Director of Product, AI Platform - Network Platform and Assurance (Hybrid)

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 234,000 - 330,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Director of Product for Networking AI/ML to own the strategy and roadmap, and to lead the team that builds native AI/ML capabilities into Cisco Networking products.

You will shape data platform direction and partner with cross-functional groups to translate AI capabilities into customer outcomes. You will manage a team of 7 product managers, influence multiple stakeholders, and drive growth in one of Cisco’s largest business units, with a hybrid work model in San

Qualifications

• 3+ years of direct people management experience leading product management teams.
• 1+ years of experience building AI/ML products that incorporate technologies such as large language models, natural language processing, neural networks, or generative AI.
• Experience managing enterprise SaaS/software products; experience with networking, cloud-based services, or application monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Own the Cisco Networking AI/ML strategy and roadmap.
• Build native AI/ML functionality into Networking products and shape data platform strategy.
• Lead a team of product managers and collaborate with engineering, design, data science, and cross‑functional teams.

Skills

People management

AI/ML product development

Enterprise SaaS management

Networking / cloud services experience

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 12/05/2026 This role follows a hybrid work model, with in-office attendance two days a week in the San Francisco office.

Meet the Team

At Cisco Networking Platform and Assurance (ThousandEyes), we have a unique advantage. By tapping into the broad ecosystem and the totality of networking data at our fingertips, we can provide our customers with the appropriate context to solve their problems and drastically reduce their mean time to resolution. We can greatly expand Cisco’s revenue by meaningfully differentiating our customers’ digital experience when purchasing Cisco hardware. As Director of Product, you’ll take ownership of the overall Cisco Networking AI/ML strategy and roadmap, build native AI/ML functionality into the set of Networking products, shape our data platform strategy, and work to make our customers' lives easier. You will interface with cross-functional teams to solve existing challenges in new, innovative ways, and contribute to building the product teams responsible for driving our next phase of growth. Our team is building the AI platform and product experiences that will define how Cisco Networking helps customers detect, understand, and resolve problems across increasingly complex digital environments. We are a lean, highly collaborative group of product managers working closely with engineering, design, data science, and teams across Cisco to turn shared AI capabilities into meaningful customer outcomes. The exciting part is the opportunity to shape this strategy from the ground up, solving ambiguous problems, influencing a broad portfolio, and helping define the future of AI-powered Network Assurance. You will also manage a team of 7 rock-star product managers!

Your Impact

As a leader in Cisco’s biggest business unit ($34B+), you will work to build an AI/ML platform and feature set that leverages our unique and comprehensive data set in both the owned and unowned network. You’ll lead a talented team of product managers while working closely with the rest of the Cisco Networking product team and the broader assurance, collaboration, and security teams to drive better customer outcomes. You’ll take ownership of the overall Cisco Networking AI/ML strategy and roadmap, build native AI/ML functionality into the set of Networking products, shape our data platform strategy, and work to make our customers' lives easier.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors + 14 years of related experience, or Masters + 11 years of related experience, or PhD + 7 years of related experience 3+ years of direct people management experience leading product management teams. 1+ years of experience building AI/ML products that incorporate technologies such as large language models, natural language processing, neural networks, or generative AI Experience managing enterprise SaaS/software products. Experience with one of the following: Networking, cloud-based services, or application monitoring

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with large, matrixed enterprise organizations with multiple stakeholder groups and shared decision structures Experience owning product strategy, roadmap, prioritization, and execution for an enterprise software product Experience interfacing with Executive Level stakeholders A strong sense of ownership and accountability

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 $233,900.00 to $330,400.00 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 of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to 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: $233,900.00 - $380,000.00 Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $220,900.00 - $344,300.00 * 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.

Cisconians power the future

We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.