Presales Solutions Architect - Network

AHEAD’s Specialist Solutions Engineers are the technical experts that collaborate with our AHEAD account teams to help identify, qualify, and build solutions that support our customer’s Digital Business transformation. 

The AHEAD Network Specialist Solutions Engineer (SSE) will be focused on Networking technologies. A core tenet and base requirement for this position is mastery of Cisco Route/Switch and/or Datacenter technologies. Outside of this core tenet, our expectation is to attract, recruit and attain resources who have a desire to focus not only on traditional on-premises Cisco solutions, but also to be looking to career, technology and skill advancement by being actively willing to demonstrate skills and ability to learn new technologies including multiple SDN solutions, network security, load balancing, edge / acceleration, and cloud technologies. Understanding that the impetus and impact of Cloud computing is real and should be incorporated into solutions is key. Experience or eagerness to learn about and with network and system / access design with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure or other cloud services is a key requirement. 

The SSE is considered a subject matter expert in these areas with responsibility for selling and designing complex solutions. The SSE is also considered an organizational thought leader for their specialty area. 

Responsibilities:

• Active participation in the AHEAD Network SSE team, advisory and delivery teams. 
• Working with the AHEAD partner management team and directly with selected strategic vendors to maintain technical and sales relationships. 
• Be a thought leader within the Solutions Engineering organization, responsible for designing, architecting, and at times consulting for AHEAD clients. 
• Build skills, relationships, and industry credibility across many segments to drive product, services, and consulting sales. 
• Support the sales teams during engagements by providing advice and solutions or proposals optimized to meet customer technical and business requirements. 
• Develop relationships with other Network SSE team members, leaders, and partners in support of sales objectives. 
• Strategize and execute technical sales calls. 
• Complete required pre-sales documentation (configurations, pricing, services, presentations, justifications, etc.) quickly and accurately. 
• Qualify sales opportunities in terms of customer technical requirements, decision-making process, and funding. 
• Present and market the design and value of proposed AHEAD solutions and business justification to customers, prospects, and AHEAD management. 
• Participate in the mentorship of entry-level team members. 
• Possess strong, detailed product/technology/industry knowledge. 
• Knowledge of job-associated software and applications.  

Qualifications:

• Network Infrastructure Experience 
• Cisco certifications are required. Examples: CCIE, CCNP 
• Cisco Nexus 9K, ACI, 7K, 5K, 2K, 1K 
• Experience with Converged Network Fabrics / Converged Infrastructure Systems.
• IP Routing Protocols 
• Layer 2 protocols and technologies 
• Cisco Core Datacenter Technologies 
• ACI 
• Network Management 
• MPLS,DMVPN, Multicast 
• Firewalls,VPN, IPSec / L2TP etc. 
• Network Security 

Other Skills:

• Innovation Mindset: Ability to identify and leverage emerging Datacenter technologies to drive innovative solutions that meet evolving client needs. 
• Automation Expertise: Advanced understanding of automation frameworks and scripting to optimize Datacenter operations and reduce manual effort. 
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with a focus on troubleshooting complex Datacenter environments, including storage, compute, and networking issues. 
• Consultative Approach: Ability to engage with clients as a trusted advisor, guiding them through the decision-making process with clear, strategic recommendations. 
• Collaboration Skills: Proven track record of working effectively across teams, including sales, engineering, and vendor partners, to deliver cohesive solutions. 
• Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying updated on the latest industry trends, certifications, and best practices related to Datacenter technologies. 
• Security Awareness: Knowledge of Network security best practices, ensuring that proposed solutions adhere to compliance and regulatory standards.