Systems Engineering Manager – HPE Networking (Mid-Telco Accounts)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise • Kansas City, MO

3d • $194,500 - $456,500 • Remote

About The Position

Our Mid-Telco organization partners with regional telecommunications providers, broadband operators, utilities, cable providers, managed service providers, and other critical network operators to modernize infrastructure, simplify operations, and accelerate innovation. We're looking for an inspiring leader who is passionate about developing people, solving customer challenges, and helping shape the future of networking. HPE Networking is seeking an experienced Systems Engineering Manager to lead our Mid-Telco Systems Engineering North America team. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for building, developing, and leading a high-performing team of customer-facing Systems Engineers supporting telecommunications and service provider customers throughout the sales lifecycle. The successful candidate will combine exceptional people leadership with strong networking expertise and business acumen. You will partner closely with Sales Leadership to develop technical sales strategies, support strategic customer engagements, and build an organization recognized for technical excellence and customer success. This role is ideal for a player-coach leader who enjoys mentoring technical professionals while remaining engaged in strategic customer opportunities. Although your primary responsibility is leading the team, you will maintain technical credibility by participating in executive customer meetings, architectural discussions, and complex solution reviews. You will play a critical role in attracting top talent, developing future technical leaders, and creating an environment where innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning thrive.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of networking industry experience.
• 5+ years leading PreSales Systems Engineering, Sales Engineering, or Solutions Engineering teams.
• Demonstrated success hiring, coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing technical professionals.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed or remote teams.
• Proven success partnering with Sales leadership to drive strategic account growth and revenue.
• Strong understanding of enterprise and service provider networking architectures.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading Principal or Senior Systems Engineers.
• Experience building high-performing technical organizations through recruiting, coaching, and talent development.
• Strong understanding of Juniper networking technologies and modern routing architectures.
• Experience with AI-native networking, automation, cloud networking, or network observability platforms.
• Previous leadership experience in networking vendors, telecommunications providers, or large technology organizations.
• Service Provider Networking Core routing MPLS Segment Routing (SR-MPLS) EVPN/VXLAN Carrier Ethernet IPv4/IPv6 QoS Data Center Networking Network Automation Cloud Networking
• Strongly Preferred Experience with: Juniper MX Routing Platforms Juniper PTX Routing Platforms Juniper QFX Data Center Switching JUNOS JUNOS Evolved (JUNOS EVO) HPE Aruba Networking Juniper Mist Juniper Apstra
• Knowledge of AI-driven networking, automation frameworks, streaming telemetry, observability, and intent-based networking is highly desirable.
• Leadership Competencies: Proven ability to build and inspire high-performing technical organizations. Executive presence with outstanding communication and presentation skills. Strong coaching, mentoring, and talent development capabilities. Strategic thinking with the ability to align technical strategy to business outcomes. Ability to influence customers, peers, and executives without direct authority. Excellent organizational, planning, and decision-making skills. Passion for developing people and creating an engaging team culture. Customer-first mindset with a commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.
• Experience supporting telecommunications providers, broadband operators, service providers, utilities, cable providers, or managed service providers is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build and Lead a High-Performing Team: Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, and retain exceptional Systems Engineers. Foster a culture built on collaboration, accountability, customer success, innovation, and technical excellence. Coach and mentor Systems Engineers through regular one-on-one meetings, career development planning, and technical guidance. Identify and develop future Principal Systems Engineers and leadership candidates through succession planning and ongoing mentorship. Promote continuous learning by encouraging certifications, technical training, and knowledge sharing across the organization. Create an inclusive, high-performing team environment where diverse perspectives and collaboration are valued.
• Drive Technical Sales Strategy: Partner with Regional Sales Directors and Account Managers to define and execute account strategies. Ensure the Systems Engineering organization is aligned with business priorities and revenue objectives. Support strategic customer opportunities throughout the sales lifecycle, from discovery through successful closure. Assist with opportunity prioritization, technical resource planning, forecasting, and quarterly business reviews. Drive consistency and operational excellence across all customer engagements.
• Engage Strategic Customers: Build trusted relationships with customer executives, CTOs, Chief Architects, Engineering Directors, and Operations leaders. Participate in executive briefings, architectural workshops, and strategic planning sessions. Provide leadership during complex customer engagements and executive escalations. Guide customers through network modernization initiatives, helping them adopt AI-driven operations, automation, cloud networking, and next-generation routing architectures.
• Provide Technical Leadership: Coaching Systems Engineers on solution architecture, competitive positioning, and technical strategy. Participating in strategic Proof of Concepts (PoCs), customer workshops, and executive presentations. Supporting complex routing, data center, automation, and cloud networking opportunities. Collaborating with Product Management and Engineering to communicate customer feedback and influence future product direction. Helping the organization stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive positioning.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Establish measurable goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and development plans for the team. Improve sales execution, technical readiness, and customer engagement processes. Optimize resource allocation across strategic opportunities. Partner with Marketing, Services, Customer Success, Product Management, and Engineering to deliver exceptional customer outcomes. Encourage operational discipline while fostering innovation and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Health & Wellbeing: We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.
• Personal & Professional Development: We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have — whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.
• Unconditional Inclusion: We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level