Director of Sales Engineering

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing.

"DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." - IDC

"The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments" - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIA

DDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence.

Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management.

Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage.

We are seeking a strategic and technically skilled Director of Sales Engineering to lead AI-powered enterprise storage and data center solutions. This role is focused on driving the design, deployment, and optimization of cutting-edge AI technologies in storage systems. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and enterprise storage, with a proven track record of leading technical teams and delivering innovative solutions to complex customer challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

AI Solution Leadership: Lead and manage the systems engineering team in the development and delivery of AI-driven storage solutions, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of customers in data management and infrastructure.
• Pre-Sales & Technical Support: Provide technical guidance and expertise to sales teams and customers during pre-sales engagements, including AI-driven proofs of concept (POCs), solution design, and product demonstrations.
• Team Management & Development: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of systems engineers. Foster collaboration and continuous learning to stay ahead of emerging AI trends.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, product management, and R&D teams to design AI solutions that align with customer needs. Ensure smooth communication and coordination between teams for efficient solution deployment.
• Customer Engagement: Engage directly with key customers and partners, providing expert support and guidance to implement AI-powered solutions that drive business transformation and operational efficiency.
• AI Performance Benchmarking: Oversee the development of AI-focused performance benchmarks and validation processes to ensure the scalability and reliability of AI-powered storage systems.
• Strategic Planning & Execution: Drive the execution of AI-focused initiatives, aligning team efforts with broader company goals. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success and identify areas for improvement.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering, with a focus on AI, machine learning, and enterprise storage solutions.
• Strong expertise in AI technologies, data processing, machine learning, and their applications in storage and data center environments.
• Experience with storage technologies such as object storage, NFS, iSCSI, NVMe-oF, and storage virtualization in AI-driven environments.
• Proven leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring technical teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of conveying complex AI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM tools to track opportunities and manage customer engagements.
• Must be a US citizen

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities:

Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives.

Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable.

Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful.

Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

#LI-Remote