Lead Sales Engineer

Equinix•Redwood City, CA

1d•$148,000 - $266,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Sales Engineer - Microsoft is the technical execution leader for one of Equinix’s most strategic and globally significant hyperscaler accounts. Under the direction of Solutions Engineering leadership, this role owns the end-to-end design and pursuit execution of advanced data center, interconnection, and hybrid infrastructure solutions across the breadth of Microsoft’s product and services portfolio deployed on Platform Equinix - translating global account strategy into deployable architectures across regions. Working in close partnership with the Microsoft Account Executive and the Solutions Architect, the Lead SE serves as the subject matter expert for data center design, emerging infrastructure technologies, high-density compute, and custom build-to-suit solutions, ensuring technical excellence and commercial viability in every engagement. This is a high-visibility role both within and outside of the company. The successful candidate brings a rare combination of deep data center and infrastructure expertise, advanced client engagement skills, and the technical authority to lead through complex, multi-region hyperscaler pursuits. The ideal candidate is equally adept at business-outcome conversations with C-level executives and deeply technical discussions on complex data center, AI, and interconnection solutions.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in technical pre-sales, infrastructure engineering, or data center architecture roles within complex enterprise or hyperscale environments
Deep expertise in data center infrastructure, including power density modeling, cooling technologies, interconnection strategy, resiliency design, and hybrid cloud integration
Experience supporting global or hyperscaler-grade deployments with multi-region coordination
Strong understanding of AI infrastructure requirements, including high-density compute and liquid cooling considerations
Familiarity with custom design services, phased capacity planning, and build-to-suit engagements
Experience managing complex RFP processes and cross-functional solution delivery
Solutions selling experience in a technical pre-sales position required
Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline preferred.
Strong technical depth with the ability to translate complex infrastructure designs into clear customer-facing narratives
Equally adept at C-level business-outcome conversations and deeply technical discussions on complex data center, AI, and interconnection solutions
Structured and precise in documentation, design artifacts, and technical validation
Highly collaborative across sales, product, engineering, operations, and construction teams
Commercially aware, balancing architectural rigor with revenue impact and deal velocity
Forward-looking mindset with strong interest in emerging infrastructure technologies and evolving data center trends
Delivers executive-ready technical presentations and comprehensive customer design documentation
Excellent executive engagement skills with the ability to operate credibly across CIO, CTO, and SVP stakeholders
Fosters a culture of continuous technical learning and brings an innovation-oriented mindset to design and pursuit execution
Consistent focus on execution and high-quality customer outcomes, with strong organizational and documentation discipline

Nice To Haves

Industry certifications preferred
Equivalent experience through alternative paths, including non-traditional backgrounds or career transitions, is welcomed and valued

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted technical advisor throughout the sales lifecycle, partnering with the Account Executive and Global Solutions Architect to achieve and exceed global bookings and revenue targets
Lead detailed technical discovery across global stakeholders to define requirements for space, power, cooling, density, resiliency, compliance, and interconnection
Own the technical win for regional and global pursuits by delivering comprehensive design documentation, architecture diagrams, and solution walkthroughs
Align regional designs with the global account technical roadmap to ensure consistency and scalability across geographies
Support forecast accuracy and deal progression by clearly articulating solution scope, risks, dependencies, and technical differentiators
Serve as a technical SME in the customer’s domain - including earning relevant certifications where appropriate - to understand the business, speak the customer’s language, and advance ecosystem opportunities on Platform Equinix
Engage the extended Equinix global technical community to provide coordinated strategy and a superior customer experience wherever the customer requires Equinix services
Design complex colocation and infrastructure solutions, including high-density AI and GPU deployments, liquid cooling strategies, advanced power modeling, and hybrid cloud architectures
Serve as subject matter expert for emerging technologies, including high-performance compute environments, distributed architectures, sovereign deployments, and sustainability-driven design
Develop and articulate scalable global deployment strategies for customers operating across multiple regions with diverse regulatory and operational requirements
Lead custom design services engagements, including build-to-suit solutions, phased expansion strategies, and specialized infrastructure configurations
Partner with xScale, IBX design, construction, operations, and product teams to ensure feasibility, compliance, and delivery readiness of proposed solutions
Maintain a strong understanding of the competitive landscape across retail and wholesale data center providers, and articulate Equinix differentiation clearly across the full colocation and interconnection portfolio
Deliver Equinix’s sustainability story with awareness of emerging regional requirements and Equinix’s commitments to meet them
Demonstrate expert-level fluency in next-generation data center trends, including liquid cooling, AI infrastructure, power generation, density, and PUE
Own the technical components of RFP and proposal responses, including architecture validation, risk mitigation, and scope definition
Drive quoting processes, capacity reviews, facility tours, and advanced technical workshops tied to complex infrastructure pursuits
Support co-innovation initiatives led by the Global Solutions Architect by translating validated blueprints and reference architectures into executable regional deployments
Participate in Solution Validation Center engagements, proofs of concept, and technical validation programs tied to advanced or emerging architectures
Provide field-driven feedback to product, engineering, and operations teams to inform roadmap evolution based on strategic customer requirements and deployment realities
Closely follow industry trends and developments across power generation, liquid cooling, AI infrastructure, and data center design to shape account team priorities and lead from the front on technology innovation
Continually increase technical depth and develop problem-solving skills through formal education, certifications, self-study, and individual development planning
Contribute to the Global Technical Sales community through knowledge sharing, team enablement, and continuous learning