Director, Solutions Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +3 more states.

📋 Description

• Oversee Cisco Security’s Principal and Distinguished Security Solutions Engineers in a player-coach capacity.

• Define the technical strategy to position Cisco prominently in the security sector.

• Collaborate with Business Unit, Global Solutions Engineering, and Sales leadership to establish technical initiatives and cross-architecture roadmaps.

• Convert high-level business objectives into actionable technical strategies.

• Implement technical governance and ensure that field insights shape product features, enhancements, and go-to-market strategies.

• Direct the technical strategy for emerging secure networking and cross-architecture technologies.

• Mobilize teams to create demos, proofs of value, workshops, resources, tools, and processes that expedite adoption.

• Work alongside Security Incubation, GTM, and Enablement teams.

• Promote continuous learning and technical excellence among top-tier technical talent.

• Provide a strategic framework and organizational support for complex, high-stakes challenges.

• Serve as a technical evangelist and industry visionary to enhance external presence.

• Engage with executive customers, industry research organizations, and technical advisory groups.

• Manage headcount, budget, and resource allocation effectively.

• Align the team with high-value opportunities and assess impact through well-defined success metrics.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of experience leading impactful global technical sales teams.

• Proven capability to lead, motivate, and influence expert-level technologists, including Principal and Distinguished Solutions Engineers.

• Expertise in enterprise, agentic, cloud, and security operations solutions, covering SASE, Hybrid Mesh Firewall, Identity, SIEM/SOAR, AI/Agentic Security, and Frontier AI Models.

• Proficient in leading highly technical, consultative discussions and gaining the respect of industry leaders across extensive audiences and partner networks.

• Demonstrated ability to drive dynamic process enhancements and showcase commercial value.

• Skilled in navigating a global matrixed organization and collaborating across Sales, Product, Finance, HR, and Engineering.

• BA/BS in Engineering or Computer Science, or equivalent experience (preferred).

• Proven executive communication skills.

• Capable of guiding and influencing new product introductions, gathering actionable customer feedback, ensuring adoption, and promoting continuous improvement.

• Extensive experience in engaging large, complex customers and partners, delivering measurable outcomes.

• Exceptional presentation and communication abilities.

• Competent in architecting, promoting, and delivering security teams and solutions across varied product areas and target sectors.

• Practical experience with AI and AI security.

• Proven track record of building and scaling impactful SE programs, including demonstrations, workshops, and proofs of value.

• Global experience in leading complex, competitive technical sales strategies.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.

• Paid parental leave.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Basic life insurance.

• Cisco restricted stock unit grants may be available, subject to eligibility and ongoing employment.

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year.

• 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.

• 1 paid day off for the employee’s birthday.

• Paid year-end holiday shutdown.

• 4 paid days off for personal wellness.

• 16 days of paid vacation per full calendar year for non-exempt employees.

• Flexible vacation time-off program with no defined limit for eligible exempt employees.

• 80 hours of sick time off provided at hire and each January 1st thereafter.

• Up to 80 hours of unused sick time can be carried forward.

• Additional paid time off for critical or emergency family matters.

• Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year.

• Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, in accordance with Cisco’s policies.

• Performance-based incentive pay for employees on sales plans.

• Opportunities for growth and development.

• Access to a worldwide network of experts and collaborators.