Leader, Solutions Engineer (AI & Agentic Systems)

Meet The Team Cisco is no longer just the networking company the world knows. We are building the critical infrastructure and trusted operating model for the agentic AI era — from silicon (Silicon One) through to unified platforms (Cisco Cloud Control), security (AI Defense + DefenseClaw), and observability (Splunk-powered agent monitoring). We are looking for a high-energy Presales / Solution Architect Manager to lead and grow our solutions engineering teams across Greater China and Japan. This is a rare opportunity to shape how the most ambitious enterprises in these markets move from AI pilots to production-scale agentic systems — securely, observably, and without hyperscaler lock-in.

Your Impact You will lead a multi-country team of Solutions Engineers and Architects who sit at the centre of Cisco’s AI transformation in Northeast Asia. Your mission is to turn Cisco’s full AI stack into winning architectures and sustained revenue growth:

• Own the technical sales strategy for AI and agentic workloads across the region. Align Cisco architectures (Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA, Cloud Control + AgenticOps, Silicon One-powered fabrics, Isovalent/Cilium, Splunk AI observability, AI Defense / DefenseClaw) with the real business problems of banks, manufacturers, telcos, governments and hyperscale-adjacent customers.

• Lead high-stakes customer engagements. Spend meaningful time with CXOs, CTOs and AI leaders on multi-year transformation journeys. Help them design flexible, future-proof agentic systems that avoid lock-in, incorporate Model Context Protocol (MCP) patterns, and deliver measurable outcomes in performance, security and governance.

• Build and coach a high-performing regional team. Direct managers and senior Solutions Engineers across Greater China, Korea and Japan. Raise the technical bar, develop the next generation of AI solution leaders, and create a culture that is both deeply technical and commercially sharp.

• Drive demand and market expansion. Design and execute technical events, workshops, and proof-of-concept programmes that showcase what’s actually possible with Cisco’s agentic platform, NVIDIA collaboration, and open, hybrid approaches. Turn emerging technology conversations into concrete pipeline and multi-year deals.

• Operate as the connective tissue. Work closely with Engineering, Customer Experience, partners, marketing and the broader APJC AI practice so that customer feedback shapes product direction and that our teams stay ahead of the curve on agentic security, observability and infrastructure.

Sales cycles are often long and complex — exactly the kind of work where deep technical credibility and sustained relationship-building win. What success looks like

• Clear growth in AI-related revenue and market share across Greater China, Korea and Japan

• Higher win rates on strategic and competitive deals through superior architecture and proof points

• A stronger, more capable and more cohesive solutions organisation that customers trust as true advisors

• Visible contribution to Cisco’s position as the trusted infrastructure and operating platform for agentic AI in the region

Qualifications: You combine strong technical depth in AI infrastructure, networking, security and observability with the ability to lead and inspire teams across cultures and geographies. You are comfortable in the boardroom and in the architecture workshop. You understand both the promise and the real risks of agentic systems, and you know how to turn that understanding into trusted customer outcomes.

Minimum qualifications Bachelor’s degree + 12 years relevant experience, Master’s + 8 years, or PhD + 5 years, plus at least 2 years of people leadership experience. This role is for someone who wants to help define what “AI-ready enterprise infrastructure” actually means in one of the world’s most dynamic markets — and to do it with the company that already powers some of the most demanding AI workloads on the planet. If that sounds like the next chapter you want to write, let’s talk.

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.