Associate Solutions Engineer – United States

Cisco; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 68,400 - 104,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Optional volunteer days

Flexible vacation time

Job summary

Cisco is looking for candidates for its 12-month CSAP Graduate Program designed to develop high-potential individuals into Technical Sales Champions. Candidates will be immersed in training and gain real-world experience through three rotational assignments.

Successful applicants will earn industry-standard certifications and transition into a Solutions Engineer role, driving technical solutions with a focus on AI. The program aims to provide a pathway for professional growth through hands-on learning in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Legally authorized to work in the country of hire without company sponsorship.
• AI-native mindset with a high degree of learning agility.
• Capable of turning complexity into clarity.

Responsibilities

• Participate in immersive Bootcamp training and foundational technical skill-building.
• Complete rotational assignments for real-world technical sales experience.
• Transition into a Solutions Engineer role to design solutions for complex challenges.

Skills

Technical curiosity

Fluent in English

Networking and software (Java/Python)

High emotional intelligence

Education

Technical degree (Engineering, CS, STEAM)

Job description

Meet the Team

• You will train alongside a diverse cohort of high‑calibre individuals from across the AMER Region, building a rich professional network and long‑lasting friendships. This hub‑based environment provides a "safe‑to‑fail" setting where you can master your craft through AI customer simulations and mentored on‑the‑job activities.
• Throughout the Cisco Sales Associate Program (CSAP), you will collaborate with Cisco Associate Sales Representatives to provide technical solutions that drive business outcomes. You will expand your expertise across Collaboration, Security, Networking, and Cloud to bridge the gap between technical requirements and business value. You will learn from industry experts and dedicated coaches using our own leading‑edge technology.
• To support your growth, you will be paired with a mentor—a CSAP alumnus who has successfully navigated the program. Supported by a team committed to your success, you will earn industry‑standard certifications and gain the expertise required to thrive in elite technical sales opportunities across our global organization.

Your Impact

The CSAP Graduate Program is a 12‑month global accelerator designed to develop high‑potential individuals into Technical Sales Champions. Built on a model of Education, Exposure, and Experience, the program offers a clear progression:

• Month 1–3: Participate in immersive Bootcamp training and foundational technical skill‑building.
• Month 3–12: Complete three rotational assignments for real‑world technical sales experience.
• Beyond 12 months: Transition into a Solutions Engineer role to discover, demonstrate, and design solutions for complex customer challenges.

Our learning philosophy prioritises experiential growth, with the majority of your development occurring through coached, real‑world practice within a hub‑based cohort of peers. This immersive approach ensures you grow and learn through direct application rather than in isolation.

A key part of this Program is our AI-First Mandate. As an Associate Solutions Engineer (ASE) in our Global Sales Enablement & Acceleration team, you will build strong AI skills by using advanced learning platforms and artificial intelligence to design technical solutions and improve strategic decision‑making. This trajectory is designed for those looking to outpace the traditional career curve! Through quarterly competency checkpoints, high‑performers can validate their skills and fast‑track into further technical roles before the program concludes.

Upon completion of the 12‑month Early In Career (EIC) program, as a Solutions Engineer (SE), you will join our Global Virtual Engineering (GVE) team. GVE is a best‑in‑class technical presales organization that provides software and Solutions Engineering services to customers, partners, and internal sales teams. You will discover, demonstrate, and design solutions to address complex customer challenges.

Minimum Qualifications

• You hold a technical degree (Engineering, CS, STEAM) or come from a non‑traditional background with real‑world proof of technical curiosity—like a home lab, certification, or side project—and possess the skills to turn complexity into clarity.
• Fluent in English and the primary language of the country for which you are applying.
• Legally authorized to work in the country of hire without company sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• AI‑native mindset with a high degree of learning agility; you are passionate about networking and software (Java/Python) and eager to use AI to automate and innovate the engineering process.
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to navigate a matrix‑based organization, influencing stakeholders and collaborating within a hub‑based cohort to drive team success.
• Analytical resilience, capable of maintaining focus and creativity when solving sophisticated technical hurdles or translating complex requirements into tangible business value.
• Confident communicator who can deconstruct "black box" technologies into simple, persuasive narratives for diverse audiences.

Benefits

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non‑exempt employees.
• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year‑end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco.
• Non‑exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full‑time employees.
• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations).
• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next.
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer.

Compensation

Applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

• New York City Metro Area: $72,000.00 - $104,300.00
• Non‑Metro New York State & Washington State: $68,400.00 - $99,100.00
• For quota‑based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
• Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non‑exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.