The application window is expected to close on: 03/13/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Ideal candidate will be located in the Bay Area California, however, we will consider candidates in Remote US that are willing to relocate and/or travel to the customer site.

Meet the Team

We work in a fast-paced Webspace, supporting hyperscalers, market movers, and disruptors, and our customers expect us to demonstrate the same attitudes within Cisco. Everything is about winning with the right technologies, supporting our customers, failing fast, iterating, and moving forward. We love being outside the comfort zone! We foster creative thinking. We believe in trust and teamwork. Our team here is family.

You will work with a team of Solutions Engineers, the Sales Team, and Executives. We collaborate with partners and customers to ensure the best possible solution. We have a wide range of interests outside of work, but we all love technology.

Why You'll Love Cisco

We change the world! You will become passionate about your employer and the brand you represent. Everything is converging on the Internet, making networked connections more meaningful than ever before. Our employees’ groundbreaking ideas impact everything. We take creative ideas from the drawing board to dynamic solutions with real-world impact. You'll collaborate with Cisco leaders, partner with mentors, and develop incredible relationships with colleagues who share your interest in connecting the unconnected. You'll be part of a team that cares about its customers, enjoys having fun, and takes part in changing lives in our local communities. Come prepared to be encouraged and inspired!

Your Impact

• Partner with Account Executives in a pre-sales technical role, showcasing Cisco product solutions, setting up demonstrations, explaining features and benefits to customers, and designing and configuring products to meet specific customer needs.
• Access the palette of Cisco technologies and applications across vertical markets.
• Collaborate with Account Managers and Executives to recommend and develop customer solution offerings.
• Provide an architectural perspective across the Cisco product portfolio and apply technical specialization for specific opportunities.
• Act as a trusted technical adviser to the account team and customers.
• Stay current on competitors’ solutions, products, and services, educating peers on findings.
• Co-lead the development of formal sales plans and proposals for assigned opportunities.
• Participate and lead as a specialist on assigned Virtual Teams, educating colleagues and providing authoritative consultative support.

Minimum Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of Optical and Ethernet networking technologies, including coherent transceivers, optical transmission systems with EDFA and Raman amplification, ROADM architectures, and various fiber types.
• Knowledge of standards related to pluggable optical transceivers, including optical PMDs (e.g., IEEE 802.3xx, optical MSAs), pluggable form factor MSAs (SFF, QSFP-DD, CMIS, etc.), and IEEE Attachment Unit Interfaces (AUIs).
• Strong understanding of systems and platform infrastructure for cloud/hyperscale and AI infrastructure requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Superior technical knowledge and consultative skills.
• 5+ years of related experience preferred.
• Cisco product experience or relevant experience in key competitor offerings in the technology area of emphasis required.
• Pre-Sales experience preferred but not required.
• BS/BA (preferably in EE/CS) or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of network programming standards such as YANG models, Open Config, gNMI, gNOI, and NETCONF.
• Knowledge of Telecom standards for Optical networks like ITU-T and GR-253 specifications.
• Experience with various 3rd party platforms and network management tools is a plus.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $223,000.00 to $287,200.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$223,000.00 - $330,300.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$217,200.00 - $315,300.00

• For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.