AI Solutions Engineer - SLED West

Cisco; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Solutions Engineer specializing in AI to lead transformative projects in the public sector. This role demands a blend of technical expertise and consultative skills to design and implement comprehensive AI solutions. You will work closely with diverse stakeholders, translating complex AI concepts into actionable strategies that enhance client success. Join a dynamic team dedicated to leveraging innovative technology for impactful change, where your contributions will shape the future of AI infrastructure across various sectors. If you're passionate about AI and enjoy collaborating with clients to drive meaningful outcomes, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in technical consulting and pre-sales.
• In-depth knowledge of AI/ML technologies and programming skills.

Responsibilities

• Design full-stack AI solutions for public sector clients.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive client transformation.

Skills

Technical Consulting

Technical Pre-Sales

AI/ML Technologies

Programming in Python

Consultative Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Apache Spark

Dask

Job description

What You’ll Do

As a Solutions Engineer - Artificial Intelligence (AI), you will serve as a trusted technical leader and advisor, specializing in positioning comprehensive AI solutions in public sector SLED. You will collaborate with data and research scientists, application developers, and IT professionals at educational institutions (higher education and K-12), healthcare organizations, and state and local government agencies. In this pre-sales role, you will work closely with stakeholders to identify impactful AI use cases, assess infrastructure needs, and design full-stack solutions that drive client success. You will navigate the complexities of both on-premises and cloud-based solutions, effectively articulating the strategic benefits and value of each approach. This position requires a strong combination of technical expertise, consultative abilities, and the capacity to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to audiences ranging from engineers to executives.

Who You’ll Work With

You’ll be an integral Cloud + AI Infrastructure team member, which acts as the strategic go-to-market engine for data center transformation and growth across the Americas. You will collaborate with internal teams, including sales, engineering, product development, partners, and customers. Your work will enable the broader team to capitalize on emerging market trends, activate new opportunities to position Cisco datacenter solutions and drive client transformation. You will engage with cross-functional teams to share insights, align on best practices, and amplify your impact in the AI infrastructure space.

Who You Are

You are a thought leader who builds excitement and deepens understanding of AI solutions across internal and external teams. You excel at connecting with clients to translate their AI ambitions into actionable infrastructure strategies. Your comprehensive knowledge of datacenter requirements for AI, combined with proficiency in AI software development positions you to design and showcase solutions that meet complex public sector needs. You’re adept at presenting the unique benefits of on-premises AI infrastructure, especially in scenarios where data security, compliance, and latency are critical. Your strong communication skills, coupled with a proactive, problem-solving mindset, make you an essential partner in promoting AI advancements. Travel flexibility is essential to engage with clients and participate in industry events.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. 6+ years of Technical Consulting Experience: Proven track record of advising and guiding clients through complex technological transitions, focusing on the successful adoption and integration of innovative infrastructure solutions.
2. 2+ years of Technical Pre-Sales Experience: Proven experience in technical pre-sales, specifically in designing and selling datacenter solutions while effectively communicating the value to clients.
3. AI/ML Experience: In-depth experience AI/ML technologies, including working with advanced models such as Transformers, Deep Neural Networks, and Reinforcement Learning. Strong proficiency in working with AI frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and LLM development tools. Experience building AI pipelines that streamline the model development and deployment process, ensuring smooth integration with application and infrastructure resources. Experience with hardware accelerators such as GPUs and DPUs, with knowledge of their utilization and sizing to scale AI infrastructure effectively for various use cases.
4. Programming Skills: Must possess solid programming experience in Python or Rust, demonstrating the ability to develop, optimize, and deploy AI and data-centric applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. An advanced degree is a plus.
2. Consultative Approach and Strategic Insight: Exceptional consultative skills to guide education, government, and healthcare institutions through strategic discussions on the value of adopting AI solutions. Capable of uncovering opportunities for AI implementation that align with the institution’s mission and goals.
3. Technical Pre-Sales Expertise: Proven experience in a pre-sales role engaging with public sector agencies and institutions to understand their unique challenges and develop comprehensive AI infrastructure solutions. Skilled in communicating complex technical concepts effectively to various stakeholders, from technical teams to senior leadership.
4. Experience with AI Software Development: Practical experience developing, deploying, and optimizing AI software. Familiarity with distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Dask), parallel computing paradigms, and performance optimization for machine learning models. Skilled in Python, C++, and Rust, as well as libraries and tools specific to AI model development.
5. AI Hardware Proficiency: Expertise in hardware accelerators like NVIDIA GPUs (e.g., A100, H100) and DPUs, understanding their role in boosting AI performance and scaling large models for various applications.
6. Public Sector Use Case Knowledge: Understanding of AI use cases across the public sector, including citizen services, education, and healthcare.
7. Value of Full-Stack AI Solutions: Demonstrated ability to articulate the value of full-stack AI solutions that span the entire lifecycle—from data collection and preprocessing to model training, deployment, and optimization.
8. Understanding Datacenter Infrastructure for AI: Understanding of datacenter infrastructure requirements to support AI workloads.
9. Cloud and Hybrid Expertise: Ability to design and implement cloud, on-premises, and hybrid solutions that cater to specific needs.
10. Engaging Communication and Presentation Skills: Capable of developing and delivering impactful presentations and workshops that demonstrate the strategic and technical benefits of full-stack AI solutions to diverse audiences.
11. Collaborative Team Player: Strong record of working with cross-functional teams, including sales, engineering, and product development, to deliver comprehensive solutions that align with client goals.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Why Cisco?

#WeAreCisco. We are all unique, but collectively we bring our talents to work as a team, to develop innovative technology and power a more inclusive, digital future for everyone.

Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.