Parth Patel
Senior Leader (Senior Manager) Technical Marketing
San Jose,CA
Summary
Dynamic Senior Global Manager of Technical Marketing with a strong focus on AI/ML and advanced Data Center networking technologies, including VXLAN, BGP EVPN and SRv6. Expertise in shaping product strategy and delivering large-scale Data Center Networking solutions alongside intelligent automation platforms. Renowned for leading high-performance teams, aligning cross-functional stakeholders, and executing complex, high-visibility programs that drive measurable business impact through disciplined execution and strategic problem-solving. Committed to fostering innovation and excellence in fast-paced environments while consistently achieving organizational goals.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certificates
Work History
Senior Leader/Manager, Technical Marketing
Cisco Systems, Inc.
10.2024 - Current
- Built and mentored a high-performance team of domain experts across VXLAN EVPN, Automation, and AI networking, developing senior engineers through technical coaching, architecture reviews, and customer-facing leadership opportunities.
- Sponsored internal product initiatives improving Nexus Dashboard scale, southbound communication efficiency, API workflows, and IaC automation, enabling simplified lifecycle management across data center and AI fabrics.
- Led development of Cisco Intelligent Packet Flow and Nexus Dashboard AI fabric automation, addressing ECMP limitations through flowlet-based dynamic load balancing, BGP topology-aware congestion management, and enabling rapid onboarding and visibility of leaf–spine BGP fabrics for GPU cluster networking.
- Shaped product strategy by aligning cross-functional teams on customer needs, technical insights, and business goals.
- Lead technical GTM efforts, driving successful launches and scaling global customer adoption.
Leader/Manager, Technical Marketing
Cisco Systems, Inc.
10.2022 - 10.2024
- Global Technical Manager, leading a team of TME in Data Center Networking Business Unit focusing on Cisco's flagship NX-OS VXLAN BGP EVPN, DC Architectures, AI/HPC Fabrics, and Nexus Dashboard (DC Automation and Telemetry).
- Translated complex customer feedback into actionable product requirements, influencing roadmap and vision.
- Drove technical innovation across VXLAN fabrics, contributing to capabilities including VXLAN Multi-Site Traffic Engineering, VXLAN to SR-MPLS handoff.
- Contributed to advanced fabric security and segmentation capabilities, including EVPN null-route filtering, VXLAN micro-segmentation using GPO, and cross-fabric policy integration across Campus, ACI, and VXLAN fabrics.
- Played a key role in advancing EVPN multi-homing architectures, including introduction of 4-way ESI multihoming (ESI+) for highly resilient VXLAN deployments.
- Authored and delivered advanced technical curriculum for Cisco U. learning platforms, including Data Center Networking and VXLAN EVPN training modules used globally by customers and partners.
- Led recurring technical enablement programs and Partner Virtual Trainings, educating Cisco field teams, solution architects, and partners on modern data center and AI fabric architectures.
- Represent the Data Center Networking BU at Cisco Live Conference, Customer Advisory Boards, and executive briefings, influencing product direction and strategic adoption of next-generation AI networking architectures.
Senior Technical Marketing Engineer
Cisco Systems, Inc.
06.2020 - 09.2022
- Global SME for NX-OS VXLAN BGP EVPN, VXLAN Multi-Site, and Nexus Dashboard, driving architecture, escalations, and solution strategy across Cisco’s Data Center Networking Business Unit portfolio.
- Led customer adoption and architecture guidance for VXLAN EVPN fabrics and Nexus Dashboard automation, supporting 400+ Enterprise and Hyperscaler deployments.
- Partnered with engineering teams to define product roadmap, validate new features, and drive EFT field trials, translating real-world deployments into platform improvements.
- Designed and documented Cisco Validated Designs (CVDs) and architecture best practices for fabric-based DC networks, including migration from 3-tier/vPC architectures to VXLAN EVPN fabrics.
- Delivered Cisco Live technical sessions and industry presentations, recognized as a Distinguished Speaker (Top 10%) for expert-level content and technical depth.
- Produced high-impact outbound content including white papers, TechZone guides, blogs, and technical videos, accelerating field enablement and customer adoption.
- Led technical escalations for complex fabric design, control-plane behavior, and Multi-Site VXLAN deployments, acting as bridge between customers, TAC, engineering, and sales teams.
- Delivered monthly technical enablement and training sessions for sales, field engineers, and solution architects on data center networking architectures, VXLAN EVPN, ThousandEyes integration, and automation platforms.
- Contributed to automation and lifecycle workflows within Nexus Dashboard, improving deployment, telemetry, compliance, and operational management for large-scale DC fabrics.
Network Engineer 3
VMware Inc.
01.2017 - 06.2020
- Designed and Deployed large-scale VXLAN EVPN fabrics across VMware Global DCs.
