DataDirect Networks is seeking a Sales Engineer to bring technical leadership and a strong customer focus to the DDN pre-sales process.  The Sales Engineer will work with Account Executives to achieve DDN revenue goals by evangelizing DDN products and services to new and existing customers.  Activities will include technical presentations and requirements gathering, interaction with product development, and sponsoring technical interaction between the customer, sales, engineering, and operations.  Customers will include Web-centric Enterprise, Web 2.0, Carriers, Content Delivery Networks, ISPs, and Content-rich organizations.

Position Functions:

Responsibilities include:

• Assist in closing new business opportunities by gaining a thorough technical and business understanding of clients' needs and helping Sales qualify, identify, and close new opportunities.
• Understand the Internet / Content sales process and how to utilize company resources to close accounts.
• Participate in customer-focused seminars, tradeshows, events, and training.
• Provide RFP responses, technical drawings, presentations, and recommendations.
• Acquire and maintain a thorough technical and procedural understanding of DDN Sales cycles, products/services and a thorough technical understanding of like industries.
• Develop a substantial knowledge of the company's SAN appliances product line.
• Develop a strong understanding of the customers' technology infrastructure, strategy and business requirements with the goal of increasing DDN business opportunities.
• Develop innovative solutions to customers' business needs.
• Create and present comprehensive proposals to clients.
• Ability to manage customer relationship post-sale, including strategy to close repeat business.
• Will work via phone and in person, on and offsite.
• Enthusiasm and aptitude for learning new technologies.
• Travel will be required, mostly within territory, with some domestic travel as required.
• Ability to multitask with multiple objectives.
• Articulate and concise written and verbal communication skills.

Education and Experience

The ideal candidate will have the following experience/skills:

• 5+ years of storage industry experience, preferably with local/regional territory knowledge.
• BS/BA (technical degree preferred) with Sales Engineering experience or experience as a storage administrator (NAS, SAN, or Direct Attach) or systems administrator working with storage in Sun Solaris, Microsoft NT/2000, HP-UX, Tru-64, Linux or IBM-AIX environments.
• A strong, working knowledge in Networking, Storage Area Networks, or Fiber Channel technology, is required.
• Some knowledge of UNIX and Microsoft NT is required.
• Storage Area Networking, RAID, Infiniband or Fibre Channel products industry preferred.
• Experience in working with internal company resources to close account opportunities.
• Experience identifying and qualifying technical requirements is required.
• Excellent communication skills including relationship building, presenting and selling.
• Teamwork, determination, perseverance, enthusiasm, and a strong desire to win.

Benefit and Contact info: DataDirect Networks, Inc. provides a full line of benefits to employees including Health, Dental, Vision, elective Section 125 benefits, 401(k) plan, Personal Time Off and Stock Options.