Systems Engineer – District Sales Engineer
| Company | Palo Alto Networks |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Clara, CA, USA |
| Salary | $Not Provided – $Not Provided |
| Type | Full-Time |
| Degrees | |
| Experience Level | Senior |
Requirements
- 6+ years of experience in pre-sales, sales engineering, or a similar technical role
- Strong understanding of data networking, security architectures, and modern cloud computing environments
- Experience delivering cybersecurity solutions that solve complex technical challenges and align with customer business initiatives
- Ability to influence and gain buy-in from key stakeholders, whether in customer-facing or internal engagements
- Strong technical presentation, workshop, and proof-of-concept delivery skills
- Expertise in designing, implementing, or managing one or more of the following security solutions: Network Security, SASE, SaaS, CNAPP, or SOC Transformation Technologies
- Experience collaborating with Customer Support teams to ensure successful implementation and adoption of security solutions
Responsibilities
- Partnering with sales teams to meet and exceed sales quotas by building and implementing strategic technical account plans
- Positioning, demonstrating, and designing security architectures across the Palo Alto Networks portfolio based on customer business needs and architecting complex environments, including network security, security operations, and cloud security
- Driving customer adoption of the Palo Alto Networks security platform by helping customers achieve enhanced security, operational efficiency, and business flexibility
- Conducting technical discovery to understand customer requirements and aligning solutions to their specific needs
- Leading proof-of-concept (PoC) engagements, technical workshops, and product demonstrations to showcase the capabilities of our security platform
- Collaborating with Professional Services, Customer Success, and Specialist teams to ensure seamless implementation and adoption of solutions
- Effectively communicating complex security concepts to a variety of stakeholders, from technical practitioners to executive leadership
- Orchestrating supporting resources (Specialists, Channel Partners, Customer Support) to drive a unified strategy for customer success
- Promoting end-to-end security solutions, including Palo Alto Networks and partner professional services, to maximize customer security posture and business value
- Staying ahead of industry trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging security threats to position Palo Alto Networks as the cybersecurity leader
- Continuously investing in personal development to enhance technical expertise and professional skills while actively contributing to the District Systems Engineer community and industry events
- Demonstrating diversity in technical knowledge across SOC, Cloud, Networking, and NetSec, with an emphasis on SOC and Cloud, to drive cross-training and develop platform expertise across the team
- Becoming a technical leader with the desire to grow into a Palo Alto Networks portfolio architect, gaining expertise from NGFW to SASE, SOC, Cloud, and Unit 42 consulting services
- Balancing technical acumen with strategic thinking—acting as one part technical architect and one part CTO
- Building and maintaining strong relationships while demonstrating strong consulting skills
- Understanding the competitive landscape deeply, at least in your area of specialty
- Designing and architecting large, complex environments, leveraging expertise in your technical domain
- Developing strong business acumen with near-term potential to grow into CTO/CIO/CISO-level leadership
- Willingness to travel up to 50% within the assigned district
- Serving as a role model and mentor for inside Systems Engineers
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in complex sales cycles involving multiple decision-makers and multi-product solutions is preferred
- Field sales position requiring travel for in-person customer engagements (please discuss specifics with the recruiter)