Partner Technical Lead

NetApp, Inc.•Schaumburg, IL

10h•Remote

About The Position

NetApp’s channel partners are the frontline of how we reach customers at scale. The Partner Technical Lead (PTL) is a senior technical enablement role built to make those partners better, more capable, more confident, and more independent in positioning and selling the NetApp portfolio. Aligned to our Mid-West Sales Districts, the PTL serves as the go-to technical resource who builds deep relationships with partner technical leadership, drives NetApp mindshare, and accelerates partner-led growth. This is not a traditional SE role. You won’t be running customer demos or closing individual deals. Instead, you’ll be building the engine that makes partners self-sufficient, shaping their technical strategy, standing up enablement programs, and ensuring they can lead with NetApp across infrastructure, data management, hybrid cloud, and AI-driven data solutions.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in enterprise infrastructure technologies, including storage, data management, networking, compute, and hybrid/multi-cloud architectures.
5+ years of hands-on experience working with and enabling channel partners in a technical capacity (e.g., Channel SE, Partner Solutions Architect, Partner Technical Manager, or equivalent).
Deep understanding of the partner ecosystem, how partners build practices, position technology, sell solutions, and deliver services to end customers.
Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both deeply technical and business-oriented audiences.
Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and build lasting credibility with senior technical stakeholders.
Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to develop and execute enablement plans tied to measurable outcomes.
Comfortable operating in a matrixed environment, navigating multiple internal and external stakeholders simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with NetApp, ONTAP, StorageGRID, Cloud Volumes, or comparable enterprise storage/data management platforms.
Experience building or scaling a partner enablement program from the ground up.
Technical certifications (NetApp NCSIE, Cisco, VMware, AWS/Azure/GCP) are a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Own the technical enablement strategy for an assigned portfolio of channel partners, building a structured plan that scales partner capability over time.
Develop partner SEs and architects so they can independently run technical discovery, solution design, competitive positioning, and customer-facing presentations with NetApp solutions.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with partner CTOs, technical directors, and practice leads,becoming a strategic advisor, not just a vendor resource.
Influence partner technical strategy by connecting NetApp’s portfolio to their go-to-market priorities, service offerings, and customer base.
Partner with Channel Account Managers to plan and deliver high-impact enablement activities including partner QBRs, technical workshops, hands-on labs, and lunch-and-learn sessions.
Assess partner technical maturity across the NetApp portfolio and create tailored development plans to close skill and knowledge gaps.
Track enablement KPIs such as partner certification attainment, technical engagement frequency, and partner-sourced opportunity creation.
Educate partners on how NetApp fits within their broader technology portfolio and how to position NetApp solutions against competitive offerings.
Support technical whiteboarding, architecture discussions, and solution scoping with partner teams to deepen their technical confidence.
Keep partners current on new product releases, roadmap updates, and competitive differentiators so they can lead with conviction.
Align closely with Channel Account Managers, field SEs, and regional sales leadership to prioritize partner focus areas and joint initiatives.
Provide structured feedback to product, marketing, and channel program teams on partner readiness, competitive gaps, and enablement effectiveness.