Senior Systems Engineer – Federal Sales Team

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 looking for a highly skilled and motivated Senior Systems Engineer (SE) to join DDN’s Federal Sales Team. This role is pivotal in delivering technical leadership and customer engagement within the federal sector, focusing on AI workloads, high-performance computing (HPC), and data-intensive storage environments.

As a Senior SE, you will partner with Sales to identify and qualify opportunities, architect innovative solutions, and guide federal clients through the full lifecycle—from technical discovery and solution design to proof-of-concept and deployment. This is a unique opportunity to play a strategic role in shaping and advancing cutting-edge AI and HPC infrastructure for federal missions.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre-Sales Engagement:
  Serve as a technical advisor to Sales Representatives, providing expert guidance on DDN’s AI-optimized storage solutions and articulating value to federal customers.
• Solution Architecture & Design:
  Design high-performance, scalable storage solutions that meet the unique requirements of AI, HPC, and data-intensive workloads in the federal space.
• Technical Discovery & Qualification:
  Collaborate with Sales to understand customer challenges, qualify opportunities, and define tailored technical approaches aligned with customer goals.
• Proposal Development:
  Prepare technical responses to RFPs, develop system architectures, create detailed BOMs, and deliver compelling presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Proof of Concept (PoC):
  Lead PoC planning and execution, including performance benchmarking, to validate solution fit and performance against customer requirements.
• Customer Success & Support:
  Act as a trusted technical advisor throughout the deployment lifecycle, assisting with installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and training.
• Mentorship:
  Coach and mentor junior engineers, promoting a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and knowledge sharing.
• Professional Services Enablement:
  Collaborate on developing value-added services that complement DDN’s core products and support AI/HPC adoption at scale.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  Interface with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to influence product direction and share field insights.

Qualifications

• Technical Domain Expertise:
  Deep knowledge of HPC, AI/ML infrastructure, and parallel file systems (Lustre, GPFS, or Exascale).
• Pre-Sales Experience:
  Minimum of 5 years in a customer-facing, technical pre-sales or systems engineering role focused on AI, storage, and HPC environments.
• Operating Systems & Programming:
  Proficiency in Linux (Red Hat, SUSE, CENTOS, Ubuntu) and Windows; scripting in Shell, Python, Perl, C++, or Java.
• Storage Infrastructure:
  Experience with SAN, NAS, RAID, object storage, and distributed systems; familiarity with block and parallel file systems is essential.
• Networking:
  Working knowledge of networking protocols and technologies including Ethernet, Infiniband, NFS, SMB, and CIFS.
• Security Clearance:
  Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Education:
  Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field. Advanced certifications or relevant work experience in HPC and AI are a strong plus.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills:
  Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to simplify complex technologies for diverse audiences and build trust with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

At DDN, you’ll be part of a team that is redefining the future of data at scale. You’ll help federal agencies harness the power of AI and HPC while working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment. If you're passionate about cutting-edge technologies and enabling real-world outcomes through technical excellence—this role is for you.

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.

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