Technical Marketing Engineer

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

The Optical Systems and Coherent Optics group is at the forefront of Cisco’s optical strategy, driving innovation in optical system and optics for data center interconnects, service providers and enterprises. Our team functions as the bridge between innovative technology and market reality, managing the full lifecycle of optical products within a dynamic framework. We are a collaborative, high-impact group that works across product management, engineering, and sales to shape how the world connects. Joining this team offers a unique opportunity to influence the evolution of optical networking and work on technologies that power the internet.

As a Technical Marketing Engineer, you will integrate deep technical expertise with industry insights to drive portfolio development and technical product strategy. You will act as a consultant to sales teams and customers, translating complex product features into compelling business initiatives and customer use cases. Your role is critical in validating product definitions, conducting proof-of-concepts, and crafting technical collateral that accelerates market adoption. Success in this role is defined by your ability to articulate customer needs into technical requirements, deliver high-impact product demonstrations, and effectively navigate the competitive landscape to expand Cisco’s market share.

• Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of related experience or Master’s degree plus 3 years' experience, or PhD in related field.
• Experience in optical, packet optical, or coherent optics product capabilities.
• Experience crafting user documentation, such as white papers, deployment guides, or methodology documents.
• Experience delivering technical demonstrations, proof-of-concepts, or training to internal and/or external customers

• Technical background in networking, routing, and switching.
• Automation and software proficiency to include Linux, VMware, and Python.
• Analysis of market positions and competitive landscapes to inform product strategy.
• Written and verbal presentation skills to aid in complex technical feature demonstrations that appeal to diverse audiences.
• A positive, proactive work ethic with a demonstrated passion for complex problem-solving.
• Proven ability to work effectively within a multicultural, cross-functional team environment.

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. 

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you. 

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks.  Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.