AI Hyperspecialist Account Executive – AI & Agentic Systems Japan

Cisco is no longer just the networking company the world knows. We are building the critical infrastructure and trusted operating model for the agentic AI era — from silicon (Silicon One) through to unified platforms (Cisco Cloud Control), security (AI Defense + DefenseClaw), and observability (Splunk-powered agent monitoring).
We are looking for a high-energy AI Hyperspecialist Account Executive to drive the commercial engine behind Cisco's AI transformation in Japan. This is a rare opportunity to own the sales strategy that moves the most ambitious Japanese enterprises from AI pilots to production-scale agentic systems — securely, observably, and without hyperscaler lock-in.

What you'll do

You will own the commercial relationship and revenue outcomes for AI and agentic workloads across a defined territory or set of strategic accounts in Japan. Working hand-in-hand with Solutions Engineers, partners and the broader AI practice, your mission is to turn Cisco's full AI stack into signed, multi-year growth:

• Own the number. Carry and exceed a quota for AI and agentic solutions, building and managing a healthy pipeline across Japanese banks, manufacturers, telcos, governments and hyperscale-adjacent customers
• Lead high-stakes commercial engagements. Build trusted relationships with CXOs, CTOs and AI leaders. Translate Cisco's AI architectures (Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA, Cloud Control + AgenticOps, Silicon One fabrics, Splunk AI observability, AI Defense / DefenseClaw) into clear business value, ROI and multi-year transformation roadmaps.
• Craft and close complex deals. Navigate long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles. Develop compelling account plans, competitive positioning and commercial constructs that avoid lock-in and deliver measurable outcomes in performance, security and governance.
• Partner tightly with Solutions Engineering. Pair with SEs and architects to align technical proof points and proposals to customer priorities, ensuring every engagement combines commercial sharpness with technical credibility.
• Drive demand and market expansion. Work with marketing, partners and the ecosystem to design events, workshops and proof-of-concept programmes that convert emerging AI conversations into concrete pipeline and multi-year deals.
• Operate as the connective tissue. Bring the voice of the Japanese customer back to Engineering, Customer Experience and the broader APJC AI practice, so that field insight shapes product direction and go-to-market strategy.
• Sales cycles in Japan are often long and relationship-driven — exactly the kind of work where deep trust-building, business acumen and technical fluency win.

What success looks like

• Clear growth in AI-related revenue, bookings and market share across Japan
• Higher win rates on strategic and competitive deals through superior value articulation and proof points
• A book of business built on trusted, advisory-level customer relationships
• Visible contribution to Cisco's position as the trusted infrastructure and operating platform for agentic AI in Japan

Who you are

You combine strong commercial instincts with enough technical fluency in AI infrastructure, networking, security and observability to hold credible conversations with both business and technical buyers. You are comfortable in the boardroom and in the deal room, and you understand the nuances of building long-term trust in the Japanese enterprise market. You understand both the promise and the real risks of agentic systems, and you know how to turn that understanding into trusted customer outcomes and closed business.

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor's degree + 8 years of relevant technology sales experience, Master's + 6 years, or equivalent, including a demonstrated track record of carrying and exceeding quota on complex, multi-year enterprise deals. Experience selling AI, data centre, networking or security solutions strongly preferred. Business-level Japanese and English required.

This role is for someone who wants to help define what "AI-ready enterprise infrastructure" actually means in one of the world's most dynamic markets — and to do it with the company that already powers some of the most demanding AI workloads on the planet.

If that sounds like the next chapter you want to write, let's talk.

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

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