Director, Solutions Engineering

F5 Networks; Solomon (KS); Remote; USD 201,000 - 303,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a Director of Solutions Engineering to oversee a remote team across the U.S. This role requires extensive experience in pre-sales and leadership, along with strong communication and technical skills. The ideal candidate will define objectives, manage staff, and present solutions to high-level audiences, focusing on enhancing customer success and competitive positioning.

Benefits

Incentive compensation

Bonus potential

Restricted stock units

Comprehensive benefits package

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a pre-sales solutions architect role in an enterprise environment.
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership role or as a people manager preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directing all aspects of the Solutions Engineering organization.
• Upholding F5’s Business Code of Ethics.
• Supervising exempt-level staff.
• Defining core FY objectives for the SA organization.
• Partnering with management to define headcounts.
• Effective communication and teamwork within the organization.
• Developing and prioritizing the SA organization.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Negotiation skills

F5 product line knowledge

Understanding of AI

Kubernetes/microservices

Application security

Networking technologies

Application delivery

Presentation skills

Education

BS or BA degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation.

Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

This is a remote position and can be located anywhere in the U.S.

Position Summary

This role is responsible for directing all aspects of the Solutions Engineering organization in the Americas, with a focus on pre‑sales technical sales. Establishes objectives and work plans and delegates assignments to solutions architects. This role will be responsible for ensuring that the SA organization is scalable to meet/exceed F5 company goals. Responsible for the direct management of the Americas Theater Solution Architects.

Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for upholding F5’s Business Code of Ethics and for promptly reporting violations of the Code or other company policies
• Management duties include the supervision of exempt-level staff. This includes but is not limited to conducting performance evaluations, approving paid time‑off (PTO), assigning or delegating work, providing on‑the‑job training, giving mentorship to staff, conducting performance improvement plans, taking disciplinary action, and interviewing candidates for open positions
• Define core FY objectives, strategy, and priorities for the theater SA organization.
• Partner with management to define headcounts quarterly and yearly, ensuring the SA organization is scalable to meet and exceed goals and objectives. Balance candidate recruitments in collaboration with HR
• Communication – ensure effective communication and build an environment of teamwork and cooperation with your department and the rest of the organization
• Develop and prioritize the SA organization to meet/exceed goals. This includes both technical and professional development.
• Develop SA retention, recognition, compensation, and career planning
• Develop SE & SA skills assessment and job planning
• Identify consistent market trends and communicate them to PM, PD, etc., to help drive product requirements and ensure customer success, thereby increasing F5 solutions’ competitiveness.
• Present F5 strategy, solution messaging, and roadmap to C‑level & technical audiences, as well as at industry events and conferences.
• Demonstrate ability to understand customer requirements and challenges, and present appropriate F5 solutions
• Identify and analyze the competition
• Provide product feasibility analysis in support of sales efforts with sales leadership
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Experienced in project management and negotiation skills
• Expert knowledge of the F5 product line
• Detailed understanding of AI, Kubernetes/micro services, application security, networking technologies, and application delivery
• Ability to navigate and influence in a matrix organization
• Ability to lead in a constantly evolving environment, prioritize, and handle ambiguity
• Ability to converse with technical and business personnel fluently at all levels of the organization
• Outstanding presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex technologies
• Ability to partner effectively with sales management (and other sales support teams) to identify new sales strategies and market opportunities

Qualifications

• BS or BA degree required in Engineering, Computer Science, or an analytical/quantitative discipline
• 5+ years in a pre‑sales solutions architect role in enterprise environment required
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership role or as a people manager preferred.

#LI-EM1

The annual base pay for this position is: $201,600.00 - $302,400.00. F5 maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, geographic locations, and market conditions, as well as to reflect F5’s differing products, industries, and lines of business. The pay range referenced is as of the time of the job posting and is subject to change.

You may also be offered incentive compensation, bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits. More details about F5’s benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.f5.com/company/careers/benefits. F5 reserves the right to change or terminate any benefit plan without notice.

Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address ending with @f5.com or auto email notification from Workday ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Request by contacting [e-mail].