Forward Networks

Systems Sales Engineering Manager

Forward Networks$275K — $325K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years in software sales engineering with proven revenue growth success
  • 3+ years in a leadership role managing sales professionals
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
  • Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences
  • Experience in fast-paced, agile environments
  • Strong leadership and people management skills
  • Deep understanding of Networking, Cloud, and Security fundamentals

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage a team of Systems Sales Engineers to meet growth targets
  • Develop strategies for revenue growth and customer relationship building
  • Recruit, train, and mentor team members while fostering development
  • Manage team performance using analytics to achieve goals
  • Act as a technical authority during regional opportunities
  • Qualify and scope opportunities with sales teams
  • Lead POCs for prospects, showcasing technical expertise

Benefits

  • Hybrid work environment promoting flexibility
  • Opportunity to work with top Federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies
  • Chance to build and shape a high-performing team
  • Involvement in shifting the networking industry
  • Professional development and mentoring opportunities
Full Job Description
Forward Networks is looking for a Systems Sales Engineer Manager
  • Do you want to create a category and help build a special company?
  • Join a company that has been in market 7+ years and has some of the top Federal agencies and F500/Global 2000 already buying and referenceable.
  • We are building a special team and hope you consider us if you want to have the experience of changing the networking world as we know it.

We're seeking an experienced Systems Sales Engineering Manager who will lead a team of Systems Sales Engineers while also serving as a hands-on technical expert. This is a hybrid role requiring both strong leadership capabilities and the technical depth to actively engage with customers as a practitioner-qualifying opportunities, providing technical leadership on key deals, and executing POCs directly.
What You'll Do

Management & Team Leadership:
  • Lead and manage a high-performing team of Systems Sales Engineers to achieve revenue and new business growth targets
  • Develop and execute team strategies to drive revenue growth, expand market share, and build strong customer relationships
  • Recruit, train, and mentor Systems Sales Engineers, providing ongoing coaching, feedback, and career development
  • Manage team performance through data and analytics, setting clear goals and holding the team accountable to results
  • Foster a collaborative environment where the team can thrive and continuously improve


Technical Practitioner & Sales Leadership:
  • Actively engage as a technical authority on regional opportunities
  • Qualify and scope opportunities directly alongside sales teams to assess fit and ensure technical feasibility
  • Lead and execute POCs (Proof of Concepts) for key prospects, demonstrating deep technical expertise
  • Serve as the technical lead on major pursuits, providing hands-on guidance and execution
  • Provide technical guidance to the sales team, ensuring they have the knowledge, frameworks, and tools to succeed
  • Develop and deliver compelling technical presentations and product demonstrations to prospective clients

Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with Product Management, Marketing, and Engineering to align sales strategies with company goals and product roadmap
  • Gather customer insights from direct opportunity engagement to inform product decisions
  • Stay current with industry trends, competitive landscapes, and technical best practices
  • Provide recommendations for continuous improvement based on real-world customer interactions

Requirements:
  • 7+ years of experience in software sales engineering, with a proven track record of success in driving revenue growth
  • 3+ years of experience in a leadership role, managing a team of sales professionals
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to drive decision-making
  • Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements
  • Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team to achieve their goals
  • Proven ability to develop and execute successful sales strategies, build strong customer relationships, and drive revenue growth
  • Experience:
    Excellent understanding of Networking, Cloud and/or Security fundamentals.
    • Understanding of networking protocols, and other operational tools and
    practices.
    • Experience supporting multiple large enterprises, service providers or
    Governmental agencies.
    • Strong verbal and written communications skills
    • Experience as a leader running sales engineering organization
    • Experience using data and metrics to drive improvements.
    • Experience owning program strategy and communicating results to senior
    Leadership.
  • Highly Desired:
    Vendor certification (CCNP,CCIE,JNCIA,JNCIE,JNCIS,AWS CSA Associate etc.)

The expected On-Target Cash Earnings for this role is between 275,000- 325,000 per year. Within this range, individual pay is determined by several factors including but not limited to, job-related skills, work experience, and relevant education/training

About Forward Networks

Forward Networks is a software company that provides network assurance and verification solutions for enterprise networks. The company was founded in 2013 by David Erickson and Peyman Kazemian and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Forward Networks' platform uses mathematical models to analyze network behavior and identify potential issues before they occur. The company has received funding from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and A.Capital Ventures.
Learn more about Forward Networks
Size
100 employees
Industry
Founded
2013

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