# Systems Sales Engineering Manager

**Company:** [Forward Networks](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/forward-networks)
**Location:** Santa Clara, CA
**Role:** Sales Engineering
**Salary:** $275k – $325k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** Networking, Cloud, Security, Networking Protocols, Sales Engineering, Proof Of Concepts, Pocs, Data Analytics, Ccnp, Ccie, Jncia, Jncie, Jncis, Aws Certified Solutions Architect, Product Demos
**Posted:** 2026-05-07

> Leads a team of Systems Sales Engineers to drive revenue growth while serving as a hands-on technical expert, qualifying opportunities, executing POCs, and delivering demos. Requires 7+ years in sales engineering, 3+ years leadership, and deep networking/cloud/security knowledge.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

### Management & Team Leadership
- Lead and manage a high-performing team of Systems Sales Engineers to achieve revenue and new business growth targets
- Develop and execute team strategies to drive revenue growth, expand market share, and build strong customer relationships
- Recruit, train, and mentor Systems Sales Engineers, providing ongoing coaching, feedback, and career development
- Manage team performance through data and analytics, setting clear goals and holding the team accountable to results
- Foster a collaborative environment where the team can thrive and continuously improve

### Technical Practitioner & Sales Leadership
- Actively engage as a technical authority on regional opportunities
- Qualify and scope opportunities directly alongside sales teams to assess fit and ensure technical feasibility
- Lead and execute POCs (Proof of Concepts) for key prospects, demonstrating deep technical expertise
- Serve as the technical lead on major pursuits, providing hands-on guidance and execution
- Provide technical guidance to the sales team, ensuring they have the knowledge, frameworks, and tools to succeed
- Develop and deliver compelling technical presentations and product demonstrations to prospective clients

### Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Product Management, Marketing, and Engineering to align sales strategies with company goals and product roadmap
- Gather customer insights from direct opportunity engagement to inform product decisions
- Stay current with industry trends, competitive landscapes, and technical best practices
- Provide recommendations for continuous improvement based on real-world customer interactions

## Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in software sales engineering, with a proven track record of success in driving revenue growth
- 3+ years of experience in a leadership role, managing a team of sales professionals
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to drive decision-making
- Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team to achieve their goals
- Proven ability to develop and execute successful sales strategies, build strong customer relationships, and drive revenue growth
- Excellent understanding of Networking, Cloud and/or Security fundamentals
- Understanding of networking protocols, and other operational tools and practices
- Experience supporting multiple large enterprises, service providers or Governmental agencies
- Strong verbal and written communications skills
- Experience as a leader running sales engineering organization
- Experience using data and metrics to drive improvements
- Experience owning program strategy and communicating results to senior Leadership

## Highly Desired
- Vendor certification (CCNP, CCIE, JNCIA, JNCIE, JNCIS, AWS CSA Associate etc.)

## Compensation
- Expected On-Target Cash Earnings: $275,000 - $325,000 per year

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