- Architected EVPN-based L2 Data Center Interconnect (DCI) replacing legacy OTV, enabling scalable VXLAN Multi-Site connectivity for vSAN and enterprise workloads.
- Led backbone modernization initiatives migrating MPLS LDP networks to Segment Routing, including Segment Routing Traffic Engineering (SR-TE) and QoS policy frameworks for SaaS traffic.
- Designed cloud connectivity architectures via dedicated colocation interconnects enabling private connectivity to AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure.
- Led SD-WAN hub routing architecture using VeloCloud, improving branch connectivity and global WAN optimization.
- Contributed to large-scale data center migration initiatives supporting $10B+ enterprise infrastructure, including backbone routing redesign and traffic segmentation.
- Designed FabricPath multi-topology architecture enabling merged Trust and DMZ network environments across data center fabrics.
- Automated network operations using Ansible and implemented observability solutions including NetFlow and SolarWinds telemetry platforms.
- Performed advanced troubleshooting and packet-flow analysis across NX-OS and IOS-XR platforms, supporting large-scale production infrastructure.
- Successfully executed 200+ production RFCs, delivering backbone, data center, and cloud network changes with zero-downtime service impact.
- Provided cross-team technical leadership working with security teams to deploy inline firewall architectures protecting source code and critical infrastructure.
- Acted as technical liaison across Network engineering, R&D, and Infrastructure teams, delivering solution architecture reviews, operational runbook, and mentoring junior engineers.
- Hands-on expertise across Cisco ASR 9000, ASR 1000, Nexus 9000/7000/6000/5000/3000/2000, and Catalyst platforms supporting large-scale enterprise and service provider networks.
Solutions Architect Intern
VMware Inc.
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Served as the lead intern driving the design and implementation of a global wired and wireless Network Access Control (NAC) solution in collaboration with senior architects.
- Designed the end-to-end secure access workflow integrating Cisco switching/routing infrastructure with Aruba ClearPass, enabling automated certificate validation and dynamic network segmentation for enterprise and guest traffic.
- Performed hands-on configuration, integration testing, and beta deployment across Cisco switches, routers, and enterprise wireless infrastructure, ensuring interoperability between network control-plane policies and identity-based access enforcement
- Created and modified architectural drawings and documents.
Network Engineer
NIIT Ltd
07.2014 - 12.2014
- Designed a service provider–grade MPLS backbone architecture, implementing route leaking, Fast Reroute (FRR), and explicit paths for MPLS Traffic Engineering, with large-scale network simulation using OPNET to evaluate voice and data traffic behavior.
- Architected and deployed Metro Ethernet–connected multi-campus network infrastructure, designing physical layouts for data centers, telecom rooms, rack topology, and enterprise security frameworks across six campus sites.
- Implemented scalable DMVPN and IPsec VPN architectures using VTI tunnels for secure WAN connectivity while enforcing Control Plane Policing (CoPP), storm control, and DHCP snooping for infrastructure protection.
- Contributed to building a distributed network monitoring platform using decentralized telemetry and infrastructure services principles to improve network observability and operational visibility.
- Implemented QoS-driven congestion management frameworks using LLQ, CBWFQ, and EEM automation to optimize enterprise network performance and traffic prioritization.
- Developed a SIP protocol testing lab to analyze jitter and latency across codecs (G.711, iLBC) and designed carrier-grade VoIP architectures integrating SS7 high-availability signaling and traffic models.
Education
Certificate - Product Management For Engineers
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 12.2021 - 03.2022
Master of Science - Network Engineering And Security
DePaul University
Chicago, IL 01.2015 - 12.2016
Skills
Technical Team Leadership
Network Design Architect
VXLAN BGP EVPN
AI/ML Data Center Networking
Collaboration and Marketing
Product Design and Vision
Cross-Functional Leadership
Talent Development
Certification
Google Cloud Certified - Associate Cloud Engineer
Timeline
Senior Leader/Manager, Technical Marketing
Cisco Systems, Inc.
10.2024 - Current
Leader/Manager, Technical Marketing
Cisco Systems, Inc.
10.2022 - 10.2024
Certificate - Product Management For Engineers
Cornell University
12.2021 - 03.2022
Google Cloud Certified - Professional Cloud Network Engineer
11-2021
Google Cloud Certified - Associate Cloud Engineer
09-2021
Senior Technical Marketing Engineer
Cisco Systems, Inc.
06.2020 - 09.2022
Network Engineer 3
VMware Inc.
01.2017 - 06.2020
Solutions Architect Intern
VMware Inc.
06.2016 - 08.2016
Master of Science - Network Engineering And Security
DePaul University
01.2015 - 12.2016
Network Engineer
NIIT Ltd
07.2014 - 12.2014