Optiv · Houston
Other
This position will be fully remote and can be hired anywhere in the continental U.S.
The Principal Cybersecurity Advisor serves as a senior technical leader within Optiv's Cisco Center of Excellence. This individual brings broad, current experience across Cisco enterprise networking and network security and helps clients translate business requirements, cyber risk, and infrastructure priorities into practical architecture strategies.
The Principal Advisor leads technical discovery and solution strategy for complex Cisco opportunities, advises client executives and technical stakeholders, and connects Cisco capabilities with Optiv services and the broader security portfolio. The role also develops reusable technical assets, supports field enablement, and helps regional Client Solutions Advisors engage Cisco opportunities with greater consistency and confidence.
This is an individual-contributor technical leadership role. It works across organizational boundaries through expertise and influence rather than direct authority over regional Client Solutions Advisors, sales teams, Partner Alliances, marketing, or delivery organizations.
How you’ll make an impact
Define and maintain the Cisco COE's technical strategy across enterprise networking, network security, secure access, segmentation, digital experience, and related Cisco architectures.
Lead technical discovery for complex client opportunities and translate business goals, risk, operating requirements, and existing investments into clear architecture recommendations.
Advise CISOs, CIOs, network leaders, security leaders, architects, and engineering teams on Cisco strategy, modernization options, architectural tradeoffs, and multiyear roadmaps.
Lead the technical portion of Cisco pursuits from early qualification through solution design, proposal development, technical validation, and client decision.
Partner with account teams and domain-aligned advisors to identify and develop qualified Cisco opportunities. Commercial account ownership and forecasting remain with the appropriate sales and business leaders.
Develop reference architectures that connect Cisco networking and security capabilities with Splunk, ThousandEyes, identity, cloud, managed services, and other relevant parts of the Optiv portfolio.
Create reusable workshops, whiteboard sessions, demonstrations, decision frameworks, technical presentations, and solution assets that can be used across regions.
Help establish and maintain lab capabilities for Cisco demonstrations, integrations, proofs of concept, and technical evaluations.
Provide senior technical guidance for proposals, statements of work, RFP responses, and client-facing recommendations involving Cisco technologies.
Work with Optiv Services to define clear pre-sales-to-delivery handoffs and confirm that proposed solutions are supportable and aligned with client expectations.
Partner with Cisco technical teams and Partner Alliances while keeping technical solution ownership, partner governance, and commercial responsibilities clearly separated.
Support regional Client Solutions Advisors through mentoring, pursuit assistance, technical review, and Cisco-specific enablement without replacing regional people leadership.
Work with the Secure Networking COE and other domain teams on shared opportunities while remaining accountable for Cisco-specific technical strategy and expertise.
Monitor changes across Cisco's portfolio and convert relevant developments into field guidance, client conversations, and practical solution plays.
Represent Optiv in selected client briefings, executive sessions, industry events, partner meetings, and technical forums.
Capture client and field feedback and use it to improve Cisco solutions, enablement, and reusable assets.
What we ’re looking for
10 or more years of relevant experience in cybersecurity, enterprise networking, solution architecture, consulting, or technical pre-sales.
Demonstrated depth across Cisco enterprise networking and network security, with current knowledge in several of the following areas.
Enterprise routing, switching, wireless, and segmentation
Catalyst, Meraki, software-defined networking, and SD-WAN
Cisco Secure Firewall and hybrid mesh firewall strategy
Cisco ISE, network access control, and identity-based policy
Cisco Secure Access, SSE, SASE, and zero-trust architectures
ThousandEyes and digital experience visibility
Cisco XDR, security telemetry, and integrations across the Cisco security portfolio
Cloud and multicloud networking and security
Experience leading architecture discussions and technical pursuits involving complex client environments.
Strong client-facing communication skills, including executive discovery, whiteboarding, presentations, and written recommendations.
Ability to connect technical decisions to business risk, resilience, operating cost, investment protection, and measurable outcomes.
Experience influencing opportunities through technical qualification, competitive positioning, solution development, objection handling, and client decision.
Ability to work independently in a distributed organization and lead through influence across teams that have different reporting structures and priorities.
Sound judgment about when Cisco is the right fit and when a client-first recommendation requires a different or broader solution.
Ability to travel within the United States and Canada as client and business needs require.
Preferred Qualifications
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, CCIE Security, CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, or comparable demonstrated expertise.
CISSP, CCSP, CISM, GIAC, or another relevant security certification.
Working knowledge of Splunk, security operations, security data platforms, and observability use cases.
Experience connecting Cisco telemetry and security capabilities with Splunk or other analytics platforms.
Experience in a cybersecurity integrator, consulting organization, vendor technical sales organization, or enterprise architecture function.
Experience developing repeatable offerings, reference architectures, workshops, demonstrations, or field enablement programs.
Experience working with professional services, managed services, sales, marketing, and partner organizations while maintaining clear accountability boundaries.
Public speaking, published technical content, or participation in relevant professional communities.
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What you can expect from Optiv
A company committed to our inclusive value through our Employee Resource Groups
Work/life balance
Professional training resources
Creative problem-solving and the ability to tackle unique, complex projects
Volunteer Opportunities. “Optiv Chips In” encourages employees to volunteer and engage with their teams and communities.
The ability and technology necessary to productively work remotely/from home (where applicable)
EEO Statement
Optiv is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age 40 and over, marital status, genetic information, national origin, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
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