Director, Solutions Engineer Forward Deployed

Cisco

. Build, scale, and lead a high-performing team of customer-embedded Forward Deployed Solution Engineers .

Posted 10/16/2026full-timeRemote • New York • United StatesLead💰 $320,600 - $407,100 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading high-performing technical teams, architecting and deploying advanced AI and cloud solutions, and fostering strong relationships with C-level executives. Proven ability to drive customer success through innovative engineering methodologies and technical rigor.

Highest-signal resume keywords

AI ArchitectureCloud-Native System DesignPeople ManagementCisco Networking/Security SolutionsGenerative AI Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

AI DeploymentsMachine Learning PlatformsDistributed Software ArchitecturesEvent-Driven System ArchitecturesCloud ArchitecturesTechnical Proof DeliveryPrototype Solution DevelopmentEnterprise Data Platform SolutionsCustomer-Embedded EngineeringTechnical Briefing Leadership

Soft Skills

Customer ObsessionMentoringCollaborationContinuous LearningExtreme Ownership

Tools & Technologies

KubernetesSplunk Data PlatformCisco Software SuitesCloud Platforms

Certifications & Qualifications

Artificial Intelligence CertificationsCloud Platform Certifications

Industry Keywords

Pre-Sales EngineeringPost-Sales ArchitectureEnterprise SystemsTechnical OrganizationsCustomer Success

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudKubernetesSplunk

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build, scale, and lead a high-performing team of customer-embedded Forward Deployed Solution Engineers
Lead advanced AI deployments, cloud architectures, and mission-critical enterprise systems
Accelerate customer business outcomes and compress time-to-value
Deliver technical proof that drives account retention and customer expansion
Hire, develop, and mentor engineering talent
Foster technical rigor, continuous learning, customer obsession, and extreme ownership
Partner with customer C-level technology executives, enterprise architects, and Cisco/Splunk product engineering leadership
Translate real-world deployment telemetry into accelerated roadmap innovations
Co-develop, integrate, and showcase prototype solutions for critical customer business challenges
Collaborate with Sales, Product & Technology, Software Engineering, Customer Success, and Global Partners

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum 10 years of professional experience in customer-facing pre-sales engineering, post-sales architecture, or professional services deploying distributed software and enterprise systems architectures, or Master’s degree plus 8 years / PhD plus 5 years
Minimum 5 years of direct people management experience leading pre-sales, post-sales, or customer-embedded technical engineering teams
Minimum 3 years of experience architecting, deploying, or managing AI, ML, or enterprise data platform solutions in production environments
Minimum 3 years of experience designing and deploying distributed cloud-native, hybrid, or event-driven system architectures
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical professional experience
Experience leading multi-level or matrixed technical organizations
Minimum 3 years of experience with Generative and Agentic AI architectures, machine learning platforms, Kubernetes, and event-driven data platforms
Minimum 5 years of experience architecting solutions using Cisco networking/security portfolios, the Splunk Data Platform, or equivalent enterprise software suites
Ability to establish trusted advisory relationships with customer C-level technology executives and lead executive technical briefings
Active industry certifications in Artificial Intelligence or Cloud platforms, paired with experience implementing customer-embedded forward-deployed engineering methodologies

Benefits

Comp & perks

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
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
Paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness
16 days of paid vacation time 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 on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
Up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
Additional paid time away for critical or emergency family issues
Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year
Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco’s policies
Performance-based incentive pay for employees on sales plans