own commercial relationships and drive strategic purchasing decisions within customer buying centers across enterprise and commercial accounts. You will partner with core account managers and technical solutions engineers to qualify pipeline, structure comprehensive business cases, lead competitive displacements, and guide multi-stakeholder deal cycles from qualification through execution.
Requirements
- 7+ years of direct, quota-carrying enterprise or commercial technology sales experience selling hardware, software, SaaS, or complex specialized technology architectures.
- 5+ years of experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder commercial deal cycles (3 to 18 months) with a documented track record of quota over-achievement.
- Proven track record developing commercial business cases, executive proposals, and ROI/TCO financial justifications.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience executing competitive displacement strategies and growing market share against industry competitors.
- Proven experience collaborating cross-functionally with technical pre-sales teams (Solutions Engineers), core account teams, and internal business units.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or advanced degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
- Formal training and demonstrated proficiency in enterprise sales methodologies (e.g., MEDDPICC, Challenger Sales, Command of the Message).
- Commercial familiarity and sales proficiency across Cisco architectural domains (Enterprise Networking, Cyber Security, Cloud/Data Center, or Collaboration).
- Experience selling multi-year software subscriptions, Enterprise Agreements (EAs), and recurring revenue licensing models.
- Established executive customer relationships and vertical domain sales experience (e.g., Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, SLED, or Service Provider).
Responsibilities
- Own and achieve sales quota targets for specialized Cisco architectures, managing deal cycles ranging from $50K to over $1M across mid-market, commercial, and enterprise accounts.
- Cultivate trusted advisor relationships with CXOs, Line-of-Business leaders, and IT decision-makers, aligning long-term architectural strategies with strategic customer business objectives.
- Apply structured sales methodologies (e.g., MEDDPICC) to qualify pipeline opportunities, construct ROI/TCO financial justifications, and deliver accurate architectural revenue forecasting.
- Collaborate with Solutions Engineers (SEs) on customer proof of concept (PoC) and proof of value (PoV) demonstration strategies, while partnering with Core Account Teams to expand wallet share and displace competitors.
- Channel field intelligence, customer feedback, and competitive insights directly to Cisco Engineering Business Units to influence product roadmap enhancements, pricing models, and go-to-market strategies.
Benefits
- medical, dental and vision insurance
- a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
- paid parental leave
- short and long-term disability coverage
- basic life insurance
- grants of Cisco restricted stock units
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year
- 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
- paid year-end holiday shutdown
- 4 paid days off for personal wellness
- 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year (non-exempt employees)
- flexible vacation time off program (exempt employees)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
- up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
- annual bonuses (for non-sales roles)
- performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary (for sales roles)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
