Solutions Engineer - GES - Cleveland/Columbus

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; Town of Richfield (WI); On-site; USD 189,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with matching

Parental leave

RSUs eligibility

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Solutions Engineer with a strong Secure Networking background, Data Center and Security to join our team in the U.S.

This pre-sales role partners with Account Executives to showcase Cisco solutions, perform demos, create BoMs, and run proofs of concept, shaping customer outcomes. The candidate will collaborate with technical executives, apply market insights, and design cross-architecture solutions to meet client goals, while delivering high-impact presentations

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry-related experience.
• BS/BA (EE/CS) or equivalent.
• Cisco product experience or relevant experience with competitor offerings.

Responsibilities

• Actively contributes to account planning aligning technical strategies with customer objectives.
• Elevates Cisco portfolio knowledge across cross-architectural solutions.
• Partners to drive innovation and lead solution conversations with technical executives.
• Applies deep understanding of customer business challenges and guides portfolio solutions.
• Leads demonstrations of technical solutions addressing specific business needs.
• Supports pre-sales activities and runs proof-of-concept engagements.

Skills

5+ years experience

Cisco product experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS/BA (EE/CS)

Job description

Application Window

The application window is expected to close on: 10/29/2026

Location

Candidate required to live in or relocate to Cleveland or Columbus, OH

Meet the Team

We are seeking a dynamic and passionate professional to join our team in a role that embraces the transformative power of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and human collaboration to achieve business outcomes. We are innovators, collaborators, and problem-solvers who take pride in helping our customers tackle their biggest challenges with confidence. By blending world‑class technology with a deep understanding of the unique needs of the market, we don’t just create solutions—we create possibilities. With a people‑first culture rooted in inclusivity, curiosity, and collaboration, you’ll work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. Together, we are transforming how Enterprise organizations serve their customers. If you’re ready to make a real impact while growing your career, come and join us on this exciting journey!

Your Impact

Cisco is seeking a Solutions Engineer (SE) with strong Secure Networking background, Data Center and Security. The SE is a customer-focused technical sales professional who ensures that technical information and guidance is provided to the customer, delivering meaningful outcomes based on Cisco’s product and services portfolio. The SE will partner with our Account Executive s in a pre‑sales technical function, showcasing Cisco solutions, providing customer presentations, performing technical demonstrations, creating BoMs, and running proof of concept activities. The SE will partner, consult, influence, and design solutions to allow the customer to meet their desired outcomes. In addition to technology aptitude and the ability to learn quickly and stay current; the ideal candidate’s interpersonal, presentation, and troubleshooting skills should evoke passion and confidence.

Responsibilities

• Actively contributes to account planning activities to pinpoint growth opportunities and align technical strategies with customer objectives
• Elevates expertise of Cisco's portfolio with a broadening knowledge of cross‑architectural solutions and domains
• Partners to drive innovation and lead solution conversation with technical executives
• Applies deep understanding of customer’s business challenges and drives customers towards portfolio solutions
• Influences strategic priorities for customers and leads cross‑architecture designs
• Contributes to planning and leads execution of demand generation and enablement campaigns
• Examines underlying customer needs and promotes cross‑architecture solutions
• Leads demonstrations of technical solutions that address specific business challenges
• Leverages advanced competitive market insights to position and differentiate Cisco solutions
• Leads cross‑functional collaboration with internal teams and external partners to refine strategic alignment and elevate customer relationships
• Motivates SE teams and extended sales teams to strengthen knowledge sharing and guide structured educational initiatives
• Implements adaptation strategies to respond to evolving market conditions and challenges

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry-related experience
• BS/BA (EE/CS) or relevant experience
• Cisco product experience or relevant experience in key competitor offerings in technology area of emphasis is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Cisco's Solutions
• Experience with secure networking and datacenter networking fundamentals
• Customer intimacy and relationship building skills
• Pre‑sales experience preferred
• CCNP Enterprise or equivalent

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada

The starting salary range posted for this position is $188,500.00 to $238,200.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits. Individual pay is determined by the candidate’s hiring location, market conditions, job‑related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

• U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability coverage, and basic life insurance.
• Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks.
• Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
• U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
• 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
• 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
• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
• For non‑sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
• Employees on sales plans earn performance‑based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non‑quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan.
• For quota‑based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows: .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota; 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%; 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
• For non‑quota‑based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target.
• Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
• New York City Metro Area: $212,200.00 - $308,300.00
• Non‑Metro New York state & Washington state: $202,400.00 - $296,900.00
• * 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.

Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn’t just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.