Channel Solutions Engineer

  • Location:
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Alternate Location
    Any Major European Location
  • Area of Interest
    Engineer - Pre Sales and Product Management
  • Job Type
    Professional
  • Technology Interest
    Networking, Security
  • Job Id
    1442651

At Cisco, Solutions Engineers are technical leaders who partner with Sales teams to provide pre-sales expertise and deep technical guidance. As a Channel Solutions Engineer, you will focus on enabling our Partner ecosystem to design and present innovative solutions that address their customers' business needs. 

This role offers the unique opportunity to work across Cisco’s extensive portfolio, with a specific emphasis on Enterprise Networking and Security. You will play a crucial role in helping Partners build their offerings based on Cisco architectures, making a strong foundation in Networking technologies essential. 

As the Solutions Engineer for one of our strategic Channel accounts within the EMEA region, you will drive the day-to-day technical relationship with Partners spanning multiple countries. You’ll define technical strategies, create enablement plans, and establish support models that increase sell-through business, expand Cisco’s product footprint in Partner portfolios, and contribute to their success. This role works closely with the Partner Account Manager and extended Cisco teams. 

If you are passionate about working with Partners, have a proven track record of success in engaging customers across various segments, and are driven to grow our channel ecosystem, this is the role for you. This role is open to any location within EMEA. 

Your Impact

The Channel Solutions Engineer is a high-profile, strategic role that focuses on building strong technical relationships with Partners and driving Cisco’s technology leadership. Key responsibilities include: 

  • Partner Support and Strategy Development: Become a trusted advisor to Partners by participating in business and technical reviews, aligning Cisco solutions with Partner offers, and driving Cisco preference among key technical stakeholders. 
  • Pre-Sales Ownership: Deliver compelling technical presentations, demonstrations, and Proof of Concepts (PoCs) across Cisco’s Catalyst, Meraki, and Security portfolios, showcasing the full potential of Cisco solutions to Partners and their customers. 
  • Go-to-Market Support: Build strong relationships with Partner technical and sales leadership, assist their sales teams in accelerating business opportunities, and support them in strategic customer engagements. 
  • Bid Response Management: Manage the technical components of Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and other formal bid responses, ensuring high-quality outcomes in collaboration with internal teams. 
  • Technical Enablement: Equip Partner sales, pre-sales, and delivery teams with the latest knowledge on Cisco products, features, and roadmaps to help differentiate their offerings and foster innovation. 
  • Industry Awareness: Stay informed about industry trends, competitive solutions, and emerging technologies. Share feedback with Cisco Business Units to help shape future products and close potential gaps.

What You’ll Do

  • Serve as the primary channel engineering contact for some of Cisco’s largest Partners in the EMEA region. 
  • Collaborate with extended Cisco teams to define and develop architectures, roadmaps, and strategies to address Partner business challenges. 
  • Champion Partner success by driving technical excellence and fostering preference for Cisco solutions. 
  • Act as the voice of the Partner within Cisco, advocating their needs and concerns to internal stakeholders and Business Units. 
  • Support large and strategic opportunities by working closely with Cisco account teams and Partner teams. 
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to the broader channel SE community. 

At Cisco, you’ll not only work on cutting-edge technologies but also enjoy a flexible work environment that prioritizes your growth and well-being. 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Pre-sales engineering or technical customer-facing experience, ideally with Channel Partners. 
  • Strong technical expertise in Networking and Security solutions. 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex solutions effectively. 
  • Fluency in English.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 5+ years of pre-sales engineering or technical customer-facing experience. 
  • Relevant certifications, such as CCNP or CCIE
  • Knowledge of DEVNET and programmability skills. 
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve objectives. 
  • A proactive, continuous-learning mindset with a drive for self-empowerment. 
  • Experience mentoring and training others in enterprise technologies. 
  • Strong relationship-building skills, resilience, and tenacity.

At Cisco, we empower you to make an impact and be the first to experience the benefits of our cutting-edge technology. Join us to work on transformative solutions, build lasting relationships, and shape the future of networking. 

#WeAreCisco

#WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.

Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer—80 hours each year—allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do!

Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us!


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

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter.  Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. 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 up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

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