Technical Marketing Engineering Technical Leader

The application window is expected to close on: 09/11/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Join the Acacia team at Cisco, where we drive innovation in high-speed optical networking to power the world’s most critical connectivity infrastructure. Our culture thrives on collaborative problem-solving and the diverse expertise of our team members as we tackle complex engineering challenges. You will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology that directly shapes the future of global communications. We are looking for passionate individuals ready to contribute to a team that values both technical excellence and meaningful impact.

As a Senior Systems Applications Engineer (SAE) at Acacia, you will serve as the primary technical bridge between our premier customers and our internal product organizations. You are a technical authority who facilitates the "design-in" process, ensuring our cutting-edge coherent optical technology is seamlessly integrated into customer platforms.

This is a high-impact role that combines deep technical expertise with strategic business acumen. You will not only support existing products but also influence the future of the Acacia portfolio by collaborating with Product Management, Engineering, and Sales to define, validate, and launch the next generation of optical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Design-in & Technical Support:
  Lead the technical engagement for Acacia's premier customers. Provide expert guidance during the hardware and software integration phases to ensure successful product adoption and performance.

• Strategic Product Influence:
  Leverage broader industry knowledge and technical expertise to contribute to portfolio development and technical product strategy. Partner with Product Management to align our roadmap with market drivers and technical trends.

• Competitive Differentiation:
  Apply specialist knowledge of Acacia's products and the competitive landscape to differentiate our offerings. Support Sales teams in high-stakes customer engagements by articulating our unique value propositions.

• Cross-Functional Product Refinement:
  Work closely with Product Development, UX Design, Customer Experience (CX), and Sales to refine products. Ensure that new features and functions are designed specifically to address evolving customer needs and expand market share.

• Early-Stage Validation:
  Participate in early product development cycles by validating features and functions. Act as the "voice of the customer" during the NPI (New Product Introduction) process to ensure high-quality, executable results.

• Trusted Advisor & Advocate:
  Build and maintain deep-rooted relationships with customer technical teams. Serve as a champion for the customer internally while acting as a trusted advisor externally on product functionality and roadmaps.

• Technical Evangelism:
  Lead product demonstrations, participate in industry forums, and champion technical functionality throughout the entire product lifecycle-from launch to maturity.

• Enablement & Documentation:
  Develop comprehensive training materials, product specifications, and technical documentation to empower partners, field engineers, and the global sales team.

• Bachelors + 12 years of experience, or Masters + 8 years of experience or related work experience.

• Experience with one or more of the following, Coherent Optical Technology, Digital Signal Processing (DSP), and high-speed host/client interfaces (Ethernet/OTN).

• Prior experience with standards organizations (OIF, IEEE, OpenZR+, OpenROADM) or the competitive landscape of the optical networking market.

• Proven experience working across functional silos (Engineering, Marketing, Sales) to drive consensus and deliver measurable results.

• Communication:
  Exceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, executable requirements and compelling marketing narratives.

• Problem Solving: A "roll-up-your-sleeves" approach to debugging and resolving complex system-level issues.

• Prior experience working as an SAE or…