District Systems Engineer

Palo Alto Networks•Minneapolis, MN

8d•Remote

About The Position

The District Systems Engineer, Commercial, is a technical advisor and pre-sales partner to commercial sales teams and customers. The role aligns Palo Alto Networks security solutions with customer needs, architects solutions for complex environments, and helps customers successfully deploy and adopt the company’s cybersecurity platform. The engineer drives technical wins and customer satisfaction by understanding security challenges, demonstrating solution value, and supporting adoption across network security, security operations, and cloud security. This is a remote field-sales position involving customer engagement and travel within the assigned district. The role combines technical architecture, consulting, and strategic business thinking, with opportunities to develop into a portfolio architect and to mentor inside Systems Engineers. The engineer collaborates with sales, Professional Services, Customer Success, Specialists, Channel Partners, and Customer Support to promote customer success.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in pre-sales or sales engineering, or completion of the SC Academy.
Understanding of data networking, security architectures, and modern cloud computing environments.
Ability to influence and gain buy-in from key stakeholders, in customer-facing or internal roles; prior pre-sales experience is ideal.
Experience creating and delivering technical presentations, workshops, or technical validation engagements.
Proficient in English.
Willingness to travel up to 50% within the assigned district.

Nice To Haves

Experience delivering cybersecurity solutions that address technical challenges and influence new business initiatives.
Experience selling, designing, implementing, or managing one or more of Network Security, SASE, SaaS, CNAPP, or SOC Transformation Technologies.
Experience partnering with Customer Support to ensure successful implementation and adoption of sold solutions.
Experience with complex sales involving long sales processes, multiple buying centers, and multi-product solutions.

Responsibilities

Partner with sales teams to meet and exceed quotas by building and implementing strategic technical account plans.
Position, demonstrate, and design security architectures across the Palo Alto Networks portfolio based on customer business needs, including complex network security, security operations, and cloud environments.
Drive customer adoption of the security platform to improve security, operational efficiency, and business flexibility.
Conduct technical discovery to understand customer requirements and align solutions to customer needs.
Lead proof-of-concept engagements, technical workshops, and product demonstrations.
Collaborate with Professional Services, Customer Success, and Specialist teams to support implementation and adoption.
Communicate complex security concepts to technical practitioners and executive stakeholders.
Coordinate Specialists, Channel Partners, and Customer Support resources around a unified customer-success strategy.
Promote end-to-end security solutions, including company and partner professional services.
Track industry trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging security threats.
Develop technical expertise and professional skills, contribute to the District Systems Engineer community, and participate in industry events.
Build breadth of technical knowledge across SOC, cloud, networking, and network security, with an emphasis on SOC and cloud.
Develop expertise across the portfolio, from NGFW to SASE, SOC, cloud, and Unit 42 consulting services.
Build and maintain strong customer relationships and apply consulting skills.
Understand the competitive landscape, particularly in the engineer’s area of specialty.
Design and architect large, complex environments using technical-domain expertise.
Develop business acumen and potential to grow into CTO-, CIO-, or CISO-level leadership.
Travel up to 50% within the assigned district and support in-person customer meetings as needed.
Serve as a role model and mentor for inside Systems Engineers.