AI Researcher

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking an AI Researcher to lead R&D of AI methods powering GTM sales intelligence across the Cisco ecosystem. You will translate cutting-edge research into real-world tools used by sellers to identify opportunities and improve business outcomes.

You’ll collaborate with data engineers and cross‑functional teams, design scalable AI pipelines, mentor colleagues, and share breakthroughs to keep Cisco at the forefront of AI-driven sales operations.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or research-heavy Master’s in AI, CS, or related field.
• Alternatively, a Bachelor’s with 10+ years applying theory to business data.
• Proficient in Python and deep learning frameworks.
• Experience in building scalable AI pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead research and development of innovative AI methodologies powering GTM use cases.
• Design and fine-tune neural networks for "Next Best Action" and propensity models.
• Create rigorous experimental setups and proofs of concept for new AI features.
• Collaborate with Sales Strategy, Engineering, and Product teams to translate research into customer outcomes.
• Document and share breakthroughs and mentor colleagues in AI innovation.

Skills

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Deep Learning

Research Leadership

Education

PhD in AI/CS

Bachelor's + 10+ years experience

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Docker

Job description

Meet the Team

As an AI Researcher within this dynamic and impactful team, you will be at the forefront of driving Cisco's success by architecting the next generation of AI-led sales intelligence. Your mission is to transform complex enterprise data into unparalleled insights that optimize sales performance and operational efficiency across the global Cisco ecosystem.

Your Impact

In this role, you will lead the research and development of innovative AI methodologies that power our critical sales applications, including My Business Reports (MBR), Intelligence Center, One Sales BO (OSBO), and Visibility. You will bridge the gap between theoretical breakthroughs and the practical delivery of tools that sellers use to identify growth opportunities.

• Conduct original research to advance the state-of-the-art in AI specifically for Go-To-Market (GTM) use cases, exploring novel ways to enhance the Intelligence Center and MBR through deep learning, natural language processing, and predictive modeling.
• Design and fine-tune complex neural network architectures that drive "Next Best Action" logic and propensity models, writing high-performance code to ensure accurate, real-time insights.
• Create rigorous experimental setups and proof-of-concepts for new AI features, collaborating with data engineers to ensure the data foundation for sales applications is clean, governed, and optimized for large-scale AI reasoning.
• Partner with Sales Strategy, Engineering, and Product teams to translate research findings into tangible customer outcomes, ensuring AI-driven insights are integrated seamlessly into the daily workflows of Cisco's sales force.
• Document and share research breakthroughs to position Cisco as a leader in AI-driven sales operations, while mentoring colleagues and fostering a culture of innovation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. or research-heavy Master's degree in AI, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of experience with a focus on applying theory to complex business datasets.
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience in building scalable AI pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to architect AI-driven intelligence solutions that impact business outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with sales lifecycles, CRM data, and financial metrics.
• Proven ability to think beyond existing boundaries to create innovative AI solutions.
• Experience in mentoring data scientists and analysts.
• Strong communication skills for internal knowledge sharing and external publications.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.