Leader, Solutions Engineer

Cisco•Glendale, CA

9d•$246,800 - $327,200•Hybrid

About The Position

Leads solutions engineering teams to align Cisco architectures with customer needs, driving optimal outcomes for customers through sustained team and individual performance. Builds and sustains strong, long-term relationships with customers. Collaborates with customers to understand their business goals, identify cross-architecture solution opportunities, and build demand based on what's possible in customer roadmap, new technologies and industry challenges. Transforms strategic goals into actionable sales initiatives and ensures successful execution and alignment with interpersonal objectives. Emphasizes market expansion and revenue opportunities, aligning with the corporate vision to drive growth and Cisco’s market leadership. Facilitates cross-architecture/business unit (e.g., Engineering, CX, partners, and marketing) teamwork to ensure client-focused solutions, continued growth / demand generation, and technological evolution of Cisco’s architectures.

Requirements

Minimum of 7–10+ years of experience leading technical sales or solutions engineering teams, with a consistent track record of leading managers and directing teams across multiple geographic regions.
Deep knowledge of Cisco’s core architectures (e.g., Networking, Security, Collaboration, Cloud, or Data Center) and a strong understanding of emerging technology trends and industry challenges.
Extensive experience engaging with CXO-level participants, directors, and key IT decision-makers to establish relationships and negotiate large-scale, , or highly competitive strategic deals.
Validated ability to translate corporate vision into actionable technical sales strategies, lead quota performance, and navigate long-term enterprise sales cycles exceeding one year.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Technology Management, or a related field, alongside advanced technical certifications such as CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert), CCDE, or equivalent industry credentials.
Proven success collaborating across large-scale corporate matrix environments—specifically partnering with Product Engineering, Customer Experience (CX), and Channel Partners—to accelerate demand generation and influence long-term product roadmaps.
Demonstrated experience leading technical strategy and closing high-value, multi-million-dollar cross-architecture enterprise agreements (EAs) with sales cycles spanning multiple years.

Responsibilities

Oversees technical sales management activities for a defined region, operation, theatre/country or geo
Involves up to 25% customer/partner-facing time, Engages with high-level team members such as CXOs, Directors, and key IT personnel, Direct customer engagement is limited to strategic accounts and large competitive deals
Supports teams with consulting, problem-solving and delivering the most impact during discovery, consultation, and presentation
Medium to high corporate interlock, Leverages extensive internal and external contacts to drive collaboration, achieve diverse business goals, and advance corporate initiatives
Sales cycle varies by segment—when directly involved in sales activities, the sales cycles often exceeds one year and sometimes span multiple years
Revenue Growth & Market Expansion, Enhanced Customer Success, Profitability and Increased Operational Efficiency, Strategic Sales Execution/ Team’s Quota Performance, Partner & Customer Engagement
Typically, leads a team of Managers—both those handling Managers and those leading Solutions Engineers—within multiple Regions
Unifies technical sales strategy with account planning, streamlining processes and improving sales cycle
Develops technical sales initiatives aligned with strategy and articulates market expansion and revenue goals
Leads high-stakes technical client engagements, forging partnerships on sophisticated, large-scale solutions
Builds demand-driving events that showcase Cisco’s technology experiences and develops tools and roadmaps that drive customer connection
Unifies multi-functional feedback to coach towards sustainable quota achievement and develop team’s leadership capabilities
Facilitates collaboration, demonstrating cross-functional influencers to compose account 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, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees (non-exempt)
flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations) (exempt)
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer