Operation Solutions Engineer - SLED
About The Position
The Solutions Engineer in Cisco’s SLED – North Star Operation is a pre-sales, customer-facing field technical role covering a 14-state geography. The engineer spends 50–75% of their time with customers and collaborates with Account Teams, Connected Teams, Partners, and Product Teams. The role focuses on business outcomes through customer intimacy, thought leadership, executive engagement, and technical excellence. The position serves as a trusted technical advisor to SLED Account Teams and customers, bringing deep knowledge of Cisco solutions and architectures across verticals. It leads strategic customer engagements, develops executive relationships, contributes field feedback to product development, and helps shape the portfolio and business initiatives. Impact is measured through business and pipeline growth, modernization opportunities, competitive takeouts, franchise wins, and trusted executive relationships in strategic accounts. This is not primarily an escalation or post-sales support role, nor is it intended to be heavily internal-facing, tied to one sales counterpart, or scripted. Travel of 50–75% is preferred. Applicants must live in or relocate to a state in the operation: IL, CO, WA, OR, UT, ID, MT, KS, NE, MN, IA, MO, or WI. Preferred locations are Chicago, Denver, and Seattle.
Requirements
- 10+ years of industry experience, including significant experience as a pre-sales solutions engineer.
- Deep knowledge of Cisco’s Route/Switch and Security portfolios and competitive offerings.
- Proven track record leading strategic, multi-architecture sales cycles, competitive takeouts, franchise wins, and innovation.
- CCNP or a similar competitive certification.
- Must live in or relocate to a state in the operation: IL, CO, WA, OR, UT, ID, MT, KS, NE, MN, IA, MO, or WI.
Nice To Haves
- CCIE or equivalent expert-level competitive certification.
- Market expertise in State/Local Government, Education (K12 and secondary/higher education), and Healthcare.
- A “Serve” mindset.
- Ability to travel 50–75% of the time.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a technical, trusted advisor to SLED Account Teams and customers.
- Apply thought leadership and deep technical knowledge across Cisco solutions and architectures in multiple verticals.
- Participate in and lead high-impact customer engagements, including Tech Days, Connect, Cisco Experience Center Briefings, executive discussions, EFT opportunities, Stay Ready, and Cisco Live events.
- Champion a culture of learning, coaching, and technical excellence.
- Develop executive relationships and champion strategic technical strategies.
- Represent USPS/SLED customer feedback and needs on relevant advisory boards and tiger teams, helping shape the future portfolio and offerings.
- Help create and drive operation campaigns and initiatives based on business needs and growth.
- Invest in personal development through certifications, self-study, soft-skills training, executive coaching, market-trend analysis, competitive training, and other relevant training.
- Engage with product teams through innovation pilots, early field trials, and feedback loops from the field into development.
- Drive measurable impact, including balanced portfolio growth, pipeline growth, modernization opportunities, competitive takeouts, franchise wins, and executive leadership relationships in strategic accounts.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance, subject to plan eligibility rules.
- 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
- Paid parental leave.
- Short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Basic life insurance.
- Potential eligibility for Cisco restricted stock unit grants, subject to vesting conditions.
- Paid holidays and, for non-exempt employees, a floating holiday.
- Paid birthday day off, year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days.
- Paid vacation or a flexible vacation time-off program, depending on employee classification.
- Sick time off, including limited carryforward of unused sick time.
- Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues.
- Optional paid volunteer days.
- Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies.
- Sales-plan incentive compensation for employees on sales plans.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
