Associate Solutions Engineer - Japan (Cisco Sales Associates Program)

Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.

Note: We anticipate beginning the interview process in early September. If you are selected to move forward in the hiring process, you will be contacted directly during that timeframe with further instructions. We truly appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application soon.

Meet the Team

• You will train alongside a diverse cohort of high-calibre individuals from across the APJC Region, building a rich professional network and long-lasting friendships. This hub-based environment provides a "safe-to-fail" setting where you can master your craft through AI customer simulations and mentored on-the-job activities.

• Throughout the program, you will collaborate with Cisco Associate Sales Representatives to provide technical solutions that drive business outcomes. You will expand your expertise across Collaboration, Security, Networking, and Cloud to bridge the gap between technical requirements and business value. You will learn from industry experts and dedicated coaches using our own leading-edge technology.

• To support your growth, you will be paired with a mentor—a CSAP alumnus who has successfully navigated the program. Supported by a team committed to your success, you will earn industry-standard certifications and gain the expertise required to thrive in elite technical sales opportunities across our global organisation.

Your Impact

The CSAP Graduate Program is a 12-month global accelerator designed to develop high-potential individuals into Technical Sales Champions. Built on a model of Education, Exposure, and Experience, the program offers a clear progression:

• Month 1–3: Participate in immersive Bootcamp training and foundational technical skill-building.

• Month 3–12: Complete three rotational assignments for real-world technical sales experience

• Beyond 12 months: Transition into a Solutions Engineer role to discover, demonstrate, and design solutions for complex customer challenges.

Our learning philosophy prioritises experiential growth, with the majority of your development occurring through coached, real-world practice within a hub-based cohort of peers. This immersive approach ensures you grow and learn through direct application rather than in isolation.

A key part of this Program is our AI-First Mandate. As an Associate Solutions Engineer (ASE) in our Global Sales Enablement & Acceleration team, you will build strong AI skills by using advanced learning platforms and artificial intelligence to design technical solutions and improve strategic decision-making. This trajectory is designed for those looking to outpace the traditional career curve! Through quarterly competency checkpoints, high-performers can validate their skills and fast-track into further technical roles before the program concludes.

Upon completion of the 12-month Early In Career (EIC) program, as a Solutions Engineer (SE), you will join our Global Virtual Engineering (GVE) team. GVE is a best-in-class technical presales organisation that provides software and Solutions Engineering services to customers, partners, and internal sales teams. You will discover, demonstrate, and design solutions to address complex customer challenges.

Minimum Qualifications

• You hold a technical degree (Engineering, CS, STEAM) or come from a non-traditional background with real-world proof of technical curiosity—like a home lab, certification, or side project—and possess the skills to turn complexity into clarity.

• Fluent in English and the primary language of the country for which you are applying.

• Legally authorised to work in the country of hire without company sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• AI-native mindset with a high degree of learning agility; you are passionate about networking and software (Java/Python) and eager to use AI to automate and innovate the engineering process.

• High emotional intelligence with the ability to navigate a matrix-based organization, influencing stakeholders and collaborating within a hub-based cohort to drive team success.

• Analytical resilience, capable of maintaining focus and creativity when solving sophisticated technical hurdles or translating complex requirements into tangible business value.

• Confident communicator who can deconstruct "black box" technologies into simple, persuasive narratives for diverse audiences.

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.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.