Lead Pre Sales Systems Engineer

The application window is expected to close on: 10/29/2026The application window is expected to close on: 9/22/26NOTE: Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Location:
Any major U.
S. city with a preference for Central or Pacific time zonesMeet the TeamThe Internet & Mass Scale Infrastructure (I&MI) team sits at the center of one of the most consequential shifts in technology today. We sell the routing and optical infrastructure that powers the internet, interconnects the world's largest data centers, and enables the AI era in close partnership with the Cisco Cloud and AI team.
Our Americas team serves Webscalers / NeoClouds, Communication Service Providers, government agencies and enterprises building next-generation AI/ML infrastructure. We compete at the industry's highest technical bar, where deals are won on architecture, cost-per-bit, power efficiency, and operational simplicity.
Your ImpactYou will lead a team of elite Systems Engineers and serve as the senior technical leader and CTO-equivalent counterpart to the Americas I&MI sales leader—shaping both technical and business strategy for the region.
Lead and develop the team. Coach and grow a team of senior individual-contributor Systems Engineers; attract and retain top technical talent and build a culture of technical excellence.
Own the technical strategy. Set the architectural point of view for the region across routing, optical, automation and assurance. Partner with the sales leader as an equal counterpart on strategy, resourcing, and execution.
Drive customer outcomes. Guide solution architecture for AI/ML fabrics, mass-scale routing, data center interconnect, and converged IP+Optical networks. Represent the business in executive-level customer engagements, POCs, and competitive bake-offs.
Influence the portfolio. Act as the primary technical bridge to the Business Unit and global sales technical leaders, feeding customer and market requirements into the product roadmap.
Minimum Qualifications7+ years in technical pre-sales, systems engineering, or network architecture including at least 3 years of people leadershipDeep expertise in service provider or mass-scale / AI networking, including large-scale BGP, IP/MPLS, and modern transport architecturesProven ability to engage credibly with senior internal executive stakeholders and Principal Engineers, Chief Architects, and CTOs at large, sophisticated customersPreferred QualificationsExperience with Webscale, Hyperscale, CSP, large financial enterprises or U.
S. Federal customersKnowledge of Segment Routing (SR-MPLS/SRv6), coherent optics/DWDM, and Routed Optical NetworkingFamiliarity with AI/ML fabric design and large-scale GPU cluster networkingUnderstanding of disaggregated/open networking models and network automationBS in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experienceWhy This RoleLead a world-class technical team, operate as a true business co-leader, and shape the infrastructure underpinning the internet and the AI era—with visibility to senior Cisco leadership and direct influence on our portfolio direction.
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 $266,100.00 to $342,900.00 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