Account Executive - Networking Architecture (US Federal Civilian)

Application window closes: 11/09/2026. Candidate must reside on the East Coast and be able to travel to the DC/MD/VA region.

About the role

Meet the Team Join a specialized group of architectural experts dedicated to positioning Cisco’s cutting-edge solutions within strategic customer buying centers. Our team bridges the gap between complex customer needs and Cisco’s product evolution, ensuring our offerings address specific solution gaps and drive meaningful business outcomes. We collaborate across account teams, solution engineers, and internal business units to influence product roadmaps and adapt to emerging market demands. By integrating deep industry insights into our account strategies, we help customers navigate technological advancements and maintain their competitive edge. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of innovation and strategic sales, driving impact within a high-stakes, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic relationship within the customer’s buying center to influence architectural decisions and position Cisco as the preferred partner.
• Lead technical proof of concept and proof of value engagements by implementing scaled demonstration environments to showcase solution capabilities before customer commitment.
• Develop comprehensive proposals that address unique solution gaps while aligning technical projections with broader portfolio planning to ensure long-term success.
• Drive significant revenue growth and market share by identifying shifts in the competitive landscape and providing strategic recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide critical feedback to Cisco’s development teams to ensure future product roadmaps reflect emerging customer demands and technological advancements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of related experience, a Master’s degree with 6+ years of experience, or a PhD with 3+ years of experience.
• Experience managing sales cycles for medium-to-high complexity deals ranging from $50K to over $1M.
• Proven experience leading technical proof of concept (PoC) and proof of value (PoV) engagements.
• Strong Networking knowledge.
• Proficiency in building business cases, including analyzing drivers for cost, benefit, and risk.
• Experience engaging directly with IT, Line of Business (LOB), and C-suite decision-makers.

Qualifications

• Expert-level technical knowledge in a specific Cisco architecture or relevant industry vertical.
• Experience collaborating with industry analysts to future-proof account and market strategies.
• Ability to conduct "what-if" analysis to model future business outcomes based on market variables.
• Experience working directly with product engineering teams to influence product development and functionality.
• Strong ability to translate complex technical architectures into clear business outcomes for diverse stakeholders.

Skills

Strong networking knowledge, proficiency in building business cases (cost/benefit/risk analysis), ability to engage IT, LOB, and C-suite decision‑makers, experience leading PoC/PoV engagements, managing complex sales cycles, translating technical architectures into business outcomes.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long‑term disability coverage.
• Basic life insurance.
• Paid time away: 10 paid holidays per year + 1 floating holiday for non‑exempt, 1 paid birthday‑day‑off, paid year‑end holiday shutdown, 4 paid personal‑wellness days.
• Non‑exempt employees: 16 days paid vacation per year (accrued 4.92 hrs/pay period).
• Exempt employees: flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit (subject to availability).
• 80 hours sick time off on hire date and each Jan 1, with up to 80 hours carry‑forward.
• Optional 10 paid volunteer days per year.
• Eligibility for Cisco restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest with continued employment.
• For sales roles: performance‑based incentive pay on top of base salary (details of quota‑based and non‑quota‑based components).

Pay

The starting salary range for this