Leader – Solutions Engineer

The application window is expected to close on: 07/17/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Candidate must live in or willing to relo to Chicago, IL

Meet the Team

In US Commercial, our mission is simple:  #FirstAndMost. We’re FIRST to deliver cutting-edge solutions, with the MOST impactful outcomes for our customers.  We represent diverse industries like Healthcare, Retail and Manufacturing, working with early adopters who embrace innovation and move quickly to achieve goals.  Here you’ll sell the entire Cisco portfolio, empowering transformation through best-in-class products covering networking, security, collaboration, AI and more.  But it’s not just about selling; it’s about having a blast with an incredible team while driving successful outcomes.  As a part of US Commercial, you’ll have the chance to develop your skills and build a long-term career in an ultra-dynamic environment.  We invest in YOU.  If you’re ready to make an impact, grow your career, and mix success with fun, come join us.  Let’s lead and innovate together!

Your Impact

• As a Solutions Engineering Leader for US Commercial in the Upper Plains Region, you’ll have the opportunity to: 

• Lead and Inspire: Guide a team of Solutions Engineers, fostering innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence across 2 states in the central US.  (IL & WI)

• Drive Strategy: Partner with your sales leader counterpart and account executive team to influence account and business strategies that align with market and industry trends. 

• Empower Your Team: Enable your team to thrive by providing the tools, resources, and guidance they need to deliver premium customer outcomes and drive the business forward. 

• Collaborate: Work with Connected Architecture teams and channel partners to provide holistic solutions that meet customer needs. 

• Create Demand: Collaborate with your team to drive demand through in-person engagements with customers and partners. 

• Cultivate Culture: Foster a culture of collaboration, teamwork, innovation, purpose, and courage, ensuring that wellness, self-care, and giving back are prioritized. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in engineering, science, or a related field.

• Strong technical foundation across the Cisco portfolio, including routing, switching and wireless technologies.

• 5+ years of pre-sales engineering/industry experience, with acumen around inter-networking products and trends, including competitive landscape.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, DEVELOP EVERY TEAM MEMBER, build relationships, and drive initiatives. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI-ready data centers, Hybrid Work, Security, and Digital Resilience.

• Cisco certifications and/or industry certifications.

• Strong technical foundation across Cisco competitors and industries.

• Outstanding interpersonal, problem-solving, and solution-selling skills. 

• Dedication to continuous development of technical skills and industry trends. 

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 $205,700.00 to $266,300.00 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 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.

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

New York City Metro Area:

$223,000.00 - $330,300.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$217,200.00 - $315,300.00

* 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.