Technical Sales Lead – USA GOV

Ciena

. Support the Blue Planet sales team as a technical resource and advisor alongside the sales leader and Solution Architect .

Posted 10/27/2026full-timeUnited StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in pre-sales and project delivery within the OSS platform industry, with a strong focus on telecommunications networking technologies and customer relationship management. Capable of articulating technical solutions and managing product evaluations while ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the sales process.

Highest-signal resume keywords

OSS Platform ExpertiseTelecommunication Networking TechnologiesCustomer Relationship ManagementTechnical Solution ArticulationGovernment Clearance Status

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Network OrchestrationActivationNetwork AssurancePerformance ManagementSQMInventory SystemsWANsLANsL0/L1/L2/L3 Switching & Routing5G

Soft Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationOrganizational SkillsProblem-Solving Skills

Tools & Technologies

AmdocsEricssonNetcrackerOracleNokia

Certifications & Qualifications

USA Government Clearance

Industry Keywords

OSS EcosystemTelecommunicationsService ProvisioningTechnical EscalationsCustomer Product Evaluations

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

OracleSwitching

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the Blue Planet sales team as a technical resource and advisor alongside the sales leader and Solution Architect
Drive and manage technology evaluations throughout the sales process
Articulate technology and product positioning to business and technical users
Identify technical issues at assigned accounts and ensure customer satisfaction through all sales stages
Establish and maintain strong customer relationships throughout and after the sales cycle
Present the product at a high level to individual customer prospects
Conduct product demonstrations at meetings, conferences, and seminars
Coordinate and manage responses to functional and technical elements of RFIs/RFPs with Solution Architect support
Manage product evaluations and create Proof of Concept success-criteria documentation with Solution Architect and System Engineering teams
Support the Sales Leader in pricing solutions using the standard product price book
Lead and own Services Estimation and associated Statements of Work
Coordinate and create critical project review materials
Serve as the customer technical product resource, including technical escalations to product support and delivery services teams

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum 8 years in a senior pre-sales or project delivery role within the OSS platform industry
Over 10 years’ experience of telecommunication networking technologies, including WANs, LANs, network infrastructure technologies, L0/L1/L2/L3 Switching & Routing, Virtual Network Functions, and 5G (Wireless)
Direct experience in the sale and/or delivery of at least one OSS platform: Network Orchestration, Activation, Physical and Virtual; Network and Service Assurance, Performance and SQM; or Inventory systems supporting planning or service provisioning
Good interpersonal verbal and written communication skills
Experience supporting the scoping, managing, and executing customer product evaluations
Outstanding organizational and problem-solving skills
Ability to meet a business requirement with a technical solution, including in stressful customer situations
Ability to attend meetings in person daily around the DC, Virginia, and Maryland area
Ability to travel domestically and sometimes on short notice outside the target area
Must currently hold or have previously held USA government clearance status to work on specific projects
Existing knowledge within USA Government Agencies and operating groups/processes is nice to have
Understanding of the Telco OSS ecosystem and knowledge of OSS providers such as Amdocs, Ericsson, Netcracker, Oracle, or Nokia is nice to have
Experience creating Solution Requirement documents as part of an OSS deployment project is nice to have

Benefits

Comp & perks

Incentive compensation included in the total target compensation structure
Sales commission eligibility
Medical, dental, and vision plans
401(K) (USA) with company matching
Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company-paid holidays
Paid sick leave
Vacation time
Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence
Development opportunities
Flexible work arrangements