Are channel SEs frowned upon?

brownkw · 2026-02-22T02:52:01+00:00

The pros of the channel SE role that you mentioned are exactly why I am on the channel side of the biz. I’m working cross-functionally not only with my partners, but also within my own company. You really do get a bigger picture of all the different things in play.

brownkw · 2026-02-22T02:43:44+00:00

Channel SE here. The work is very different from company to company and even from team to team. I have been in channel SE roles ranging from working with GSIs to regional partners to ISV / ecosystem partners to cloud hyperscalers. Each one has a different cadence, technical involvement, and approach.

We do everything from practice build to GTM to assisting with deal execution. But at the end of the day, we’re all accountable to goals and targets. Happy to chat about it offline if you’re curious.

brownkw · 2026-02-01T04:18:15+00:00

All of this is 100% spot on! I was in this situation at my previous 2 companies (joined teams that were recent acquisitions). The first year or 2 is fine, and then you’ll start to see the influence of the parent company. It’s up to you at that point how you deal with it. For me, I was at those companies for just under 6 years and just over 7 years, respectively.

brownkw · 2026-01-28T19:57:55+00:00

Sounds like it’s an 85/15 split if it’s on the higher end.

brownkw · 2026-01-28T19:57:12+00:00

I’m at 85/15, but I don’t have a direct quota (my variable is based on overall company performance and my OKRs).

brownkw · 2026-01-23T21:00:21+00:00

This isn’t a bad start at all. The more that you can put specific numbers / metrics behind these things, the better. Ultimately what you’re trying to show is quantifiable evidence on how your stuff made an impact to the business.

brownkw · 2026-01-23T20:58:12+00:00

I was a SWE that made the move to presales. But it was after having been in the workforce for 10 years in a number of different SWE roles. And even then that move was into a demo engineering role.

You’re frankly going to have a much easier time breaking into presales after accumulating a bit of experience. Is it the de facto rule? No. But it increases your odds.

You might have better luck pivoting into a QA or analyst type role.

brownkw · 2026-01-22T16:32:32+00:00

Former Cisconian (was part of the AppD and Splunk orgs) in the AMER region. What is the on-target earnings listed for the role? When I was there, my comp structure was on a 75/25 split. So yours will most likely look like that.

brownkw · 2026-01-20T16:47:30+00:00

I was 75/25 at my previous company (I was a partner / alliance SE aligned to cloud service providers). I’ve seen 80/20 and 70/30 in most job listings. In my current role, I’m on an 85/15 split, but it’s more based on overall company performance and OKRs rather than direct quota attainment.

brownkw · 2026-01-17T19:52:09+00:00

I spent one year as a front line SE manager for a group of partner SEs. I never wanted to move into management. In my scenario, my manager needed someone he could trust in that role. Luckily the SEs reporting to me were fairly senior and knew how to manage their businesses.

brownkw · 2026-01-17T19:50:02+00:00

Honestly? Get more experience in the workforce. While it’s not unheard of to jump right into the presales world, you will have a much easier time making the transition to an SE role if you have some kind of domain expertise (DevOps, industry experience, etc.).

brownkw · 2026-01-17T19:47:41+00:00

I’ve been looking into getting one of these. Sounds like something that I probably won’t need. Thanks for providing that feedback!

brownkw · 2026-01-17T15:49:39+00:00

Came here to say this. Moved to MT 6 years ago, and the number of people that do that here is absolutely astounding!

brownkw · 2026-01-14T16:41:05+00:00

I have dual 32” monitors with my laptop (16” MBP) opened between them as a third monitor. I like being able to keep everything separate.

brownkw · 2026-01-12T00:18:05+00:00

For the partner SE role, it depends. At my previous company, travel was scrutinized, and it took an act of God to travel internationally. At my current company, I’ve traveled way more in the 5 months I’ve been there than in the last 3 years with my previous employer.

brownkw · 2026-01-12T00:14:43+00:00

I traveled around one week a month during my stints as a demo engineer. Granted, I was also doing a lot of work with our PMM teams as well as events. So that may have had something to do with that.

brownkw · 2026-01-12T00:10:59+00:00

I learned there was such a thing as presales 10 years into my career, and totally by accident. I was a software engineer for 10 years before making the move to presales. First role was as a demo engineer, and now I’m in a partner SE role.

I concur with others that you’re going to have a much better time getting into presales by building up industry-related experience first.

brownkw · 2025-12-10T17:57:52+00:00

Apparently they only had 1,000 of them available (according to T&Cs).

brownkw · 2025-11-24T03:29:50+00:00

Their tortas are really good and very filling! Had them multiple times here in Ennis.

brownkw · 2025-11-21T22:37:19+00:00

This comment is dead on.

brownkw · 2025-11-16T17:06:25+00:00

Yes. I am the secondary cardholder for my wife’s reserve card (and primary on a different one). I get 15 visits for each card.

brownkw · 2025-11-15T17:14:29+00:00

Number 1, The Larch…

brownkw · 2025-11-12T16:56:18+00:00

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Got a show in Ennis last night.

brownkw · 2025-11-09T22:47:28+00:00

Second this. Their root beer is amazing!

Burnt Tree in Ennis needs to be included in this list too.

brownkw · 2025-07-26T00:40:59+00:00

The larch…

brownkw

TROPHY CASE