Network Specialist Solutions Engineer

• Collaborate with AHEAD account teams to identify, qualify, and build solutions supporting customers’ digital business transformation
• Participate actively in the AHEAD Network SSE team, advisory teams, and delivery teams
• Work with AHEAD partner management and selected strategic vendors to maintain technical and sales relationships
• Design, architect, and sometimes consult on solutions for AHEAD clients
• Build skills, relationships, and industry credibility to drive product, services, and consulting sales
• Support sales teams during engagements with technical advice, solutions, and proposals
• Develop relationships with Network SSE team members, leaders, and partners to support sales objectives
• Strategize and execute technical sales calls
• Complete pre-sales documentation, including configurations, pricing, services, presentations, and justifications
• Qualify sales opportunities based on technical requirements, decision-making processes, and funding
• Present and market proposed AHEAD solutions and business justification to customers, prospects, and management
• Mentor entry-level team members
• Serve as a subject matter expert and organizational thought leader for networking technologies

• Mastery of Cisco Route/Switch and/or Datacenter technologies
• Experience or eagerness to learn network and system/access design with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, or other cloud services
• Cisco certifications are required (examples: CCIE, CCNP)
• Network infrastructure experience
• Experience with Cisco Nexus 9K, ACI, 7K, 5K, 2K, and 1K
• Experience with converged network fabrics/converged infrastructure systems
• Knowledge of IP routing protocols
• Knowledge of Layer 2 protocols and technologies
• Knowledge of Cisco core datacenter technologies
• Knowledge of ACI
• Knowledge of network management
• Knowledge of MPLS, DMVPN, and multicast
• Knowledge of firewalls, VPN, IPSec/L2TP, and related technologies
• Knowledge of network security
• Ability to identify and leverage emerging datacenter technologies
• Advanced understanding of automation frameworks and scripting
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for complex datacenter environments
• Ability to engage clients as a trusted advisor
• Proven ability to work effectively across sales, engineering, and vendor partner teams
• Commitment to continuous learning about datacenter technologies
• Knowledge of network security best practices and compliance requirements