Systems Engineering Director - Commercial Details

Systems Engineering Director - Commercial

Palo Alto Networks - Santa Clara, CA

Employment Type : Full-Time

Company Description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks® everything starts and ends with our mission:

Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.

We have the vision of a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. These aren’t easy goals to accomplish – but we’re not here for easy. We’re here for better. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we’re looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.

We’re changing the nature of work. Palo Alto Networks is evolving to meet the needs of our employees now and in the future through FLEXWORK, our approach to how we work. From benefits to learning, location to leadership, we’ve rethought and recreated every aspect of the employee experience at Palo Alto Networks. And because it FLEXes around each individual employee based on their individual choices, employees are empowered to push boundaries and help us all evolve, together.

Your Career

Palo Alto Networks is looking to launch a new and innovative security solution that will not only meet the changing needs of our customers but also delight them with something they wished they had all along. We are building a new team to support this product and we are looking for proven top performers to join us. Our organization is one that’s dynamic, high energy, and highly collaborative. The products you will work on are new to Palo Alto Networks, so if you have an inner entrepreneurial spirit, comfortable working in fast-paced environments, and yearn for hands-on impact then this organization is the right one for you.

The Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineering Director is the pre-sales technical leadership position for a region or theater. The SED will have leadership responsibility for the Systems Engineers within the region, typically functioning as a manager of managers, but often with direct reports who are individual contributors (Consulting Engineers, Solution Architects etc.). As a 2nd level leader, the SED must also provide higher-level customer interactions and should demonstrate background as a dedicated Technology Executive with broad technology and business background. This role will be assessed both in terms of management skills for the SE’s in the region, as well as in the direct impact this person has with customers and their ability to drive business.

You will be responsible for partnering closely with our Core Sales teams, interfacing with our District Sales Managers and complex large Enterprises, to identify opportunities, and work together to close sales. During the sales process, you will be responsible for presenting our security solutions to prospective customers: crafting and delivering demonstrations of the products, gathering customer technical requirements, and making expert recommendations.

It is expected that the SED can interact at a senior level with customers and provide valuable insight into industry trends, customer challenges, technical evolutions, and business changes that will help the customer make their security decisions. The optimal SED already has a reputation with the customers in the region as a trusted advisor who will always take care of their needs.

Your Impact

• Recruit and hire new Systems Engineers and System Engineering Managers into the territory

• Responsible for training and mentoring new Systems Engineers on the team

• Provide thought leadership and executive level interaction with customers- be able to clearly articulate our value proposition at various different levels of our customers’ organizations and own the technical agenda with them

• Support field SE team in complex evaluations, troubleshooting and challenging customer environments

• Assist with defining periodic SE training curriculum

• Assist Channel team in ensuring Partner SE’s are trained and can support PAN evaluation installations

• Foster channel partner relationships with their technical teams

• Represent the company in various technical PR activities—be the technical face of Palo Alto Networks in theater

• Participate in Leadership planning, strategy, and aligned work streams

• Provide an escalation point for pre-sales and post sales technical issues that arise in the territory

• Build and maintain relationships with Key customers to act as the senior technical resource for the customer- customer relationships and engagement are a critical part of this role

Your Experience

• BS CS/EE or related (or equivalent work experience), MBA desired

• 2+ Years’ experience as a Systems Engineering Manager in the relevant geography for this role

• 5-10 Years experience as an SE in Cyber Security Field

• Industry knowledge of security product market trends and directional awareness of Palo Alto Network’s roadmap and technology development efforts

• The role calls for in-depth knowledge of competitive security products

• Knowledge of how to deliver comprehensive security solutions to PAN’s customer base, and maintains a general understanding of competitive selling strategies

• 30% Travel

• Strong communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills

• Additional Language Skills a plus

• 'Whatever it takes' attitude and motivation to do whatever necessary to assist in closing a deal

The Team

As part of our Systems Engineering team, you’ll support the Core SE Teams with technical expertise and guidance when establishing trust with key clients. You won’t find someone at Palo Alto Networks that isn’t committed to your success – with everyone pitching in to assist when it comes to solutions selling, learning, and development. As a member of our systems engineer team, you are driven by a solutions-focused sales environment and find fulfillment in working with clients to resolve incredible complex cyberthreats.

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.