AI Business Architect (Hybrid)

Static Cisco; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 149,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking an AI Business Architect in a hybrid role located in San Jose, CA or RTP, NC. You will shape AI initiatives by translating business needs into actionable designs, define requirements, assess data maturity, and ensure MCP compatibility across platforms.

Lead multi-functional discovery, map Q2C and order workflows, and collaborate with AI engineers to deliver measurable business outcomes. Proficiency in Python and API integrations is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 6+ years in solution architecture or AI-enabled business process consulting.
• Experience building requirements and assessing data readiness for AI models.
• Experience in API management and MCP.
• Experience leading multi-functional projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with UI, backend systems, and API integrations; Python proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery sessions and align solutions from ideation through production launch and ongoing adoption.
• Create detailed technical specifications for AI projects, translating business objectives into functional requirements.
• Evaluate data maturity, API readiness, and MCP compatibility to determine readiness for AI integration.
• Assess the viability of AI solutions against business goals through rigorous fitment analysis.
• Map AS-IS and TO-BE Q2C, commerce, and order-processing workflows; identify gaps and opportunities.
• Independently extract and analyze data from Oracle, Snowflake, and multiple sources; perform data modeling.
• Prepare and present clear status updates and strategic roadmaps to leadership.
• Partner with AI engineering teams to ensure architectural vision is followed.
• Understand REST/API fundamentals and integration patterns across applications.

Skills

Solution architecture

API management

Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Python

UI and API integrations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Oracle

Snowflake

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/12/2026

This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of two days per week at Cisco’s San Jose, CA or RTP, NC office, depending on your location.

Meet the Team

As an AI Business Architect in COEC, you will shape how AI transforms Cisco's Commerce Operations by translating business needs into clear, actionable AI solution designs. You will lead the ideation, requirements definition, and readiness assessment for AI initiatives — evaluating data maturity, API readiness, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) compatibility to ensure solutions are built on a solid foundation.

Your Impact

Working closely with business partners, multi-functional teams, and AI engineering leads, you will guide solutions from initial discovery through production launch and ongoing adoption. Your work will reduce unnecessary complexity, accelerate delivery, and ensure AI investments translate into measurable business outcomes.

• Lead discovery sessions, manage communication across multi-functional teams, and align solutions from ideation through production launch and ongoing adoption.


• Create detailed technical specifications for AI projects, translating business objectives into functional requirements.


• Evaluate data maturity, API readiness, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) compatibility to determine whether existing systems are prepared for AI integration.


• Assess the viability of AI solutions against business goals through rigorous fitment analysis, avoiding unnecessary complexity.


• Map AS-IS and TO-BE Quote-to-Cash (Q2C), commerce, and order-processing workflows for software, hardware, and services; identify gaps and opportunities, and design process flows.


• Independently extract and analyze data from Oracle, Snowflake, and multiple reporting sources; perform data modeling to inform solution recommendations and next steps.


• Prepare and present clear, concise status updates and strategic roadmaps to leadership, covering progress, risks, and ROI.


• Partner closely with AI engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle to ensure technical implementation stays true to the architectural vision.


• Understand REST/API fundamentals and integration patterns across multiple applications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree with 6+ years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise systems design, or AI-enabled business process consulting.


• Applied experience building requirements and assessing data quality/readiness for AI models.


• Experience in API management and a practical understanding of Model Context Protocol (MCP).


• Experience leading and managing multi-functional projects in a fast-paced environment.


• Experience working with UI, backend systems, and API integrations, using a programming language like Python.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect AI capabilities to tangible business outcomes.


• Experience with Cisco Commerce systems and processes.


• In-depth knowledge of Quote-to-Cash (Q2C) lifecycles, workflows, and associated data structures.


• Experience in enterprise data strategy and automation frameworks.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for executive partners.


• Willingness to adopt new AI skills, work in unfamiliar areas, and maintain a learn-and-grow attitude.

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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $148,500.00 to $193,300.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees


• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco


• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees


• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)


• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto the next


• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members


• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;


• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;


• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and


• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$148,500.00 - $234,600.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$135,400.00 - $215,200.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.