Solutions Development Architect

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 conversations.

You will demonstrate:

· Significant experience designing or transforming large-scale service provider or telecommunications networks.

· Deep expertise in IP routing, optical transport or both.

· Experience engaging senior customer stakeholders and translating technical challenges into business outcomes.

· Strong consulting, architecture and solution-development skills.

· Experience working across complex, multi-vendor or multi-country environments.

· The ability to move comfortably between executive conversations, architecture discussions and technical delivery teams.

· A strong interest in automation, observability and the future of AI-enabled network operations.

Certifications

An expert-level networking certification such as CCIE Service Provider or equivalent is highly desirable.

Certifications in automation, programmability, Segment Routing, IOS XR, optical networking or related technologies are also valued.

Why Cisco CX?

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of technology strategy, network transformation and customer outcomes.

You will influence how some of the region's largest Service Providers evolve their transport infrastructure — working with senior technology leaders while collaborating with Cisco's global engineering, CX, sales and partner ecosystem.

If you enjoy solving complex technology problems, influencing senior stakeholders and turning network strategy into real-world transformation, we'd like to hear from you.

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.