Cisco

Director, Forward Deployed Engineers - Secure Services Edge

Cisco$219K — $278K *
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree and 14+ years of experience in cloud security products, with hands-on technical ownership of production environments.
  • Experience leading technical teams with a focus on hiring and mentoring senior contributors.
  • Expertise in managing high-severity customer issues at the executive level.
  • Proficiency in SSE domains: Zero Trust access, cloud web inspection, CASB, DLP, VPN, firewall policy, or similar technologies.
  • Experience in influencing product and engineering roadmaps using field data, ideally for Service Providers or Telcos.

Responsibilities

  • Hire, develop, and retain a high-caliber team of technical professionals, establishing clear career paths.
  • Manage the SSE escalation process for key accounts, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution of critical issues.
  • Set standards for account health, focusing on deployment readiness and proactive incident management.
  • Translate customer insights from the field into guidance for product and engineering teams.
  • Report on performance metrics to inform engineering investments and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Lead efforts to automate processes and develop knowledge resources for the team.
  • Collaborate with various departments to define and implement operating models for the FDE team.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead a distributed global team of engineering professionals.
  • Work at the cutting edge of cloud security solutions and influence their development.
  • Engagement with high-profile customers in critical accounts.
  • Exposure to a diverse range of operational challenges in a dynamic environment.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 08/16/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

We are seeking a Director, Forward Deployed Engineers to build and lead a distributed team of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs). This team serves as the technical face of engineering for our largest and most strategic Security Service Edge (SSE) customers. We are looking for a seasoned leader who has "done the work"-someone who has personally navigated complex critical issues, understands the technical intricacies of our solutions, and possesses the vision to scale these capabilities across global regions.

Your Impact

In this US-based, global leadership role, you will define the operating model for our FDE function, ensuring technical excellence for our most critical accounts. You will act as the primary engineering partner to Sales, CX, Product, and regional leadership.

  • Team Leadership: Hire, develop, and retain senior technical talent while defining career paths and job architecture.
  • Strategic Escalation Management: Own the SSE escalation function for key accounts, including intake, severity calibration, and executive-level communication. You will personally intervene in critical escalations to manage expectations and ensure timely resolution.
  • Operational Excellence: Establish rigorous standards for account health, including deployment readiness, configuration stability, and proactive incident mitigation.
  • Product Influence: Translate field-level insights and recurring escalation patterns into actionable, prioritized requirements for our Product and Engineering roadmaps.
  • Performance Metrics: Define and report on key KPIs-such as time-to-mitigation and customer technical satisfaction-to drive data-backed engineering investments.
  • Innovation & Enablement: Lead the automation roadmap (including AI-assisted analysis) and develop the knowledge base and runbooks necessary to scale the team effectively.
  • Collaboration: Define and lead the operating model of the FDE team in collaboration with Customer Success, Engineering, Product Management, Professional Services, Account Teams, and Partners.


Minimum qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree plus 14+ years of experience with a recent focus on cloud security products, with significant hands-on technical ownership of production customer environments.
  • Proven experience leading technical teams, with a proven track record of hiring and mentoring senior individual contributors.
  • Demonstrated expertise in managing high-severity customer critical issues at the executive level, including navigating complicated customer conversations.
  • Proven proficiency across SSE domains: Zero Trust access, cloud web inspection, CASB, DLP, VPN, firewall policy or similar technologies.
  • Experience influencing product and engineering roadmaps using evidence-based field data (preferably for Service Providers and/or Telcos)


Preferred qualifications

  • Experience building or meaningfully scaling a customer-facing engineering, forward-deployed, or escalation function from an early stage.
  • Direct experience with large-scale multinational enterprise SSE or SASE rollouts.
  • Extensive experience leading distributed teams across various time zones and cultures and ability to travel to customer sites, regional offices, partner locations as required.
  • Familiarity with Cisco's security and networking products.
  • Proven experience with SWG, VPN, FWaaS, DLP, CASB, and Identity/SSO integration in enterprise-grade deployments.


About Cisco

Cisco Careers

Join the vibrant team at Cisco, a global leader in networking and cybersecurity solutions, where innovation and leadership thrive. Cisco offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and experiences, making it an ideal place for both seasoned professionals and those seeking an internship to jumpstart their career. Work You’ll Do At Cisco, you’ll be part of a culture that values diversity, leadership, and professional growth. Engage in work that matters with a team that combines technology, creativity, and the power of human connection to redefine networking. Cisco’s commitment to innovation isn’t just about technology, but also about transforming the way we work and collaborate. Cisco’s employment philosophy supports career advancement and nurtures a leadership pipeline that is equipped with diversity training and opportunities for growth. Whether you’re applying your skills to drive our latest innovations or using our vast networking capabilities to solve complex problems, at Cisco, every role is impactful. Join Our Dynamic Team Explore job opportunities in areas ranging from engineering to marketing, sales to cybersecurity. Cisco is hiring individuals who are passionate, curious, and ready to drive change. Positions at Cisco offer competitive benefits, a supportive culture, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technology. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a Cisco internship. Gain invaluable industry experience, enhance your resume, and build professional networks that last a lifetime. Our internships provide hands-on experience and the chance to work on projects that matter. Leadership and Development Cisco is committed to fostering leadership skills and providing employees with the training needed to succeed. Our leadership programs help you develop new skills, manage teams effectively, and lead with confidence. Cisco’s commitment to professional development ensures that your career path is as dynamic as our technologies. Benefits and Culture Cisco understands the importance of a balanced life. Our benefits package is designed to ensure that our team members are healthy, happy, and secure. At Cisco, you’ll find a supportive culture that encourages open communication, teamwork, and mutual respect. Stay Connected Join Cisco’s Talent Network Stay informed about new positions that match your skills and interests. At Cisco, we value the curiosity and unique perspectives of our team members. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and insider tips directly from our hiring managers. Explore Cisco Jobs Ready to advance your career at Cisco? Search open positions, prepare your resume, and get ready for an interview that could lead to your next big opportunity. At Cisco, we’re not just filling positions—we’re investing in leaders. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await you at Cisco.
Learn more about Cisco
Size
79,500 employees
Market Cap
$194.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$10.1 billion
Founded
2014
5 Year Trend
+1.4%
Revenue
$48 billion
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