Solutions Engineer - US Commercial - Chicago

Cisco Systems, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Solutions Engineer with an Enterprise Networking background to engage with customers and drive technical outcomes.

The role partners with Account Managers to showcase Cisco solutions, deliver presentations, and execute proofs of concept to meet customer needs in data center, security, and cloud contexts. The ideal candidate has strong presentation, troubleshooting, and cross-team collaboration skills, with a willingness to stay current on Cisco product portfolios

Qualifications

• 2+ years of industry-related experience.
• BS/BA (EE/CS) or relevant experience.
• Cisco product experience or relevant experience with competitor offerings.
• Knowledge of Cisco Solutions and networking fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Account Managers in pre-sales to present Cisco solutions.
• Create BoMs, run proof-of-concept activities.
• Design solutions addressing customer business outcomes.
• Lead cross-architecture designs and cross-functional collaboration.
• Apply competitive insights to differentiate Cisco offerings.

Skills

Industry experience

Networking fundamentals

Pre-sales experience

Cisco product knowledge

Education

BS/BA in EE/CS or relevant experience

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/27/2026

Candidate required to live in or relocate to Chicago

Meet the Team
As we continue to uphold our standard of excellence in US Commercial Sales, we are embracing unprecedented innovation as a tremendous opportunity for growth. We succeed because we listen to our customers and anticipate their needs as the market shifts and technology transitions accelerate. Our customers are versatile and agile and adopt technology fast to compete aggressively and grow their business. We are confident our model provides you with unlimited opportunities to succeed at Cisco. Our culture is one of support and empowerment.

Your Impact
Cisco is seeking a Solutions Engineer (SE) with Enterprise Networking background, Data Center and/or Security. Cloud, Automation and AI experience is nice to have. 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 Managers 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.

• 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
• Examines underlying customer needs and promotes cross-architecture solutions
• 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
• Implements adaptation strategies to respond to evolving market conditions and challenges

Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years of industry-related experience
• Typically requires BS/BA (EE/CS) or relevant experience
• Cisco product experience or relevant experience in key competitor offerings in technology area of emphasis is required
• Knowledge of Cisco's Solutions, and networking fundamentals

Preferred Qualifications

• Customer intimacy skills
• Pre-sales experience preferred
• CCNA/CCNP Enterprise

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 $170,300.00 to $226,400.00 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, 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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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.

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

New York City Metro Area:

$193,700.00 - $281,500.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$185,300.00 - $270,700.00

* 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.