Fortinet

Sales Engineer

Fortinet$240K — $280K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Chicago, IL
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in pre-sales or systems engineering roles focusing on enterprise-scale cybersecurity, networking, or cloud environments.
  • Strong understanding of networking technology and core security protocols such as IPSec, TLS/SSL, PKI, and OAuth.
  • Skilled in designing solutions for SecOps, Zero Trust, SASE, cloud security, and identity management.
  • Excellent presentation and storytelling skills for engaging with both technical audiences and C-level executives.
  • Proven experience leading architectural discussions and aligning technical solutions with business priorities.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with sales to define strategies that align technical solutions with business outcomes in enterprise environments.
  • Lead discovery sessions and security assessments to identify operational requirements.
  • Design and present secure architectures integrating cloud, networking, and security components.
  • Deliver impactful demos and presentations to technical and executive stakeholders.
  • Serve as the primary technical expert, guiding enterprise accounts through evaluation processes.
  • Advise on modern cybersecurity strategies, building lasting relationships with C-level executives.
  • Support successful deployment transitions and provide ongoing strategic guidance to clients.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Life and disability insurance.
  • 401(k) retirement plan.
  • 11 paid holidays, plus vacation and sick leave.
  • Comprehensive leave programs.
  • Participation in the Fortinet equity program.
Full Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a Sales Engineer to partner with a Named Account Manager in a defined territory. This role is designed for a technically strong but strategically minded individual who thrives in customer-facing engagements. The Systems Engineer will act as a trusted advisor, guiding large enterprise organizations through cybersecurity transformation initiatives that span SecOps, Zero Trust, cloud, and network security.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with sales to qualify opportunities, define solution strategy, and align technical capabilities with customer business outcomes.
  • Lead discovery sessions, workshops, and security assessments that uncover operational and architectural requirements incomplex enterprise environments.
  • Design and present secure architectures that incorporate networking, cloud, and SecOps components.
  • Deliver impactful presentations and demos to bothtechnical stakeholders and executive decision-makers (CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, and business leaders).

Customer Engagement & Strategy

  • Serve as the primary technical expert in sales cycles, guidingenterprise accountsthrough evaluation and decision processes.
  • Advise on cybersecurity strategies such as Zero Trust, SASE, cloud security, and SecOps modernization.
  • Build and maintainlong-term trusted relationships with C-level executives and senior leadership, positioning yourself as a strategic advisor.
  • Translate technical concepts into business value discussions tailored for executive-level conversations.

Post-Sales Partnership

  • Support smooth deployment transitions by working closely with professional services, support, and customer success teams.
  • Provide roadmap guidance, operational reviews, and strategic check-ins to reinforce customer value realization.
  • Continue as atrusted advisor to enterprise leadership, ensuring ongoing alignment of their evolving needs with solution capabilities.

Required Skills & Experience

  • 5 6 years97experience in pre-sales or systems engineering roles inenterprise-scale cybersecurity, networking, or cloud environments.
  • Strong understanding ofnetworking (LAN/WAN, routing, switching, VPNs, TCP/IP)andcore security protocols (IPSec, TLS/SSL, PKI, SAML, OAuth, RADIUS, etc.).
  • Ability to articulate and design solutions across:
  • SecOps modernization (SIEM, SOAR, XDR)
  • Zero Trust and SASE architectures
  • Cloud and hybrid security (IaaS, SaaS, containerized workloads)
  • Identity and access management (MFA, SSO, PAM)
  • Excellentpresentation, communication, and storytelling skills 6capable of engaging both deeply technical audiences andexecutive decision-makers.
  • Proven track record of leading architectural discussions and aligning technical solutions withbusiness priorities at the enterprise level.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor92s degree in computer science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Industry certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, or vendor-specific credentials (e.g., NSE, CCNP Security, AWS Security Specialty).
  • Experience inconsulting or advisory roles for large enterprise customers, especially in CISO/CIO-level conversations.
  • Familiarity with compliance and security frameworks (MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, SOC 2).

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to operate at the intersection of cybersecurity strategy, executive engagement, and customer success, influencing large-scale enterprise organizations as they modernize operations and adopt cutting-edge solutions. If you excel at combining technical depth with executive presence, this role will allow you to shape customer outcomes while growing your career in a dynamic security landscape.

Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time as well as a comprehensive leave program.

All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program, and this position is also eligible for commissions based on the terms of the Sales Compensation Plan

Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time as well as a comprehensive leave program.

Wage ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, and job level. On target earnings for this position is expected to be $240,000 - $280,000 per year. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program, and this position is also eligible for commissions based on the terms of the Sales Compensation Plan

About Fortinet

Fortinet is a cybersecurity company that provides network security solutions to businesses, service providers, and government organizations worldwide. The company's products and services include firewalls, VPNs, intrusion prevention systems, endpoint security, and more. Fortinet was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Learn more about Fortinet
Size
10,860 employees
Market Cap
$38.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$486.2 million
Founded
2000
5 Year Trend
+21.2%
Revenue
$2.5 billion
NASDAQ

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