Senior Pre-Sales Engineer - Network

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation. At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD. We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's race, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived. We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD. Senior Specialty Solutions Engineer – Network The AHEAD Senior Specialty Solutions Engineer – Network will focus on network and network security solutions for prospects and customers, becoming an organizational thought leader in this marketplace. Pre‑sales experience is a key component of this role. You will partner with sales representatives to build a cohesive account strategy, identify potential technologies and vendors, and assist in executing that strategy throughout campaigns. Time management and prioritization are essential. Your goal is to evolve into the technical thought leader for each client, defining strategy, comparing approaches, building relationships, sizing and configuring products, and leveraging subject matter experts. AHEAD is actively recruiting for this role and seeks candidates who consider themselves a ‘Next Generation Network Architect.’ Deep knowledge of campus wired and wireless technologies is required; mastery of datacenter and cloud networking technologies is a plus. Candidates should be willing to learn new technologies such as SDN solutions, network security, load balancing, edge acceleration, and cloud services. Experience or eagerness to learn about network and system design with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, or other cloud services is a key requirement. Roles & Responsibilities Lead and coordinate the AHEAD virtual team for Network Infrastructure. Collaborate with partner management and vendors to maintain technical and sales relationships. Act as a thought leader within the Engineering organization, designing, architecting, and consulting for clients. Build skills, relationships, and industry credibility to drive product, services, and consulting sales. Support sales during engagements by providing advice and proposals optimized to meet technical and business requirements. Develop relationships with account managers, partners, and customers to support sales objectives. Strategize and execute technical sales calls. Complete pre‑sales documentation (configurations, pricing, services, presentations, justifications) quickly and accurately. Qualify sales opportunities in terms of technical requirements, decision‑making process, and funding. Present and market the design and value of proposed solutions and business justification to customers, prospects, and leadership. Mentor entry‑level team members. Possess strong, detailed product, technology, and industry knowledge. Base Skills Network infrastructure experience. Strong wireless skills (certifications highly looked upon; wireless principles, site survey, Ekahau knowledge). Strong campus/LAN skills (Cisco and other OEM vendors). Cisco certifications are highly recommended. Knowledge of Cisco Nexus technologies. IP routing protocols. Cisco core datacenter technologies. Network management. Network security (Palo Alto/Fortinet) and SASE knowledge. Other Skills VMware / VMware NSX. Arista. Automation skill set. F5 / NetScaler. Amazon AWS, Azure, cloud connectivity and network fundamentals. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent. Pre‑sales and data center experience required. Professional communication, presentation, analytical, and problem‑solving skills. Experience as a technical lead in pre‑sales campaigns. Ability to work under critical conditions and influence others to achieve results. Strong interpersonal skills and excellent presentation skills. Must be independent, self‑motivated, a self‑starter, and possess a good working attitude. Able to work well within a team and partner environment. Customer‑focused and results‑driven. Compensation $245,000 – $275,000 a year. Location This role is located on the east coast, preferably in the NY Metro area. Benefits Medical, dental, and vision insurance. 401(k). Paid company holidays. Paid time off. Paid parental and caregiver leave. See benefits for additional details. Use of AI We may use artificial intelligence tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications and analyzing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. Privacy If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please refer to Candidate Privacy Notice or contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. You may opt‑out of the review or analysis of your application and resume by AI tools by using General Application. Please include the role you wish to apply for in the Additional Information field. 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