About the Role
Cisco is looking for a senior technology leader to help Service Providers across APJ modernise the networks that underpin their businesses.
As a Solutions Development Architect (SDA) within Cisco Customer Experience, you will work with senior technology leaders across telecommunications, service providers and telco-cloud organisations to shape solutions that modernise IP routing, optical transport, automation and network assurance .
You will engage with customers at Senior Director, VP and Technology Director level , understanding their business and technology challenges and translating them into practical transformation and services strategies.
This is a role for someone who can operate at both strategic and technical levels — someone who can have a conversation about network transformation with a CTO or Technology Director, then work with architects and engineers to turn that vision into an achievable solution.
You will work across APJ, with a particular focus on Australia and New Zealand, partnering with Cisco Sales, Service Sales, delivery teams, Systems Integrators and technology partners.
We're interested in people who have operated at a senior level within Service Providers, Telecommunications, Technology Services or large enterprise environments .
What You'll Do:
· Shape customer transformation (entire lifecycle)
· Engage senior technology and network leaders to understand their priorities, challenges and transformation objectives.
· Help customers develop practical roadmaps for modernising their transport networks.
· Connect technology decisions to business outcomes such as cost reduction, network scale, operational efficiency, reliability and faster service delivery .
· Build trusted relationships and become a strategic technology advisor to Service Provider customers.
· Lead solution strategy
· Shape CX Professional Services solutions across Service Provider Routing, Optical Transport, Routed Optical Networking, Automation and Observability .
· Apply industry best practices and Cisco architectures to solve complex customer challenges.
· Identify opportunities to simplify networks, improve capacity and reduce operational complexity.
· Work with Sales and customers to develop compelling solutions and support RFI/RFP activity.
· Identify opportunities to expand customer adoption and support longer-term transformation journeys.
· Bring deep technical expertise
You will bring significant experience in one or more of the following areas:
· Service Provider IP Routing and Core
· IOS XR, Cisco 8000, ASR 9000 or equivalent platforms
· Segment Routing / SRv6 and MPLS
· Routed Optical Networking and IP-over-DWDM
· DWDM / ROADM and coherent optics
· ZR / ZR+ pluggables
· Network automation and programmability
· Network telemetry, observability and assurance
· Closed-loop automation and AI-enabled network operations
· You don't need to be an expert in every technology listed. Deep expertise in one core domain, combined with a strong understanding of the broader transport ecosystem, is what matters.
· Connect architecture with delivery
· Ensure proposed solutions are practical, commercially viable and deliverable.
· Work closely with CX delivery teams to establish realistic scope, effort, timelines and migration approaches.
· Use your technical and delivery experience to anticipate implementation risks and customer challenges.
· Support the transition from solution design into successful delivery and customer adoption.
· Lead through influence
· Act as a technical advisor and SME across Cisco, customers and partners.
· Mentor and guide architects and engineers.
· Work across Sales, CX, engineering, delivery and partner organisations.
· Bring new ideas around automation, AI and modern network operations to customer and internal…