Solutions Engineer - Assurance & Automation - Middle East & Africa

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a Solutions Engineer to drive innovative projects in assurance and automation in the Middle East and Africa. Candidates must have over 10 years of experience in networking, strong customer service skills, and proficiency in English and Arabic. This role involves collaborating with account teams to deliver transformative solutions and manage customer expectations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in assurance, automation, and networking.
• Proficiency in English and Arabic is required.
• Strong knowledge of networking technologies and protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of AI-ready infrastructures.
• Guide RFPs and architectural designs.
• Engage with customers to align product capabilities with their needs.

Skills

Consulting

Customer Service

Networking

Automation

Technical Leadership

AI/ML Concepts

Network Protocols

Tools

Ansible

Terraform

Python

Job description

Solutions Engineer - Assurance & Automation - Middle East & Africa

Engineer - Pre Sales and Product Management

As part of Cisco’s EMEA Internet & Mass-Scale Infrastructure team, you’ll collaborate with account teams, fellow engineers, and customers to define and deliver innovative solutions that set the benchmark for assurance, automation, switching, routing, optical, and SDN. You’ll act as a trusted advisor for customers and a source of thought leadership for the industry, contributing to Cisco’s prominence in the service provider market.

Your Impact:

You are a technical leader and a hands-on expert. In this role, you will lead the design and implementation of groundbreaking, AI-ready, software-defined infrastructures that enable next-generation service provider networks. You will guide RFPs, proofs of concept (PoCs), and architectural designs, ensuring alignment with customer objectives and industry trends.

You will lead cross-functional engineering efforts, delivering consultative support and expertise to customers in strategic accounts. Your influence will extend beyond individual accounts, as you work to shape Cisco’s product strategy by advocating for field and customer needs with Development teams. You will also manage customer expectations, ensuring alignment with product and solution capabilities, while continuously driving thought leadership in the broader networking and service provider industries.

Who you are:

You are an accomplished technical leader with deep expertise in networking and automation. You are just as comfortable behind a keyboard as you are in front of customers, confidently engaging at both technical and business levels. You combine exceptional architectural design skills with hands-on implementation expertise to deliver transformative solutions. With a forward-thinking mindset, you influence not only your customers but also the wider industry through thought leadership, speaking engagements, and innovative solution design.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in assurance, automation, networking, including consulting, service implementation and operational expertise,
• Knowledge of networking technologies & protocols such as routing, switching, MEF, L2/L3, SRv6, MPLS, BNG, VxLAN and EVPN are required,
• Technology domains knowledge such as ML/AI, SDN, SD-WAN, 5G and Cloud,
• Must possess a strong focus on customer service and be able to establish and maintain strong relationships throughout the sales cycle,
• English and Arabic proficiency is required,

Preferred Qualifications:

• Network programmability basic understanding of NETCONF/YANG, REST, JSON, Network telemetry,
• Preferred strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, techniques & infrastructure (learning models, LLM, GenAI, AGI, NLP, neural networks, deep learning, AI Frameworks, GPU and DPU)
• Proficiency with automation tool sets (Ansible, Terraform, ROBOT) with a strong focus on DC switching and compute.
• Proven track record in guiding complex RFPs, PoCs, and architectural designs for large-scale service providers.
• Solid knowledge of Network Automation and Assurance solutions and positioning including competitive landscape
• Strong knowledge of customer networks, their current challenges, ability to act as consultant and guide the customers – particularly Service Providers, Large Enterprises, and/or Public Sector customers.
• The candidate also needs to be willing to travel (up to 50%)
• Scripting experience (Python, Perl, TCL, shell programming)
• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills and be able to effectively articulate technology and product positioning to both business and technical users.
• Must be able to maintain a functional home office with the potential for occasional travel.
• CCNP, CCDP, CCIE are highly regarded.

Cisco is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.