Cisco Solutions Engineering Sales Degree Apprentice (Level 6)

Cisco Systems, Inc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded DTSP degree

Mentor program & buddy system

Rotational engineering assignments

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. invites you to join a three-year Digital Technology Solutions Professional (DTSP) degree apprenticeship in London.

You will study for a fully funded BSc (Hons) DTSP degree while earning a competitive salary from day one and gaining Cisco certifications through live client projects. Programme rotations include Global Virtual Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, Cloud & AI Networking, and Partner Engineering, with mentors guiding your development toward a

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification: A-Levels, BTEC National or equivalent, with a target of 120 UCAS points.
• GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Maths.
• Right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme.

Responsibilities

• Support technical discovery and learn to design future-ready architectures.
• Contribute to live demos and PoCs to illustrate Cisco technology.
• Engage in technical rotations across engineering domains.
• Collaborate with mentors and account managers on client engagements.
• Develop lab demos, participate in workshops, and progress towards DTSP degree milestones.

Education

UCAS points 120+

GCSE English & Maths (minimum)

STEM background

Job description

Start Date: September 2027 Location: Bedfont Lakes (Feltham / London) & Hybrid Programme Duration: 3 Years (Permanent Full-Time Employment) Qualification: Digital Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship, BSc (Hons) Digital & Technology Solutions Professional (DTSP) + Cisco Certifications

Meet the Team

Are you fascinated by technology? Do you love understanding how things work under the hood, experimenting with new tech, and finding yourself excitedly explaining technical ideas to others? If so, Solutions Engineering is where your passion meets real-world impact! At Cisco, Solutions Engineers (also known as Systems Engineers or Pre-Sales Engineers) are the technical visionaries and trusted advisors embedded right at the heart of our global sales organization. While our commercial sales reps focus on business relationships and client strategy, Solutions Engineers bring the deep technical expertise, architectural design, and hands-on innovation that prove Cisco technology can solve the customer's toughest challenges.

As part of this 3-Year programme, you will study for a fully funded BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions Professional (DTSP) degree—a highly respected technical degree apprenticeship that builds your software, networking, security, and cloud skills.

You’ll earn a competitive salary from Day 1, gain industry-standard Cisco certifications, and work alongside world‑class technical mentors on live, innovative client solutions.

• Dedicated Apprentice Manager: Guides your professional roadmap, ensures academic success on your DTSP degree, and looks after your well‑being.
• Senior Systems Engineer Mentors & Buddies: Experienced technical architects and former apprentices who coach you on technical labs, customer presentations, and certifications.
• Your Apprentice Cohort: A tight-knit community of fellow apprentices who collaborate on technical hackathons, share revision sessions, and grow together.
• Tailored Technical Rotations: Experience diverse engineering environments (such as Global Virtual Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity Specialists, Cloud & AI Networking, and Partner Engineering).

Your Impact

Solutions Engineering is dynamic, pacey, and intellectually thrilling! You are at the crossroads of cutting‑edge engineering and live customer strategy: setting up live Proof of Concepts (PoCs), configuring lab environments, and demonstrating the latest AI and security platforms to Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and lead engineers.

Your 3-Year Journey to Becoming a Solutions Engineer

Year 1 (Technical Foundations & DTSP Core): Build deep technical fundamentals in networking, software programming, cybersecurity, and cloud via your DTSP degree modules and Cisco certifications (e.g., CCNA). Master Cisco’s portfolio, shadow live customer technical briefings, and learn how to build hands‑on lab demos in a safe, supportive environment.

Year 2 (Applied Architecture & Live Demonstrations): Step into active pre‑sales engineering rotations. Partner with Account Managers on live client engagements, build custom Proof of Concepts (PoCs), deliver interactive product demos, and help answer deep technical questions from customer IT teams.

Year 3 (Technical Leadership & Customer Delivery): Operate with high autonomy as an emerging Solutions Engineer. Lead technical discovery sessions with clients, architect multi‑technology solutions (AI Networking, Zero Trust Security, Hybrid Cloud), complete your DTSP capstone dissertation project, and transition smoothly into a permanent SE role upon graduation.

What You Will Be Doing Day-to-Day

• Leading technical discovery with customer engineering teams, CTOs, and network managers to unpack technical requirements and network bottlenecks.
• Designing future‑ready architectures spanning AI infrastructure, enterprise networking, cyber defense, and cloud collaboration.
• Building and delivering live demos and Proof of Concepts (PoCs) that showcase Cisco technology in action.
• Partnering closely with Account Managers to craft winning technical proposals, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and business cases.
• Running interactive whiteboard sessions and technology workshops that explain complex architectures in engaging, understandable ways.
• Keeping ahead of industry breakthroughs in generative AI, automated networking, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently studying for or holding A-Levels, BTEC National, or equivalent qualifications, on track to achieve a minimum of 120 UCAS points.
• Minimum GCSE Grade 4 / C (or above) in English Language and Mathematics.
• You have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme.

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in STEM is preferred.
• Passion for Technology: Genuinely inspired by how technology works, loves experimenting with new tools, and eager to talk about tech innovations.
• The Technical Bridge & Influencer: Enjoys breaking down complex technical ideas and explaining them simply, enthusiastically, and compellingly.
• Creative Architectural Problem Solver: Loves puzzle‑solving and figuring out how different systems, software, and hardware connect to solve real problems.
• Trusted Advisor & Active Listener: Listens deeply to customer needs, asks insightful questions, and builds lasting trust through technical credibility.
• Resilience & Curiosity: Stays curious, troubleshoots methodically when code or lab tests don't work immediately, and enjoys solving technical challenges.
• Growth Mindset & Coachability: Hungry to learn, welcomes feedback with open arms, and strives to develop both technical and commercial skills.

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. Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do your life’s best work.