Solutions Engineer – SLED, Northern California

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Establish and nurture strong technical relationships with IT leaders in the public sector, acting as their main advocate, technology strategist, and trusted advisor.

• Recognize customer challenges and outline cross-architectural solutions that align with public sector business priorities, mission objectives, and operational results.

• Partner with customers and collaborators to present proof-of-concepts, proof-of-value projects, and live demonstrations of Cisco’s offerings.

• Create and implement multi-year technical account strategies in collaboration with Account Executives.

• Influence territory strategy and the progression of deals.

• Promote ongoing solution adoption and ensure long-term operational success for customers.

• Coordinate internal specialist engineering teams and regional partner communities.

• Advocate for the Cisco brand throughout public sector sectors.

• Collaborate with Account Executives, specialist engineering teams, and key regional partners to design solutions encompassing Secure Networking, Hybrid Cloud, AI-ready Infrastructure, and Zero Trust Cybersecurity.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 5 years of relevant experience in technical pre-sales, systems engineering, or technical consulting within enterprise or public sector contexts.

• Strong practical technical knowledge across core Cisco architectures, including Enterprise Networking, Switching, Wireless, Routing, Data Center, or Cybersecurity, as well as relevant competitor platforms.

• Demonstrated pre-sales success in translating complex technical solutions into quantifiable business, mission, and operational benefits.

• Experience in leading customer-facing architectural presentations, technical whiteboarding sessions, and solution validations.

• Must be located in or willing to relocate to Northern California.

• Willingness and capability to travel locally for customer meetings and partner events.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience (preferred).

• Professional or Expert-level certifications such as CCIE, CCNP, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or CISSP (preferred).

• Familiarity with SLED public sector procurement processes, E-Rate funding, state/local contracts, and IT compliance frameworks in education/government (preferred).

• Knowledgeable in AI infrastructure, modern Collaboration, SDN, full-stack observability, and AI productivity tools (preferred).

• Strong business acumen to frame technical offerings around student outcomes, citizen services, and public safety impacts (preferred).

🏝️ 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, contingent upon continued employment and vesting schedules.

• 10 paid holidays each calendar year.

• 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.

• Paid day off for the employee’s birthday.

• Paid year-end holiday shutdown.

• 4 paid days off dedicated to personal wellness.

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

• Flexible vacation time off program with no set limit for eligible exempt employees, subject to availability and business constraints.

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

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

• Additional paid time off for critical family emergencies.

• Optional 10 paid volunteer days per calendar year.

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

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

• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.