Distinguished Technologist – Pre-Sales AI & Data Center Networking

Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology company is seeking a Senior Distinguished Technologist in Pre‑Sales AI & Data Center Networking. In this hybrid role, you will lead architecture and solution design for networking infrastructures, requiring deep technical expertise and strong customer engagement. Your experience will contribute to multi-billion-dollar deals, requiring a background in diverse networking technologies and the ability to influence technical strategies. Join a collaborative team focused on innovation and inclusion.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development programs

Inclusive work culture

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in network infrastructure architecture and design.
• Deep hands-on expertise with hyperscale routing and switching.
• Proven success in complex pre-sales roles.

Responsibilities

• Act as a primary technical architect in complex sales cycles.
• Lead solution design and customization for clients.
• Deliver compelling demos and technical presentations.

Skills

Influencing technical strategy

Strong communication skills

Creative problem-solving

Mentoring junior technologists

Technical capability in AI/ML

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

JunOS

MPLS

Python

SDN overlays

NETCONF/REST APIs

Job description

Distinguished Technologist – Pre‑Sales AI & Data Center Networking

This role has been designed as ‘Hybrid’ with an expectation that you will work on average 2 days per week from an HPE office.

Who We Are:

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge‑to‑cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what’s next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Description:

HPE Networking simplifies networking through innovative, software‑defined products and solutions for cloud, AI, and data center environments. HPE Networking develops industry‑leading technologies that are ever more software‑defined, helping to answer the most challenging issues in connectivity. Digital transformation is everywhere, with technologies such as Multi‑Cloud, Cybersecurity, Automation, IoT, AI, Machine Learning, and 5G driving the next waves of innovation.

Our Sales Engineering team empowers customers and partners to solve complex challenges with scalable, secure networking solutions. If you have top‑notch technical capability and curiosity; if you can influence both technical and business partners by translating business goals and challenges into technical solutions while differentiating HPE from competing solutions; if your interpersonal and high‑impact presentation skills evoke passion and confidence; if you’re a born problem‑solver that loves to get into the details and have a burning desire to answer hard problems in a constantly evolving, results‑oriented industry – HPE Networking is the place for you!

About HPE Networking & The Role

We are seeking a Senior Distinguished Technologist to lead architecture and solution design for AI/ML Networking Infrastructure, Data Center, and WAN networking opportunities globally. This role requires deep technical expertise, experience, creative problem‑solving, and strong customer engagement skills to influence and shape multi‑billion‑dollar deals.

What You’ll Do

• Act as a primary technical architect early in complex sales cycles, working independently or with Sales Engineers to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Architect end‑to‑end networking infrastructure solutions with strong expertise in data center, AI networking, hyperscale environments, and WAN technologies.
• Lead solution design and customization, orchestrating input from specialists, systems engineers, and product teams to meet customer requirements.
• Deliver compelling demos, proof‑of‑concepts, and technical presentations that clearly articulate HPE Networking’s value in customer use cases.
• Engage with hyperscalers, large enterprises, service providers and technology partners to co‑design solutions addressing emerging challenges across industries and workloads.
• Influence technical strategy throughout deal validation, solutioning, and initial execution, ensuring smooth handoff to delivery teams.
• Develop best practices, enablement collateral, and architecture playbooks to scale solutions internally and with partners.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior technologists and sales engineering teams.
• Navigate and adapt through complex technology transitions, maintaining thought leadership in networking innovations and industry trends.

Role Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field required, advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of technical experience in network infrastructure architecture, design and solution consulting, designing large‑scale AI, Cloud Data Center in hyperscale networking environments.
• 15+ years of industry experience applying technical expertise with JunOS, EOS, IOS and hyperscale network architecture frameworks. JNCIE or equivalent certification.
• Deep hands‑on expertise with hyperscale routing, MPLS traffic engineering, switching, SDN overlays (EVPN/VXLAN, MP‑BGP), Network Fabrics and DCI solutions, network provisioning, automation and monitoring (Apstra, Paragon, NETCONF/REST APIs, YANG), and.
• Familiarity with major networking silicon, hardware platforms and related software (e.g., Juniper, Arista, Cisco, SONiC, Cumulus etc.).
• SME in virtualization technologies on x86 and scaling using technologies such as DPDK, SR‑IOV, SmartNICs etc.
• Proven success in complex pre‑sales roles, with a strong ability to build relationships with senior technical and C‑Level stakeholders.
• Experience with programming/scripting (Python, APIs, JSON etc.) to enable solution integration and automation.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence diverse technical and business audiences.
• Demonstrated experience designing & developing playbooks, and delivering demonstrations or live walkthroughs for a complex variety of networking products, solutions, tools and services.
• Experience preparing RFP/Tender response documents like compliance to the RFP, bill of materials, commercial/pricing, and solution documents to drive a successful response.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%, including international travel on short notice.

Additional Skills:

Accountability, Active Learning, Active Listening, Assertiveness, Bias, Building Rapport, Buyer Personas, Coaching, Complex Sales, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Cross‑Functional Teamwork, Customer Experience Strategy, Customer Interactions, Design Thinking, Empathy, Financial Acumen, Follow‑Through, Growth Mindset, Identifying Sales Opportunities, Industry Knowledge, Intellectual Curiosity (Inactive), Long Term Planning, Managing Ambiguity.

What We Can Offer You:

Health & Wellbeing

We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

Personal & Professional Development

We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have — whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.

Unconditional Inclusion

We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

Let’s Stay Connected:

Follow @HPECareers on Instagram to see the latest on people, culture and tech at HPE.

Job:

Sales

Job Level:

TCP_07

HPE is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other protected category, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our goal is to be one global team that is representative of our customers, in an inclusive environment where we can continue to innovate and grow together. Please click here: Equal Employment Opportunity .

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.

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